Mania.

[when.will.it.end]

Does anyone have any advice on how to prevent a manic episode/deal with symptoms of mania? Aside from medication and psychotheraapy.

And what are people's experiences of treatment on the NHS? And how it is assessed? i.e. what sort of questions/how severity of it is measured.

Thanks Could really do with help on this


xx

[Sarika]

Get plenty of sleep! That's key for controlling mania. This means no "all nighters". I personally find even one night of not sleeping I get manic if not on meds. Also, stay away from caffeine not only can you get manic off that alone but it might combine and cause you to not sleep...which I mentioned above. Keep a schedule, maintain a routine. Even in the day time, this will keep you "grounded". Keep a record of your manic episodes and what happened before hand (triggers).

To deal with them you probably need meds, I hate to say it. When I went off my meds a few weeks ago. I got extremely manic, it was pretty bad. So personally I do need them, and I know others who also require them. Some people claim that they don't need them, and they throw religion into it, praying to their higher power for strength. Hey, if you're into religion you can try that!

I don't know your age but if you're in your teens - have you been officially diagnosed with having manic episodes or you just think you have them? If you haven't had a diagnosis then you might not even be truly having them - especially if you're in your teens, some people experience extremely wild mood swings. If you're older and are diagnosed I think you really need to ask your psychiatrist - they're much more educated in this sort of thing.

I also want to note, most of the time manic episodes are life interrupting. Other people notice it, comment on it, etc. Also, mania typically ends in some sort of treatment like in the ER or in a psychiatric ward or forced medicated. I was force medicated when I became manic a couple weeks ago.

Also, you should make a plan. The plan would include what you want in terms of treatment when you become manic. Of course sometimes they will have to break the plan (especially if it evolves into psychosis). But you should say something like "first please contact my psychiatrst, then get me into see my therapist, if i become disconnected from reality please take me to the ER, etc etc). You get my point I think. Also in the plan include your doctor's phone numbers, this way there's not problem finding them and contacting them in an emergency.

I don't have experience with the NHS, as I'm in the US. Sorry, hopefully others can answer!

[when.will.it.end]

Thanks 4 the reply. Am very tired so ill reply proprly later but basically I'm not manic I just think I'm heading that way and am worried cos I don't want to end up in hospital or on meds. Its not serious I just know what I'm like and have got quite good at watching out for stuff and this is quite prominant now.I'm 20 btw. Anyway thanks again x

[when.will.it.end]

Ok im not in a manic episode however,

I haven't been able to calm down for the past couple of months now, I hardly sleep, I'm extremely agitated and irritable, I get very obsessive and excited about ideas for the future and have moments where I take the 'I can do anything' attitude very literally. I lose awareness of social situations and forget what's normal behaviour because I have no inhibitions; I would quite happily do anything because I just don't care. I'm worried about it transferring into being very happy/full of energy all the time to the point where I don't have any awareness.

I was really severely depressed for two years and this is the first time that my life has been quite stable and had some real positives in it. It's been a while since I've had any urges to hurt myself and I'm definatly not depressed anymore. But I'm used to drama and excitment and I find it hard to just be comfortable in the basic things, nothing ever seems enough. I don't want any involvement from doctors of any kind. I could just be worrying about nothing. Sorry to go on...

This stuff hasn't been life interupting as far as I can tell.

Does anyone else have any experience?