Last Updated on April 28, 2023

Everyone has mood swings. These are the normal highs and lows that we all go through at times. But if you have manic depression, these mood swings are extreme and are symptoms of a serious but treatable illness. Now, manic depression is normally called depression and also a “post” of excitement.

Manic depression is a long term illness that usually begins before age 25. It affects about six million adult Americans, but may also be seen in youth. Individuals with depression that is typical, or what’s called clinical or major depression, have similar depressive symptoms, however they don’t experience the highs that people with manic depression have.

Manic Depression and Depression: Common Symptoms

Symptoms of clinical depression and manic depression that are similar comprise:

• Feeling sad for a long time
• Crying for no reason
• Feeling unworthy
• Having very little energy
• Losing interest in pleasurable activities

As the low intervals are really so similar, about 10 to 25 percent of people who have manic depression are first diagnosed with clinical depression.

Manic Depression and Depression: Different Symptoms

The “manic” symptoms of bipolar disorder that make it different from clinical depression include:

• Feeling overly happy, excited, and, confident
• Feeling irritable, aggressive, and “wired”
• Having uncontrollable racing ideas or speech
• Thinking of yourself as quite significant, gifted, or unique
• Making bad judgments
• Engaging in high-risk behavior

Children or adolescents with manic depression may exhibit hyperactive behavior. Teens will probably take part in anti social or high-risk behaviours involving sex, alcohol, or drugs. Unlike people with major depression, those with manic depression are more unlikely to be able to go about their normal tasks and therefore are more prone to consider suicide.

Manic Depression: Bipolar Disorder Classifications

The low intervals of manic depression are sometimes referred to as “unipolar depression.” The high periods are usually experienced less frequently compared to the low intervals, and individuals are far more inclined to find help to get out of a low interval. Kinds of manic depression include:

• Bipolar I disorder. This term describes manic depression that features high or miscellaneous intervals that last at least seven days or are extremely serious. These folks usually have depressive periods that last about two weeks.
• Bipolar II disorder. In this sort of manic depression the individual has depression, but the high spans are less extreme.
• Cyclothymic disorder. This term describes a type of manic depression in which both the high and the low mood swings are more moderate than in the other forms of manic depression.

Manic Depression: Getting Help

The top place to begin is with your doctor if you have some symptoms of manic depression. It’s important for your doctor to make sure that your symptoms are not caused by another medical condition although there isn’t any blood test or brain scan that could tell if you have manic depression. Other ailments and issues that are commonly found with manic depression include:

• Substance abuse
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Hyperactivity disorder
• Thyroid disorder
• Head Ache
• Heart disease
• Diabetes

When it’s called bipolar disorder or manic depression, this affliction is a lifelong, continual illness. For those who have bipolar disorder, you’ll require long-term treatment that will help you control your mood swings. The good news is the fact that some combination of psychotherapy and drugs is usually effective.

The main matter to know is the fact that manic depression is not a character weakness — it is a treatable illness. The first step will be to ask for help if you think you might have manic depression.