A Step By Step Technique To Stop Mania

A Step By Step Technique To Stop Mania

Selena Rocha

What if I said there is a way to help control or prevent mania? What if I said this article will show you how to do it?

Mania can be difficult for the person going through it and for others around them. I want to start out by addressing the stigma. This statistic helps eradicate the stigma, “In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.” https://www.mentalhealth.gov. I see this statistic as proof that the stigma is wrong. We are not the cause of crime, we are the victims. So, be kinder and more compassionate towards yourself. I want this to give you some hope that you are not the problem, you are dealing with an illness. With that being said, we will go over how we can prevent or control the mania.

• Step 1: Recognize your triggers.

The hardest thing for a person with bipolar to do is recognize when they are manic. Here we are going to recognize the triggers. A trigger is something that occurs in the external world that strongly impacts you. This trigger can be enough to have you go into a depressive, manic or mixed episode. For now, we are focusing on mania. These triggers can be really big good things that happen to you or really big bad things that happen to you.

Keep in mind, everyone is different. A lot of these triggers might not be applicable to you. They are only examples.

Some examples of triggers could be:

• Big life events such as: getting fired from a job, getting hired at a new job, starting an exciting new relationship, etc.

• Medication change. Antidepressants are known to cause mania. If you are put on an antidepressant, be cautious and go to Step 2. Also, dropping a mood stabilizer might be a trigger. Go through your psychiatrist if you are debating on doing so.

• Substance use increases: If you have been using substances more than usual, this might be a sign.

• Seasons: My bipolar diagnosis has a tendency to switch between mania in the summer and depression in the winter. This might not be applicable to everyone. People with seasonal affective disorder and bipolar might relate to this more.

EXERCISE 1: Write down all your triggers. (It doesn’t have to be from this list).

• Step 2: Recognize your warning signs and symptoms

The difference between a trigger and warning signs is that a trigger is an external event and a warning sign is something you feel that is a symptom of mania.

Examples of warning signs and symptoms include:

• Unexplained restlessness

• Bursts of energy or excitement

• Increased confidence (feeling like a “free bird”)

• Hypersexual (extra flirty)

• Decisions that might put you in harm’s way (walking around alone in dangerous parts of the city at night, etc)

• Talking quickly

• Irritation

EXERCISE 2: Write down all the signs and symptoms you’ve had in previous manic episodes on the same page as the triggers

• Step 3: Checking it off

Periodically you should use this paper as a reference and check off the things that might be applicable to you at the time so you know when you might be experiencing mania.

EXERCISE 3: Put the paper somewhere where you’ll see it often or write it on a whiteboard if you have one. Reference it once a month to see if you check off any of the boxes or reference it if you have a suspicion that you are going through mania.

• Step 4: Tell your doctor and/or psychiatrist

It’s important to tell a doctor if you have checked off any of these boxes so that they can help you get different medication or increase your medication that you already have. Your body can build up a tolerance to medication, which might be the reason why you are experiencing some symptoms of mania. If you have checked off a trigger, still tell your doctor to keep an eye out for you.

EXERCISE 4: Talk to your doctor about this plan and discuss steps moving forward if you were to check off the boxes in the future.

• Step 5: Tell someone/people you trust

It’s hard to recognize these triggers and signs alone. Unfortunately, it's common for people that are experiencing mania don’t even know they are until they get out of it. That’s why it’s important to tell people.

EXERCISE 5: List people who you feel comfortable talking to about this. It can only be one person if you’d like. Tell them about this checklist and discuss what can be done if this time period of mania were to happen.

Suggestion: Have people you care about have a loving intervention with you during a manic episode. Stress the importance of approaching the situation with love. Sometimes the feeling is so good that you don’t want to get out of it. Have them remind you of something that causes a positive emotional response in you so you can realize that you are experiencing mania and want to get out of it.

• Step 6: Go to counseling

Counseling can help you explore your emotions and help you get out of that state of mind. They might have some other good coping techniques in addition to this page.

EXERCISE 6: Do some research on what counseling resources are available to you. Make a list of everything you’ve researched and choose the best one in your opinion. 7 cups therapy is a good option as well.

Suggestion: Try to find something in person. It is more helpful in my opinion when you are face to face with your counselor. Make phone call appointments/online appointments if you can’t find anything else in your area.

I hope this gives you some insight on how to control or prevent manic episodes. I’m going to be doing more research and I have a website with more articles. It’s just starting out.

References:

A Step By Step Technique To Stop Mania - A Beautiful Journey

Selena Rocha (sellistens)

Mental Health Myths and Facts | MentalHealth.gov

Mentalhealth.gov

https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts

Edited by AffyAvo Dec 19, 2022 for offsite contact information