Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Hypomania
"People with hypomania are generally perceived as being energetic, euphoric, visionary, overflowing with new ideas, and sometimes over-confident and very charismatic. Unlike full-blown mania, they are sufficiently capable of coherent thought and action to participate in everyday activities. A person in the state of hypomania might be immune to fear and doubt and have little social inhibition. People experiencing hypomania are the typical "life of the party". They may talk to strangers easily, offer solutions to problems, and find pleasure in small activities.
People in hypomanic episodes do not have delusions or hallucinations. They do not lose touch with reality in the sense that they know who they are and what is real. What can be a problem, however, is that they tend to overestimate their capabilities and fail to see the obvious risks involved in their ventures. For example, if they are in business, they may suddenly decide to expand in a way that is not really practical or set up schemes for which they are ill prepared.
Other forms of less inhibited behavior include reckless driving, gambling, spending sprees and sexual adventures. They may also have lots of new ideas but do not follow them through. They are often very jolly to be with but can quickly become very impatient or unpleasant if they cannot get what they want.
However, many hypomanic patients experience:
* lower need for sleep
* racing thoughts
* obsessive behavior, whether mild or severe
* poor judgment relative to a particular situation's judgment call
* uncontrollable, or only partially controllable, impulsivity
* excessive sexual activity
Plus other out-of-character behaviors that the person may regret following the conclusion of the mood episode."
*****
Today, I learnt a few things about mental disorders.
I am wondering why my psychologist told me naught.
"People with hypomania are generally perceived as being energetic, euphoric, visionary, overflowing with new ideas, and sometimes over-confident and very charismatic. Unlike full-blown mania, they are sufficiently capable of coherent thought and action to participate in everyday activities. A person in the state of hypomania might be immune to fear and doubt and have little social inhibition. People experiencing hypomania are the typical "life of the party". They may talk to strangers easily, offer solutions to problems, and find pleasure in small activities.
People in hypomanic episodes do not have delusions or hallucinations. They do not lose touch with reality in the sense that they know who they are and what is real. What can be a problem, however, is that they tend to overestimate their capabilities and fail to see the obvious risks involved in their ventures. For example, if they are in business, they may suddenly decide to expand in a way that is not really practical or set up schemes for which they are ill prepared.
Other forms of less inhibited behavior include reckless driving, gambling, spending sprees and sexual adventures. They may also have lots of new ideas but do not follow them through. They are often very jolly to be with but can quickly become very impatient or unpleasant if they cannot get what they want.
However, many hypomanic patients experience:
* lower need for sleep
* racing thoughts
* obsessive behavior, whether mild or severe
* poor judgment relative to a particular situation's judgment call
* uncontrollable, or only partially controllable, impulsivity
* excessive sexual activity
Plus other out-of-character behaviors that the person may regret following the conclusion of the mood episode."
*****
Today, I learnt a few things about mental disorders.
I am wondering why my psychologist told me naught.
