A person suffering from manic depression may recognize that something is not right, but they may be unsure what is wrong or why it is happening to them. What is manic depression, and could it be impacting you and your health? The term manic depression refers to a condition called bipolar disorder, a treatable mental health disorder. If you believe you could have it, getting help through a treatment center offering health and wellness therapy can be life changing. Even if you’re not sure, you have this condition, getting help with your mental health disorder is critical.
So, What Is Manic Depression?
More commonly known as bipolar disorder and sometimes called manic-depressive illness, manic depression is a type of serious mental health disorder. A person with it experiences extreme instances of change in mood, thinking, and behavior. Most people with these conditions go through periods where they have depression and instances of mania. The frequency differs from one person to another. Some people have more mania symptoms, while others feel more depressed. It’s also possible to have both mania and depression at the same time.
What Are the Symptoms of Manic Depression?
A person with manic depression has significant shifts in mood. Many times, this shift can be very substantial. A person may also experience shifts in activity levels, sleep patterns, and behaviors. Even energy levels can change significantly in a short period of time. At the same time, a person with manic depression may experience periods where they have very stable moods.
Many times, a person with manic depression will struggle with school or work, relationships, and day-to-day activities. The symptoms of depressive moods may include:
- Feeling worthless or empty
- Loss of interest in things that used to be important or interesting
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Restlessness and irritability
- Low energy levels
- Trouble with decision making and concentration
When a person is experiencing mania symptoms, they may include:
- Long periods of excitement and euphoria sometimes misplaced
- Extreme agitation, feeling jumpy, and feelings of irritability
- Having racing thoughts
- Being easily distracted and restless
- Speaking too quickly
- Unrealistic believes in a person’s abilities
Finding Help for Manic Depression
Treatment should always be designed to meet your specific needs. Many times, that may mean a gender-specific program such as a women’s depression treatment program designed to address women’s unique needs or one for men.
It is also important to choose a location that offers specific help for bipolar disorder or manic depression. Not all locations can offer this type of treatment. The goal is to help you to determine what is wrong and why and then have the proper treatments applied. You want a location that specifically helps with bipolar disorder to achieve this.
The location should also offer a wide range of therapies. Many times, people with manic depression require medications. These medications can help a person manage to regain stability. They also help to minimize symptoms significantly.
Medications are a good starting point, but most people also need help through therapy. A wide range of therapy programs can provide help based on what you are experiencing as well as what brought on your mental health disorder. Some of the most common types of evidence-based therapies include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Mindfulness meditation
- Motivational interviewing
- Family therapy programs
In addition to this, many people work through both group and individual therapy. Exploring both treatment methods is important because it provides a different perspective and can help you tackle many of the underlying causes of your condition.
If you’re struggling with manic depression or think you may have it, don’t keep going the way you are. Make a change today. Reach out to the location near you that can provide comprehensive help and support.