The Opposite Of Depression: Mania Symptoms, Treatment, And More

Medically reviewed by Andrea Brant, LMHC

Updated May 14, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

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Mania is a temporary mental state that’s typically associated with bipolar disorder and is technically the opposite experience of depression. If you feel that you, a friend, child(ren), or other loved one has been experiencing manic episodes, it’s usually recommended to meet with a mental health professional for evaluation. With the proper treatment, frequency and severity of these episodes can decrease and recovery to a healthier mental space is possible. Read on to learn more about recognizing the signs of a manic episode and what actions to consider taking next.

Are you struggling with the symptoms of mania?

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What’s the difference between mania and depression?

While some may think that a person is in a manic state any time they’re behaving with unusually high energy, true mania is technically defined by a set of specific symptoms experienced over a particular duration. For someone’s behavior to qualify as a clinical manic episode, they must experience certain signs most of the time over the course of one week. The exception is if symptoms lead to hospitalization; in this case, they don’t need to last more than a week to be considered a manic episode.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), a manic episode consists of “abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently goal-directed behavior or energy”

For this type of behavior to be classified as mania, an individual must persistently experience at least three of the symptoms below, marking a change from their usual behavior. Suppose they’re only experiencing the “irritable mood” portion of the above description. In that case, they must also experience at least four of the following symptoms for it to be classified as a manic episode:

An inflated sense of self-esteem
A decreased need for sleep; feeling well-rested after just a few hours
Talking more or feeling the need to talk more
Racing thoughts; distress
Being more easily distracted
An increase in goal-oriented activities such as shopping, engaging in sexual acts, starting a business, etc., or an increase in repetitive movements
Increased and excessive involvement in risky and potentially harmful activities

To meet the official classification criteria for mania, the above symptoms must be severe enough that they also cause one of the following:

Difficulty functioning at school, work, or in social situations
Hospitalization to prevent harm to the manic individual or others
Psychosis

Finally, the symptoms typically do not qualify as clinical mania if they’re linked to substance use.

Mania vs. hypomania

Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. Symptoms of hypomania may last less than a week or be less severe than those that occur during a clinical manic episode. Hypomania generally does not severely impair a person’s life in terms of school, work, or relationships and does not warrant hospitalization.

Mania in bipolar disorder

Individuals with bipolar disorder may experience periods of both mania and depression. Mania is marked by an increase in energy, thoughts, and actions, while depression is characterized by low activity, hopelessness, a lack of interest, and dread. While all individuals with bipolar disorder will generally experience some depressive episodes, the occurrence and/or severity of manic or hypomanic episodes can vary among individuals.

Who may experience mania?

Mania is most seen in those who have bipolar disorder—especially Bipolar I. They may experience phases of it in addition to depressive episodes. Treatment—which typically consists of some combination of psychotherapy and medication—can help decrease these symptoms and allow for healthy daily functioning. Otherwise, mania can be an effect of certain conditions or injuries such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia, encephalitis, or alcohol or drug abuse, for instance.

Recognizing a manic episode

If you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, recognizing the onset of a manic episode and its nature may help you handle it more effectively. Certain signs can tip you off to the fact that one may be coming, though they can vary from person to person. For instance, you may notice that a manic episode starts with you needing to tap your fingers constantly or drive faster than usual. Or, you may recognize that you become manic after sleeping poorly for a few nights. You can take the necessary steps to manage mania by learning to identify these patterns.

One study investigated the impact of teaching individuals with bipolar disorder to recognize the signs of manic relapse. Findings suggest that it can make them more likely and better able to seek appropriate help, resulting in a more extended period before the next manic relapse occurs. The control group relapsed in an average of 17 weeks, while the group that received treatment relapsed in an average of 65 weeks. Teaching individuals to recognize signs of relapse also improved social functioning and the ability to remain employed.

Speaking with a mental health professional may help you recognize the patterns and signs that appear before you experience a manic or depressive episode. They may also be able to help develop a proper treatment plan for mania.

