Mania in Bipolar Disorder: Identifying Episodes and Accessing Stabilization Support

Emma Loker
November 29, 2025
Authored by: Emma Loker, BSc, PgDip
Manic episodes are often one of the defining features of bipolar disorder. Moreover, recognizing mania within yourself can be extremely difficult.1 During mania, you might feel energized and invincible – sensations that don’t immediately register as symptoms that require emergency treatment. 

However, elevated mood, racing thoughts, and reduced need for sleep can all bring major risks, including impulsive decisions with lasting consequences and potential psychotic features requiring immediate stabilization. 

Learning how to identify manic episodes and knowing when to seek immediate support can prevent long-lasting and devastating outcomes. Further, doing so can help you find the comprehensive care you need to manage bipolar disorder more effectively. 

If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing periods of mania, a mental health professional can guide you towards the right treatments for your needs. This page can also help you recognize manic episode symptoms adults may experience, as it covers: 

  • What a manic episode it
  • How mania and hypomania differ
  • What makes mania feel good, and the consequences of untreated manic episodes
  • How to recognize your personal mania warning signs
  • When mania is a medical emergency
  • Stabilization and treatment services for bipolar disorders
woman crouching and hiding her head in her hands due to mania in bipolar disorder

Defining a Manic Episode

A manic episode is a unique period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that’s accompanied by increased energy and activity levels. The episodes usually last for at least one week and sometimes require hospitalization.1 

Mania isn’t just feeling happy or having a productive week. It’s a major departure from your usual level of functioning that the people around you typically notice as unusual or concerning. In fact, to be defined as mania, mood disturbance must be severe enough to cause major impairment to your life. This includes your work, relationships, or social life, and may involve psychotic features like delusions or hallucinations.2 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) notes that mania is diagnosed by someone experiencing at least three symptoms in addition to an elevated, expansive mood for at least seven days.3 These can include: 

  • Inflated self-esteem or feelings of grandiosity
  • A decreased need for sleep and not feeling fatigued
  • Being more talkative than usual or feeling pressure to keep talking
  • Racing thoughts or flights of ideas
  • Being easily distracted
  • A major increase in goal-directed activity 
  • Restlessness
  • Involvement in activities with the potential for painful consequences

The criteria for experiencing these symptoms for at least one week do come with an exception. This is that if your symptoms are severe enough to require hospitalization, then the duration requirement does not apply for a diagnosis. Hospitalization might become necessary when mania includes delusions or hallucinations, poses extreme safety risks, or has progressed to the point that you are struggling to meet your basic needs. 

Differences in Mania

Mania doesn’t look the same for everyone or for each episode. Some episodes involve euphoric moods where you feel on top of the world, filled with creative energy. Other episodes can make you more irritable and agitated, being quick to anger and defensive against any perceived obstacles and criticism. 

It’s also important to understand that mania isn’t something that’s caused by substances, medications, or any other medical issues. However, all these factors can trigger an episode in people with bipolar disorder. Rather, mania is caused by the underlying neurobiological changes of bipolar disorder itself, although its exact causes are not fully understood.4
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Mania vs. Hypomania

While mania (a feature of bipolar I disorder) and hypomania (seen in bipolar II disorder) share several features, it’s important to recognize that these symptoms differ in severity and impact. The following are the ways that mania vs hypomania differ:5 

  • Duration    : Mania lasts for at least seven straight days or requires hospitalization, while hypomania usually lasts for at least three to four days – so not as long as full mania. 
  • Severity of impairment: Mania causes severe disruptions at work and in your daily life, whereas hypomania is noticeable to others but doesn’t severely impact your ability to function and doesn’t usually require hospitalization. 
  • Psychotic symptoms: Some manic episodes can involve delusions, hallucinations (auditory or visual), and disorganized thinking patterns. Conversely, hypomania never includes psychotic symptoms – if they’re present, then the episode is defined as manic. 
  • Subjective experience: People experiencing mania often feel out of control, but hypomania typically feels more manageable. 
  • Consequences: Manic episodes can result in major consequences like losing your job, financial difficulties, damaged relationships, and putting yourself in dangerous situations. Hypomanic episodes can also involve questionable decisions, but don’t usually lead to as many catastrophic outcomes. 
  • Recognition: During hypomania, you might maintain some awareness that your mood and behavior are different, though it may not seem problematic. During mania, however, you might lose insight entirely, becoming convinced that your thoughts and actions are reasonable despite any evidence that proves otherwise. 

Why Does Mania Feel Good?

One of the most confusing aspects of bipolar disorder is that mania often feels positive, at least initially. During a manic episode, the brain floods with dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure, motivation, and reward.6 This neurochemical surge creates feelings of euphoria, making you feel confident, energized, and capable of just about anything. 

The reduced need for sleep can also contribute to these feelings, as the extra time can feel like a gift. Suddenly, you have extra available hours each day that others seem to waste sleeping, allowing you to accomplish more – and making mania seem sustainable. 

Manic episodes can also make you feel an increased sense of creativity. This association between mania and achievement can make people resistant to treatment, fearing that stabilizing their moods will eliminate their edge. 

The confidence and reduced inhibitions of mania can seem liberating, but the feel-good aspects of mania are deceptive. The euphoria eventually usually gives way to the crash of depression, and the confident decisions made during mania may have painful consequences. 

When Mania Is a Medical Emergency

Not all manic episodes require emergency intervention, but some situations demand it to protect your well-being. 

