What happens when you have a manic episode

A look at the stages of psychosis (mania) which I experienced durring my psychiatric eppisode in 2007.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• mania
• hypomania
• psychology
• psychiatry
• mental illness
• insanity
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar
• antipsychotics
• medication

[negativethoughts]

Cool, good for you, sounds a bad time. I heard the antipsychotic meds can hav a very bad effect on people

[PsychDoctorate]

The antipsychotics are terrible, especially to someone who is having an episode that is the result of medication misshaps. The effects I had from Depakote and Seroquel produced Parkinsonian like symptoms. Muscle rigidity, lack of focus and sleeping in the same position for upwards of 16 hours was not pleasant! Took several weeks to get over the symptoms

[ezelite]

@PsychDoctorate Depakote has made a massive difference to me, i suppose its just a case of finding whatever helps you the most. After years of heavy cannabis abuse, i started suffering from terrible episodes of mania, agression, impulsiveness and psychosis. Ceasing the drug only made my thoughts overwhelm me, and i didnt get better...it wasnt until I started taking prescribed medication that my behaviour ceased to rule my life. Depakote isnt a miracle cure, but the alternative is more scary.

[PsychDoctorate]

@ezelite I am glad that it has helped you. Since my episode, I have not had any manic or psychotic symptoms. It took a long time to rebuild my "ego" to normal functioning, but I am back now and probably better off then before. It took a lot of work, over 2 years worth of effort. Any of the psychiatric medications cause problems for me, all I have are extrapyramidical symptoms. In my body, they cause problems and might just kill me.

[Octophobia]

I just want to point out something critical in your description. Mania does not always equal psychosis. Individuals can be manic and psychosis-free or have limited amount of it. I'm quite manic now and aside from not being to able to function much my psychosis is limited and not completely overpowering. On the other hand I've had manic episodes where I've had no psychosis whatsoever. Psychosis in mania is possible but not a sure thing.

[PsychDoctorate]

That is correct. One can be psychotic without being manic. It all on a spectrum. Mine was a mix of both along with symptoms of perhaps Seratonin or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. No one can say for sure, but I have had not further symptoms of psychosis or mania. I do have panic attacks ocassionally, when I am highly stressed out and something triggers a memory from my episode. They are very specific triggers though. I do remember the beginings of the eppisode being mania free.

[Polaf3456]

@negativethoughts Personally I love my mania... Something about medicating it seems really disgusting. Im so creative and something about being able to run out stark nekkid into the moonlight and howl at it without emotional consequence is just fucking fantastic.

[nephthysuk]

Inspirational. 

[casey8182]

well done

[HerrSpieldose]

I grew up with these episodes every summer and at this point it is annoying when I can't calm down... almost like diarrhea... after 22 years though it loses it's thrill and becomes annoying as opposed to fun or scary.

[Screenameyeea]

Being on lots of medicines for bipolar/mania can be overrwhelming. I was on so many it made me high and on Halidol i had hallucinations and at one point all of my surroundings turned green, even when i closed my eyes. I went into a catatonic state where my mind completely shut down. I remember trying to talk to one of the staff at the hospital i was at, but i wasn't able to. All i could hear was BA BOOM BA BOOM in my head. Very scary. Recovery was a miracle, i nearly died. I'm glad to be alive