Are you struggling with the symptoms of mania?

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Speaking with a therapist about managing mania and depression

The first step to managing mania is to connect with a mental health professional who can evaluate your symptoms and provide an accurate diagnosis. After this step, you can work with them to develop a plan to manage your symptoms. If bipolar disorder is the cause, medication plus psychotherapy is often the recommended treatment. Research suggests that combining therapy with medication may decrease symptom severity, relapses, and hospitalizations.

Various therapeutic approaches may be used to help treat the symptoms that may occur with mania. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, and family-focused therapy. It’s important to note that therapy may not be an effective treatment method while experiencing a manic episode, but it can help individuals recognize and manage future episodes.

Although therapy can be essential to managing mania, individuals with bipolar disorder sometimes have difficulty attending in-person appointments. Depression can make a person feel sad or without hope and it difficult to leave home, and mania can cause an individual to lose track of time and miss obligations. Andrew Solomon, a writer and activist, has a quote that details the idea of depression and its impact day to day life, he says, “The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality.” This means that managing depression may not bring happiness but it can help an individual to live a more fulfilling life.

Online therapy is one option that may make it easier for those with bipolar disorder to get the care they need and deserve. While research suggests that virtual therapy can be as effective as in-person sessions for treating a variety of conditions, it’s important to be honest with your provider about your symptoms to ensure that this option will be right for your specific situation. That said, one study investigated the impact of online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on individuals living with bipolar disorder. Results showed that 75% of the participants who completed the treatment exhibited reduced symptoms. You can ask your mental health provider if online therapy might be right for you.

Takeaway

Mania is a mental and physiological state typically characterized by increased energy, irritable mood, and goal-oriented behavior, among other symptoms. Individuals living with bipolar disorder may experience manic states alternating with depressive states. Mania can be a symptom of a serious mental illness, but acceptance and treatment can help an individual better manage it.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the opposite of manic depression?

There is no opposite of manic depression or antonyms in the thesaurus, except for being neurotypical with no mental illness. This disorder is in itself the dictionary definition of an opposing disorder.

What is the opposite of manic?

If you look in a thesaurus, the answer is depression and often shows up as an antonym. With depressive episodes comes experiencing lows, lack of energy, and loss of interest. With mania symptoms, a person can experience restless power, impaired judgment, and rapidly bounce from interest to interest. In individuals with bipolar disorder, these two symptoms often go hand in hand, and one can experience extreme mood swings from one to the other.

Can you have mania without depression?

Yes, some people only experience mania and do not experience both symptoms. This is referred to as unipolar mania; however, it is so rare that there is not much information on it, though one study did find that over 56% of the study participants had unipolar mania, indicating that it may not be nearly as rare as previously thought.

What are the 4 types of depression?

There are more than four types of depression, and young adults are at particular risk for developing certain types. Per the National Institute of Mental Health, here are some most common types:

Major depressive disorder
Bipolar disorder
Seasonal affective disorder
Persistent depressive disorder
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Postpartum disorder
Situational depression
Atypical depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder

All these forms have varying risk factors, and some may include mania. All these conditions are treatable, and a plethora of health information is available to you from the National Institute of Mental Health, support groups, resource centers, and care providers.

What do symptoms of mania feel like?

If you look up manic in the dictionary, you'll likely find many synonyms or phrases to describe mania. Some synonyms include craziness, hysteria, insanity, and enthusiasm.

During a manic episode or state, you will likely feel creative, energetic, and euphoric, like you're on top of the world. You will probably babble, sleep, eat little or significantly less than usual, and move around constantly. Your decision-making skills will be affected, and you may make poor decisions. The mania usually does not last very long. Still, a person with a fetish can inadvertently cause some physical or mental harm to themselves and others in a short period.

Periods of mania are usually followed by much longer depressions since these two tend to go hand in hand. You may not care much about your well-being during depression and mania periods. People with these symptoms often regret many actions during a manic period and may not entirely remember engaging in these actions in the first place.

