mania symptoms - #17407

For the past few months, I’ve been noticing some extreme mood swings. There are times when I feel incredibly energetic, euphoric, and unstoppable, but these high points are followed by feelings of irritability and anger. I’ve heard about mania and its symptoms, and I’m starting to wonder if what I’m experiencing could be related to this condition. From what I understand, mania is characterized by extreme highs in mood, excessive energy, and impulsive behaviors, but I’m not sure if what I’m going through is truly mania or just periods of stress and excitement. During my manic episodes, I’ve felt overly confident, talked faster than usual, and even made decisions without fully thinking them through. It’s like I’m on top of the world, but then, once the high wears off, I feel completely drained and down. I’ve also noticed that I tend to sleep less when I’m in these episodes, but I don’t feel tired at all. I’m worried that this could be a sign of a mental health condition like bipolar disorder. I’ve heard that mania can be part of bipolar disorder, but I’m not sure what distinguishes mania from just feeling excited or motivated. How can I tell if I’m experiencing mania or if these mood swings are just due to stress or life events? What are some other symptoms of mania that I should look out for to help confirm if I need to seek help from a doctor or therapist? I’m also curious about treatment options for mania. I’ve heard that medication is often used to stabilize mood, such as mood stabilizers or antipsychotic drugs, but are there any non-medical treatments or strategies that can help prevent manic episodes? How can I manage the symptoms and reduce the likelihood of these mood swings disrupting my daily life? Has anyone here been diagnosed with mania or bipolar disorder? How did you recognize the symptoms, and what treatments helped you stabilize your mood?