What Severe Mania Really Feels Like: An Ex-Therapist’s Lived Experience

Updated: 11/29/2025

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this blog are affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. I only share services and products I believe can genuinely support mental health. 💙

TL;DR:

• Many people think that mania is fun and glamorize it.

• However, severe mania is not “fun.” It is overwhelming and can lead to psychosis and hospitalization.

• Here’s my personal experience with severe mania.

If you know a little bit about bipolar disorder, you probably know that it involves intense mood swings characterized by highs (mania) and sometimes lows (depression). Mania is often portrayed as the “fun” side of bipolar, but from someone who’s lived through severe mania, I can tell you: that’s simply not true. Severe mania is very complex and disruptive. I was hospitalized several times for weeks because of it.

My official diagnosis upon discharge from the hospital was bipolar I disorder, severe with psychotic features, which included delusions and a break from reality.

Here’s what severe mania looked like for me:

• FaceTiming relatives and sending rapid-fire texts at 3 AM.

• Leaving long, rambling voice notes that I’d later wonder what I was thinking. 

• Building an entire website from scratch, and staying up until 5 AM working on it. 

• Feeling unstoppable… until it all came down around me.

• Experiencing delusions: I became convinced that a well-recognized doctor was in love with me.

Severe mania is a loss of control. And living through it has taught me a lot (that I never learned in textbooks).  

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this because mania is often discussed clinically. Lots of sites, like The Cleveland Clinic, break down the clinical symptoms. But it is rarely described from experience. My intention is to offer a lived-experience perspective to help others better understand what severe mania is really like.

My Severe Mania Symptoms

A person with mania may have euphoria, which is an intense feeling of excitement or joy.  However, mania isn't just "feeling good." It's your brain going completely haywire. A manic episode is not subtle. 

Mania is only present in bipolar I, not bipolar II. According to the DSM-5, a manic episode includes one week of a high or irritable mood (or any duration if hospitalized), plus increased activity and energy. My personal warning signs of bipolar mania include:

• Decreased need for sleep - You have too many good ideas to sleep. Your brain just won’t turn off. 

• Grandiosity - This may look like inflated self-esteem. You’re convinced you’re famous or a genius. During episodes, I believed that I was famous and about to do something life-changing.

• Racing thoughts - Your thoughts are going a mile a minute (hence the long voice notes). Your speech might (will probably) be rapid too. During one episode, a family member told me that I talked for 3 hours straight in the emergency room.

• Involvement in risky activities - The activities may not be risky in and of themselves. But they are risky because of a lack of judgment. You may spend money (that you don’t have) recklessly. You may travel impulsively (even though you are not in a state to do so). Sometimes, these behaviors result in arrest. For example, you may engage in reckless driving or other risky actions that could easily land you in jail. 

• Increase in goal-directed activity - You start big projects (ex., a novel) or you book trips to far-away places that you have no right visiting in your current state.

These symptoms must be severe enough that they impact your daily life, relationships, or work. If they require hospitalization or include psychosis, then it’s enough to qualify as a manic episode. 

Going through this now? You don’t have to figure this out alone. Here’s a place to talk to someone who gets it.

Common Misconceptions About Mania 

One common misconception is that mania is fun. It’s not. During severe mania, you may feel irritated. Your thoughts may be racing so fast that you can’t even keep up. That’s not fun. It’s disorientating. You become agitated. 

Another misconception is that mania is the same as hyperactivity. It is not. Mania also includes racing thoughts, risky behaviors, and grandiosity. These things are typically not present in hyperactivity. Also, during mania, psychotic symptoms like delusions may occur. This is not seen in ADHD or hyperactivity. 

FAQs to Better Understand Mania 

​​Mania is often misunderstood by those who have not experienced it. In this FAQ section, I’ll answer some of the most important questions about severe mania. This will help you gain a better understanding of what it is and how it can be managed.

How long does a manic episode last?

To meet diagnostic criteria, it has to be at least 7 consecutive days (or fewer if the person is hospitalized). However, mania can last weeks to several months. If you receive the proper treatment, symptoms usually begin to improve within two weeks. 

What is the difference between mania and hypomania?

Mania lasts at least 7 days. It is severe and results in a major disruption to the person’s life (such as hospitalization). Hypomania is seen in bipolar 2. It is less severe. It lasts at least 4 consecutive days. 

Can mania come without feeling euphoric or happy?

Many people think mania is always “fun,” and that a person in mania feels happy, but that is not the case, especially with severe mania. Irritability is also common during manic episodes. I experienced anxiety during manic episodes, which is also common, according to the research.

How does it feel to be manic?

It can feel different for different people. For me, it’s a mix of euphoria, chaos, and urgency. In severe mania, a person can become detached from reality and that’s what happened to me. This required hospitalization (for me). 

What is the treatment for bipolar mania?

For me, the primary treatment was mood stabilizers. But I was also in therapy. During my last manic episode, my therapist was instrumental in recognizing severe symptoms and directing me to the hospital for urgent help.

Reaching out for support is a strength. If you’re considering therapy, you can learn more here: Online counseling resources

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. It is based on lived experience. It is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat any mental health condition.