You may have heard the term manic depression and thought, “What is manic depression?” This article discusses manic depression, including how to recognize it and the proper treatments. Please keep reading for all the details you need to remember for yourself.
What’s Manic Depression?
Manic depression is a mental health condition more commonly referred to as bipolar disorder. This condition involves both symptoms of depression and mania. Mania is a period of ‘up’ (marked by intense energy or feelings of euphoria, among other symptoms), which directly contrasts with depressive feelings that occur with depression.
What Is A Manic Depressive?
A manic depressive is someone that is experiencing manic depression or bipolar disorder.
There are two types of bipolar disorder and another condition known as Hypomania.
Hypomania
Like mania, Hypomania includes excitement or feeling up, but it is not associated with bipolar disorder. It is also less severe than mania. Some people experience Hypomania and do not have any depression.
Symptoms of Manic Depression
Here are some of the most common symptoms of bipolar disorder:
- Eating too much
- Taking no joy in anything
- No energy
- Suicidal thoughts
If you or someone you know is talking about suicide, please get in touch with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for support. They can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
Treatments for Manic (Bipolar) Depression
If you feel mania is impacting your life, you can check out this mania test, which might help you determine what is going on and if you need help.
According to results posted in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, people who exhibit bipolar disorder symptoms also often have other conditions. These conditions can be physical or mental illnesses.
For this reason, the first course of action when it comes to treatment is to get checked out by a doctor. It would be best to be informed about any conditions you have or on a prescription that may cause you to experience some of the common symptoms of manic depression. Once you know if you have a health condition, you can move on to mental health treatment options.
As with other mental illnesses, psychotherapy can be helpful. Therapy can help keep specific symptoms at bay and support the person coping with bipolar disorder. When considering therapy, you must be honest and open with the therapist. This is the best way to ensure they develop a treatment plan that covers you.
Other Things You Can Do
Even after you seek out treatment for your manic depression, you will still likely need to be in therapy for quite a while to see the results you want. You can do some things which may make your treatment work quicker or help you lessen specific symptoms.
- Get Moving. While it seems like exercise is always recommended, no matter what someone is experiencing, it can help in this case. Physical exercise releases endorphins, which are natural feel-good hormones our bodies produce. Research shows that low-intensity exercise, like walking outside, can significantly reduce depression symptoms. Try taking a five-minute walk out at a time that works for you (some people prefer going out when they wake up, while others prefer walking out after work).
- Eat Right. This is another thing that you can do for yourself. Eating a mix of vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein will give you vitamins, which your body needs to be healthy. These could help you improve your mood, not to mention doing something good for your body. The American Heart Association website shows that foods like fruits, fish, and even a bit of chocolate may keep you in good spirits.
- Sleep Well. Getting the right amount of sleep is a great way to allow your body to renew itself each night. Get the rest you need, and try not to sleep too much or too little. When you want to lounge in bed, consider doing something else. This will make it easier to fall asleep once you go to bed.
- Make A Routine. While getting treatment for bipolar disorder, you may see some positive effects when you keep to a routine. Do what you can to eat, sleep, and exercise at specific times each day, so you can get used to doing things simultaneously. This may also signal your body when something should be happening. For example, if you get up at the same time each day, your body may get you up every day without setting the alarm since this has become what you are used to.
- Keep A Journal. You can keep track of your routine in your journal and write about your feelings and the things that happen to you each day. Writing something down could give you a chance to get it out of your head, and you can choose to think about it later. You may also be able to see patterns or triggers affecting you or causing symptoms. They may even ask you to keep a journal as part of the treatment process (if you want to).
- Don’t Make Big Decisions. One part of mania is that you might make decisions that aren’t in your best interests or participate in risky behaviors. When you can, consider refraining from making any big decisions until you know you are in a place where you can handle them.
- Don’t Skip Therapy Sessions. It would be best if you did not miss any of your therapy sessions. It may take a while to see a change in the disorder, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t being helped. Make sure to hang in there for your best chance of getting rid of some symptoms you are experiencing.
- Visit with Friends And Family. Sometimes, you will probably feel like you don’t want to be around anyone. However, you should occasionally try to go around people you love and trust. They may help improve your mood; sometimes, talking to someone you care about can change your perspective. You must also lean on people or have a support system for those hard days. Determine who you want to rely on when you need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to.
- Limit Alcohol. Do your best to stay away from alcohol, especially if you are taking medicines during your treatment. Alcohol can change your mood and impair decision-making, two things you likely want to avoid at all costs.
Outlook
Getting the help you need for manic depression will take more than just a few visits with a therapist. It may take a while to see a significant change in your condition, and you might need to institute other changes to improve your symptoms. The critical thing to remember is that you can start to feel differently when you keep up with your treatment program. It is possible. Reach out for support when you need it.
