Unveiling the Key Aspects of Manic Depression
Mental illness is something that many people fear—not just because they worry about experiencing it themselves, but also because it can be intimidating to interact with those who have it. Understanding mental illnesses can make these interactions easier.
Take bipolar disorder, for instance, which is also known as manic depression. People with bipolar disorder experience both depressive episodes and manic episodes. While it’s similar to depression, it includes the additional challenge of mania. Here’s a look at what this can involve.
Sometimes during extreme depressive or manic episodes, people can experience psychotic symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, or catatonia. Typically, the content of these delusions or hallucinations aligns with the person’s current mood. For instance, during a depressive episode, someone might have overwhelming feelings of worthlessness and guilt, believing they are the worst person in the world or responsible for terrible events. They may also hear voices criticizing them for their perceived flaws and past mistakes.
In contrast, someone experiencing a manic episode might have grandiose delusions, feeling invincible or unusually powerful. For example, a woman might believe her screenplay will be a huge success, leading her to rack up significant credit card debt in anticipation of a big payoff. If her plans don’t work out, she might develop persecutory delusions, thinking there’s a conspiracy against her. These manic delusions can even involve communications with famous figures or religious icons.
Occasionally, the delusions don’t match the person’s mood and are known as “mood incongruent” delusions. These can be especially unsettling and challenging to treat. For instance, a depressed man might believe that a machine controls his thoughts and actions, or a manic woman might think aliens removed her ovaries.
To diagnose someone with depression or mania with psychotic features, specific criteria must be met. You must be experiencing a depression severe enough to qualify as Major Depressive Disorder or a mania severe enough for Bipolar I Disorder. Additionally, your delusions, hallucinations, or catatonia occur only during the depressive or manic episodes and disappear once the mood disorder subsides.
