Manic attacks is not a common psychological term. While this term may have been used in the past, periods of mania are commonly referred to as manic episodes, mania, or episodes of mania.
If someone has bipolar disorder, it does not mean that their mood is constantly disturbed by the illness. They may have periods of days, weeks, or even years without a mood disturbance. When symptoms of mania emerge, people may call this a manic attack.
When people have a manic episode, they experience a persistently elevated or irritable mood. Symptoms of mania must last at least two weeks or be severe enough to require hospitalization for the symptoms to be considered a manic episode.
Four other symptoms of mania in addition to an irritable mood are required for it to be considered a manic episode. An elevated mood only requires three additional symptoms of mania to constitute a manic episode.
The symptoms of mania include a decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, elevated self-esteem, distractibility, an increase in goal-achieving activity, racing thoughts or flight of ideas, and excessive pleasure-seeking activities without considering the consequences.
A manic episode causes symptoms that interfere with the person’s daily life. If the symptoms are caused by a physical illness, medications, or drugs, the symptoms are not considered evidence of a manic episode.
When someone has a manic episode, the person is often diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. Many effective treatment methods can help a person managed to this disorder. Mood-stabilizing medication and cognitive behavioral therapy are common treatment methods for bipolar I disorder.
Some people who use the term “manic attack” may be confusing the term “manic attack” with “panic attack.” A panic attack is a brief, yet significant and sometimes severe, episode of physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety like feelings of fear or dread and an increased heart rate.
