Recovering from a Manic Episode
Posted in Bipolar Disorder, Mania, Mood Stability on 21. Dec, 2009
In my experience recovering from a manic episode takes time. It’s been four months since the peak started to wane and I’m just now able to see and feel more clearly and easily without the devastating mania monster driving my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. What a relief!
I am surprised at how long it takes for clear-headed thinking to return. The racing thoughts are finally receding. I’m able to be in the present and enjoy people and things around me without that awful pressured feeling. I don’t know how to describe that pressure – it’s almost like you have to keep moving, going, doing, running, racing. It’s exhausting.
Reminders:
- Mania can manifest as euphoria, anger, or anxiety, or all three combined together.
- During manic episodes, you will often not be able to see the havoc you are wreaking, and how you are hurting yourself, your family, and friends. So, you are often reluctant to stop doing what you are doing because you are convinced that it is the “right” thing to be doing.
- I’ve found that it takes weeks even months for the brain to start functioning correctly again, so that you can review what you’ve been through and realize the effects of your actions.
- Early mania feels wonderful, at least to me, and it is very seductive and easy to run with it. Unfortunately, it usually leads to impulsive decisions and actions that end up in disaster.
Thank you for reminding me how long it takes. I had a mixed episode this month that lasted for only two weeks and only because of the lithium intervention. I’m back at work (graduate school) wondering why I can’t think straight after 4 hours. Is it the lithium? Maybe, but I think it’s the fact that my episode was over only last weekend.
This is a horrible disease we share, and I’m tired of the somewhat false association (in my opinion) of bipolar disorder to creativity and genius. More like anguish, fear, and misery.
Hi Josh,
I’m sorry that you are going through the hell of gettting over a mixed episode. In retrospect it took me 4 months to get to a point where I could make good decisions and not feel constant dread, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts when trying to go to sleep. It took upping my Lithium and adding others (Seroquel) just for a short time so that I could get to a point where my prefrontal lobes came back online and I could think and actually write again. In one book I read, it actually described how during an episode your prefrontal cortex stops working. That’s the executive in your head who helps you make decisions and monitors your information processing.
It is a horrible disease but I have to admit that I’ve been most productive at work and in grad school when hypomanic – that is of course – until it got out of control (as always) and I crashed and burned. Not a good strategy for managing the disease. I can’t imagine how many episodes I’d have to endure if I went off lithium. It doesn’t stop them but it helps manage the extremes when they happen. I’ve tried Lamictal and other meds but lithium works well for me.
Hope you are able to think straight again soon. Give yourself some time and be kind to yourself. Thanks for checking in. I wish you all the best.
Luann
Thank you Luann and Josh for this exchange. I am recovering from my first full-blown manic episode at age 53. Very scary. It has been almost three weeks and I am now wondering why I am so anxious, particularly at the end of the day, and why I can’t write or type as easily. You remind me (as well as others with which I have spoken) as to how long “recovery” takes. I will be patient and give it “months” as Luann and others have told me. God bless.
Hi Pete,
It took me quite some time for my brain to process information correctly after getting the mania under control. I hope you recover quickly and do well. I was 57 when I had my first major and very destructive manic episode. I’ve been mildly bipolar all my life but it became extremely difficult to deal with in my fifties. I was diagnosed correctly after the major manic episode. Working with my family and psychiatrist has made all the difference. I’m able to stay relatively stable for the most part. No other major manic episodes so far! But lots of little to moderate mood swings even on medication.
I don’t know why the anxiety seems so prevalent but it does with me as well, mostly when I have to deal with groups of people whether social or in a work situation.
Take care and know that there are many people out there who understand what you are experiencing.
Luann
Hi, a couple of weeks ago I was going through a mized episode, it culminated into a dysphoric mixed manic episode and I had to be taken to the hospital. Currently I’m recovering from the fallout of major depression.
I’ve been experiencing so far lack of concentration, inability to make clear decisions, planning sucks, inability to pick up social cues or maintain concetration, social anxiety,etc. This is my major episode I do not want another one again.
I’m worried that there has been major damage that will be there the rest of my life or that some of these symptoms wont go away. Will these symptoms last forever?
You describe the pressured feeling nicely. It is so hard to describe to the doctors. Whether outside or in a room full of people I feel like there is always something that needs to be done and I’m easily distrated. This is 5 months after a psychotic manic episode (my third hospitalization). And then the racing thoughts kick in and I obsess if I will ever feel better. The one nice thing about the disease (if there is one) if that once the doctors up the medications, and find the right one…all of a sudden within a few days the mind calms and I’m less distracted. My thoughts become more coherent and I can start to trust myself again. But it is a long road. I required 12 days in ICU and 5 months out of work in an out-patient setting. They tell me it will be another 6 months before my brain is fully healed.
Hi tcast,
Sorry to hear that you are having to recover from an episode. Lack of concentration, inability to make clear decisions, inability to plan, and social anxiety are all things that stayed with me for quite some time. The symptoms do lessen over time. Everyone is different though so what I experience will be very different from what you experience.
The best way to avoid or minimize the impact of another episode is to work with your pdoc and therapist to find the right combination of strategies and medications that help you stay stable. Best wishes to you on a speedy recovery.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for your post. You sound like you are doing all the right things to be well again. Stay the course with your treatment. One researcher suggests that it take about a year for the brain to get back into its normal routine after an episode ends. I must be slow, because for me I could still feel some of the fog effects for a couple of years. But by 6 months I could think much more clearly and look back and cringe at some of the things I’d done while manic.
Hi All,
Thanks for all the posts – this is a great resource – to be able to understand what happened to me last year to from others who have gone through a similar experience – at 43, I experienced my first ever hypomanic episode – this result in my losing my job and subsequently bringing about a changing in my accommodation situation. It has taken me quite a while to recover but am getting there slowly. Hearing others’ experiences really helps me on the road to recovery – hope it helps others too
Thanks for posting Dave. Hang in there – it takes time but you will recover. I’m sure your post will help others who are going through hypomanic and/or manic episodes. The more we share with each other the better.
Best wishes to you for a complete recovery and a GREAT life!
It’s nice today to read all the comments, needed it.
Been on lithium four months now, had allergic reactions to seroquel and lamictal- so just Li for me! And mood wise, its been ok- til today
Had first manic episode since starting drugs, am worried.
I don’t like how I acted, or what I said to family, but…
it was soo nice to think “like myself” again you know? Episode fueled by
distressing news, no food and massive amounts of caffeine.
But enjoyed getting ideas and plans again.
Debating calling doctor tomorrow, conflicted!
Anyone else ever feel this way?!
Hi Kelly,
I suggest that you call your doctor right away. It’s very insightful that you are aware that you are becoming manic and it gives you an opportunity to get help before you are so into it that you don’t think you need help. In my experience it doesn’t resolve quickly on its own.
Mania and hypomania are very seductive but you know ultimately how destructive mania can be on your relationships with family and friends. I’m not a medical doctor but it sounds like you may want to have your doctor work with you to adjust your lithium level a bit until your episode resolves.
I also did not do well with Seroquel and I had a terrible reaction to Lamictal. Glad lithium is helping. Don’t hesitate to call your doc.
Luann