[jtassar93]

Hello. I was just trying to decipher and understand my manias.

Can someone explain mild mania and full blown mania and just anything that would help me please. I need to be able to know so I can write it down or have my mom notice and tell me so I can tell my doctor.

I think mania manifests itself differently in every person, so I have a difficult time trying to give you an objective response to your question. If you tend to get psychotic symptoms when manic, though, that can be a good way to differentiate mania from hypomania. i.e., no psychosis will likely indicate hypomania.

So basically, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, etc. typically come with full-blown mania. Not always, though, as I have to admit. Some people just don't get traditonal psychotic symptoms but instead have jumbled, incoherent speech ("word salad") or may spend tens of thousands of dollars on things they normally wouldn't even care for when they're stable. Or impulsively flying to another country without even thinking it through. That, to me, suggests full-blown mania.

Hope that helps

[Pookyl]

Keeping in mind we’re all different. This is my experience with hypomania:

I smile constantly, often inappropriately in response to things others say.
I have music playing in my head like what you get on an old roundabout.
I talk and laugh a lot. My speech is fast and all over the place: I think I sound normal but people look at me like “huh?”
I start shopping.

2 hours later:
I’m full blown shopping
Indulging in risky behaviour
Verbal diarrhoea and dancing etc.

I’m someone who needs to take PRN’s really quickly after onset of initial symptoms. If I don’t I end up in hospital. Or, I’m at risk of ending up on social media

Mild mania: building an improvised miniature helicopter

Full-blown mania: flying the improvised miniature helicopter

[RainyDay107]

One of my first signs is striking up unsolicited conversations with total strangers, as in the grocery line. (I’m an introvert so this is unlike me.)

I think less sleep is one, but I’m a lifelong insomniac so that’s a tough one. But waking in the middle of the night, springing out of bed and “ready to start my day”....full of energy and smiling. Normally it would be tossing and turning, exhaustion and frustration.

No appetite for food, yet an “appetite” for most other pleasures in life. Compulsory urges. Also, risk-taking behavior regarding spending and speeding. Euphoria.

A precursor to my manic and mixed episodes have always been long periods of ongoing, severe stress that occur on a daily basis.