Can you be just manic?

Yes, as mentioned above, this is called unipolar mania. Young adults are particularly susceptible to manic episodes. Other than young adults, people who are often sleep-deprived, have a history of drug use or have a family history of mental illness are more prone to mania.

How do you calm a manic episode?

Coping with a manic episode can be incredibly difficult when you're in the middle of it. You may feel like you don't need any help, that nothing is wrong, or that nothing can be done to mitigate the episode. It is essential to have a system in place for yourself during your manic episodes.

Reach out to a friend or a therapist who you can rely on to help you make good decisions during your manic episodes. Keep an eye on your finances, and don't carry credit cards to avoid making impulse purchases. Try to maintain a set sleep schedule, or at least nap whenever you can, to ensure your body has a chance to rest. Carry snacks that you can quickly eat, so you don't have to worry about cooking.

There are a few things that you can do to try to maintain yourself through a manic episode, but it will only pass with time. You can help prevent future attacks by taking care of yourself, getting enough sleep, and taking your medications regularly.

Can you be manic without bipolar disorder?

Yes, you can experience mania without having bipolar disorder, although it is rare. When you have a manic episode without symptoms of both mania and depression, it is usually brought on by risk factors such as severe sleep deprivation, certain medications, or alcohol or drug misuse.

Typically, however, these two symptoms will go hand in hand and are usually found in bipolar patients. Some risk factors associated with developing bipolar disorder are:

Family history: If you have a history of bipolar disorder, you are more likely to develop it
History of drug misuse
A traumatic or stressful event
Young adults carry a higher risk

Mania and depression are not things that can be prevented. However, with the help of support groups, care providers, medication, and therapy, they can be very effectively managed.

How do I know if I'm bipolar?

It can be challenging for a person to know that they are bipolar. In cases like bipolar depression or unipolar depression, their symptoms can last for months, and they may become used to feeling that way. This tends to make them less likely to seek treatment.

When mania and depression are combined, a person may feel so good during the manic episode that they don't want to seek treatment because they don't want that feeling to end. You may be given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder if you:

Have experienced a manic episode lasting at least one week
Have required hospitalization for a manic or depressive episode
And you've had a major depressive episode lasting at least two weeks

Seek medical advice if you are experiencing periods where you are tempted to do things that are out of character, such as drug misuse. If you feel that you have mood swings between euphoric and lethargic, combined with a lack of interest, consult a doctor. There are many bipolar disorder treatments available, including support groups, resource centers, and therapy options.

Typically, bipolar disorder can be hard to diagnose, but it is essential to seek medical advice if you suspect that you may have it. Bipolar disorder will not go away on its own and does require treatment.

Is depression classified as a disability?

Severe cases of depression, especially when combined with mania or hypomania, are often considered disabilities. Suppose you experience depressive episodes that interfere with your ability to function correctly or last for more than two weeks at a time. In that case, you may have a major depressive disorder.

In situations such as major depressive disorder, depression and mania, unipolar depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the symptoms can be so severe that they stop you from doing daily activities. They may cause poor decision-making, such as drug misuse, lead to eating disorders or cause lethargy and loss of interest.

Can a breakup cause mental illness?

While a bad breakup is usually not the only cause of a mental illness, it can be the final straw needed to cause it to emerge. In traumatic events, such as a bad breakup, the perfect storm of emotions, events, and stressors can cause a person to develop an anxiety or depression disorder.

A breakup usually won't cause a more severe disorder to emerge, such as borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, it is possible in extreme cases if there is already preexisting trauma.

What mental illness causes extreme anger?

There are a few illnesses that can cause extreme anger as a symptom. These include:

Bipolar disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Intermittent explosive disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder
Depression

Virtually the majority of mental illnesses have the potential to result in anger issues if left undiagnosed or untreated. These are just the disorders that tend to have anger as some of their main symptoms.

Depression is treatable, and you're not alone

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The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

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