Bipolar disorder is one of extremes, consisting of a depressive episode followed by a manic episode, or vice versa. Frequently, as a manic episode begins to build, a person with bipolar disorder will first have a milder form of mania called hypomania.
Characteristics of Hypomania
Hypomania has been called everything from euphoric and focused to irritable and impatient. On the whole, a person in a hypomanic state usually feel great, and can accomplish a lot, whether it be at school, on the job or at home. Unfortunately, hypomania doesn't stick last. Eventually, hypomania will lead to a manic episode or depression.
Hpyomnia is associated more with Bipolar II (a milder version) than full-fledged Bipolar I. In order to be diagnosed with Bipolar II, a person has to have at least episode of hypomania. This can follow either with a depressive episode or a period of time when a person is on a more even keel.
Symptoms of Hypomania
It's not easy to detect hypomania. It can only be a diagnosis if a person has also had depression at some point in life. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) offers a range of symptoms that may pinpoint hypomania. These may include a few days of consistent high energy and/or irritability and a feeling of self-confidence so strong it borders on grandiosity. A person having a hypomanic episode may also have no desire to sleep; he may be more talkative, hopping from subject to subject, and may also have an inability to focus.
Hypomania may make a person actually be more productive, but he'll also have problems determining what he should do next, what takes priority, and what he'll need to complete the task. This person may also need to be center stage--and have a short fuse if he doesn't get his way.
Another indicator of hypomania is if a friend or loved one says, "You're not yourself these days." A key to getting help is if a person's behaviors are interfering with daily life, or if the hypomania becomes depression--or full-blown mania.
Treatment
Some people do not want to be treated for hypomania. Who wouldn't want to feel good? But when their hypomania either becomes a manic or depressive episode, they will need help. Getting a correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder can ultimately mean a more productive life. Some treatments include:
Anticonvulsants are the treatment of choice for treating mania. Although, as the name implies, they are used to treat seizures, they have been found to help stabilize moods. Examples of anticonvulsants are valproic acid, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995, and, more recently, lamotrigine.
Atypical antipsychotics have also been found to help keep the "edge" off mania. In 2006, quetiapine (brand name: Seroquel) became the first antipsychotic approved by the FDA for bipolar disorders.
To help avoid hypomania from becoming full-blown mania or go the opposite way, into a depressive state, try to remember what the ancient Greeks said, "Moderation in all things." A healthy lifestyle can go far and includes avoiding excess alcohol or sugar, exercising three to five times a week, sleeping seven or eight hours a night, and establishing a routine that consists of regular bedtimes. A lifestyle like this can keep things on an "even keel."
Another device to keep rushing thoughts and short fuses at bay is journaling. The physicial motion of putting pen to paper can relax and the reflection you are forced to do can help you monitor your hypomania, helping to ensure it doesn't turn into a full-blow bipolar disorder.
References
- National Institutes of Mental Health
- Less Than Crazy: Living Fully With Bipolar II; Karla Dougherty; 2008.
- Exuberance: The Passion For Life; Kay Redfield Jamison; 2005