As mentioned above, psychotic features like delusions or hallucinations can lead to major consequences. For instance, you might believe you can fly, that you’re indestructible, or that normal rules don’t apply. These beliefs can lead to dangerous behaviors that are based on distorted perceptions of reality. 

Similarly, any behavior that poses an immediate risk to yourself or others is a medical emergency. This could include reckless driving, climbing dangerous heights, confronting people, fighting, or making threats. 

If you suspect your loved one is at risk, calling 911 or bringing them to your local emergency department may be necessary for protecting their welfare.

Confidential and Free Bipolar Mania Disorder Testing and Assessment Near Me

Due to individualized differences, it can be challenging for you to narrow down which treatment option is right for you. To help you in this process, A Mission for Michael offers a confidential and complimentary assessment, with no strings attached. We want to ensure that you have the necessary information before making an important decision about your treatment.

Our admission counselors can provide you with support and guidance throughout the admission process, ensuring that you don’t feel alone in this journey. Call us today to begin.

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Accessing Stabilization Support For Mania

If you recognize signs of mania in yourself or a loved one, knowing where to turn for help can prevent a crisis from getting worse. Acute mood episodes in bipolar disorder typically require specialized intervention, and several levels of care exist to address the manic episode symptoms that adults experience. We discuss some of these options below.

Emergency and Crisis Services

When accessing treatment is a safety matter, emergency departments provide immediate bipolar crisis stabilization help. Hospitals can assess the manic episodes and rapid mood changes bipolar disorder can cause to help determine if psychiatric hospitalization is necessary. 

If you’re experiencing severe manic episode warning signs (such as psychotic features or dangerous behaviors), calling 911 or going to your nearest emergency room can help keep you safe. 

Psychiatric stabilization programs can also offer care that’s designed specifically for mental health emergencies. Crisis stabilization units provide short-term, intensive support, which usually lasts for at least a few days, and allow you to step into residential or inpatient treatment afterward. 

Residential and Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment for mania and bipolar disorders allows you or your loved one to receive intensive and personalized psychiatric care. This can help to further stabilize your symptoms, as it focuses on long-term planning for the adjustment and recovery process. 

You’ll work with a specialized team that’s experienced in managing the symptoms of bipolar mood episodes. Further, your treatment may combine evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with medication management and wellness activities, creating a wraparound approach. 

The important thing to remember is that stabilization support is critical when the signs of mania are emerging. Don’t wait until the episode becomes unmanageable – early intervention has been shown to produce better outcomes in the long run and can help prevent potentially serious consequences.7 

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A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Mania support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.

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Mania and Mood Disorder Support at AMFM

A Mission For Michael provides crisis stabilization and residential treatment services for adults experiencing manic episodes, mood disorders, and more. We’re here to help you take the first step toward recovery and can walk alongside you throughout your journey. 

Effective bipolar crisis care is available now. Call us or send us a confidential message to learn more about our treatment options and admissions process.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Stabilization Support For Manic Episodes

While the aim of this page was to provide as much information about mania in bipolar disorder as possible, you may still have some queries. For this reason, we’ve provided some answers to commonly asked questions about mania below. 

What Should Family Members Do When Someone Is Manic?

Always prioritize safety for everyone during a manic episode. Don’t argue with delusions or try to convince your loved one that their thinking is distorted, as this could escalate the conflict without changing their mind. If possible, remove their access to credit cards, car keys, and anything else that could help facilitate dangerous and impulsive decisions. 

If the person poses an immediate danger to themselves or someone else, call 911 or accompany them to the emergency room.

Will I Lose My Creativity if I Get Help?

The fear of losing your spark can keep some people from seeking bipolar disorder treatment, but research has actually shown that stabilization enhances your output, rather than diminishes it. 

While someone might produce a lot of work during manic episodes, the quality is usually inconsistent and disorganized. Uncontrolled mania can also be detrimental to the creative process, as it’s difficult to sustain your work when cycling between the chaos of mania and the lows of clinical depression. 

Treatment ultimately aims to eliminate the dangerous extremes of bipolar disorder and preserve your unique personality and talents. 

  1. NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). What Is Mania, and What Does It Mean to Have a Manic Episode? Here’s What Experts Say. Www.nami.org. https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/In-The-News/2021/What-Is-Mania-and-What-Does-It-Mean-to-Have-a-Manic-Episode-Here-s-What-Experts-Say
  2. Dailey, M. W., & Saadabadi, A. (2023, July 17). Mania. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493168/
  3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). Table 11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Manic Episode Criteria Comparison. Nih.gov; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t7/
  4. National Institute of Mental Health. (2025). Bipolar disorder. Www.nimh.nih.gov; https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder
  5. Roy, A. (2014). Bipolar disorder – mania and hypomania [Handout]. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. https://thehub.utoronto.ca/assault-survivors-advocacy-program/learn_more/neurobiology_of_trauma.aspx
  6. Lee, J. G., Woo, Y. S., Park, S. W., Seog, D.-H., Seo, M. K., & Bahk, W.-M. (2022). Neuromolecular etiology of bipolar disorder: Possible therapeutic targets of mood stabilizers. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, 20(2), 228–239. https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228
  7. Ratheesh, A., Hett, D., Ramain, J., Wong, E., Berk, L., Conus, P., Fristad, M. A., Goldstein, T., Hillegers, M., Jauhar, S., Kessing, L. V., Miklowitz, D. J., Murray, G., Scott, J., Tohen, M., Yatham, L. N., Young, A. H., Berk, M., & Marwaha, S. (2023). A systematic review of interventions in the early course of bipolar disorder I or II: a report of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Taskforce on early intervention. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-022-00275-3

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