A teenage girl standing in front of a blue and white brick wall. She is wearing sunglasses and earpods.

Mania and hypomania are periods when a person feels full of energy, elated and very active. Both mania and hypomania are associated with bipolar disorder but any person can experience them.

Hypomania is a milder episode of mania, which can involve:

  • having a higher mood than usual
  • feeling overconfident
  • higher energy levels without a clear cause
  • feeling more irritable or behaving rudely
  • being more talkative than usual
  • having a stronger desire for sex than usual
  • feeling the need to sleep less than usual for you

A person with hypomania may be able to continue with their normal activities. Others may notice a change in their behaviour, but the person might not. However, hypomania can have negative effects on a person’s wellbeing and cause them to take dangerous risks. 

Mania has similar symptoms to hypomania, but is a lot more extreme. A person with mania will not be able to carry on as usual and may need to go to hospital. A person with mania may also experience delusions, hallucinations or manic stupor.

More information and support:

Aware provides information and support to people experiencing aspects of bipolar disorder and their family members. 

Website: aware.ie

Shine is a national organisation that provides information and support to people affected by bipolar disorder and other mental health difficulties, as well as their families. 

Website: shine.ie

If you’re thinking about suicide or self-harm or if you need help right away, call 999 or 112

There are also specific support lines that you can call:

Samaritans Ireland – 116 123

Pieta House – 1800 247 247

 

Childline 24 Hour Listening can also be contacted by any child or young person by calling 1800 66 66 66, texting to 50101 or chatting online at Childline.ie 24 hours a day, every day.

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