The Quonset Hut

Mania is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood. It varies in intensity, from mild mania (hypomania) to full-blown mania with extreme psychotic features, including delusion of grandeur, suspiciousness, and a preoccupation with thoughts and schemes.

Full-Blown
In full-blown mania, often the manic person will feel as though his or her goal(s) trump all else, that there are no consequences or that negative consequences would be minimal, and that they need not exercise restraint in the pursuit of what they are after for they will disconnect from reality.

Symptons
One of the most revealing signature symptoms of mania is what many have described as racing thoughts. These are usually instances in which the manic person is excessively distracted by objectively unimportant stimuli.
Other elements of mania include delusions (of grandeur, potential, persecution or otherwise), hypervigilance, and an internal pressure to keep talking (over-explanation) of grandiose ideas and plans.
Furthermore, in manic cases, the afflicted person may engage in highly vocal arguments uncharacteristic of previous behaviours.

Manic Episode
A manic episode is characterized by period of time where an elevated, expansive or notably irritable mood is present. Three or more of the following symptoms must be present:
•Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
•More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
•Attention easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant items
•Increase in goal-directed activity
•Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences

Treatment
Unfortunately, little systematic data are available regarding the treatment of Mania in old age. Clinical reports suggest that lithium retains an important role.
The high mortality of patients with Mania is of concern, and may mean that Mania results from a more severe disruption of central nervous system. However, newer technologies and treatments offer hope for improved understanding and management of this important syndrome.

Credits :
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Psych Central

Some long term care centers still have locked units for their gero-psych residents. It's an especially difficult type of diagnosis for nurses to work with. Those people have a tendency to get physically violent, and it's not limited to hitting. They like to bite, or in some cases they just gum you because they won't wear their dentures. The phrase "who flung poo?" also comes to mind. Some of them are quite talented at that. I really don't miss working in long term care. At least with home care it's one on one.

Cat

StarCat wrote:They like to bite, or in some cases they just gum you because they won't wear their dentures. The phrase "who flung poo?" also comes to mind.

HA !
HAHAHA !

Sorry .... it is simply too apt !

No offense. But jeeze ...

Just reliving memories. Ruby as one of my favorite residents. But she absolutely loved flinging baseball sized poo balls at anyone who walked into her room. Gives a whole new perspective to "dodge ball."

Cat

Mania....I suppose it could apply to myself at times.

We all can be come manic, even if it only be a hobby or in finishing a good book, or even about ourselves. So that raises the question....can mania be described as two general categories, "destructive" and "non-destructive" Mania?

Mikado

Probably. I think non-destructive mania would be something we have some control over. Throwing one's self into something productive or interesting, but being able to disengage appropriately.

Cat