Even when a person knows they have bipolar disorder, their symptoms can cause tremendous strain and anxiety. Knowing how to calm a manic episode can prove helpful for the person having one, as well as someone with them when it occurs. Robles Ranch offers residential care for people who need assistance from licensed therapists to learn to minimize their symptoms and anticipate them, whenever possible. We show people they have more power to manage their bipolar disorder than they know, and we work with them to invest in it.

Learn more about our residential mental health treatment programs in California or verify your insurance now. 

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Part of learning how to calm a manic episode is understanding the definition of bipolar disorder. It is a mental health disorder characterized by going through manic and depressive cycles over and over. The person can try to minimize their symptoms through therapy and FDA-approved medications, but the disorder itself cannot be cured. Uncontrolled bipolar disorder can cause difficulty in personal relationships, at work, and in school. Bipolar disorder impacts about 5.7 million adult Americans, and while the disorder itself is well-known, how it impacts a person’s life and the control they can have over it is not common knowledge.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

When someone is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a thorough assessment will tell the person which kind they have. The types of bipolar disorder are:

Bipolar I Disorder: The person cycles through manic and depressive episodes regularly.

Bipolar II Disorder: This is characterized by having manic and depressive episodes, but the symptoms for the mania phase are not as intense. The depressive phase lasts longer than the mania phase.

Cyclothymia: The person experiences manic and depressive symptoms, but they happen fewer times than those associated with Bipolar I and II disorders.

Other Specified Bipolar and Related Disorder: This diagnosis includes people who qualify as having bipolar disorder, but do not fit neatly into one of the above categories.

What are the Symptoms of a Manic Episode?

Manic episodes have to do with feeling a sense of elation and having more energy than usual. Other common symptoms of a manic episode include:

• Staying awake for long periods of time
• Euphoria
• A sense of being invincible
• Engaging in risky behaviors
• Rapid speech
• Unable to stay focused on a task or conversation
• Racing thoughts
• Moodiness

Warning Signs a Manic Disorder is Starting

Symptoms of manic episodes sometimes take a person by surprise, but many times they leave clues that they are about to happen. Part of knowing how to calm a manic episode involves knowing one is going to occur and acting quickly.

Signs that a person is close to having a manic episode include:

• Insomnia
• Difficulty having a conversation or jumping from topic to topic
• The desire to gamble, drive recklessly, or use other potentially risky behaviors. 
• Compulsive exercise or body movement
• Cognitive difficulties
• Wanting to take on several activities in a short amount of time
• Moodiness
• Coming off a depressive state

Tips for How to Help Calm a Manic Episode

Once a person enters a manic cycle, they can use skills to help them learn how to calm a manic episode. The success can range from helping a little bit to giving a person true elevation in being able to manage their manic symptoms. The sooner a person recognizes they are in a manic state, the more they can control how they feel. For example, insomnia is a sign of mania, and the longer it goes on, the less ability the person has to work on managing their symptoms.

Other things a person can do to minimize their symptoms include not drinking alcohol or using drugs, other than those prescribed to them. They can also make a habit of engaging in yoga, meditation, and other anxiety-reducing activities. Getting regular sleep and eating healthy also helps a person improve their mental health. If the symptoms become severe, it’s important to contact their physician or therapist and let them know.

What Treatment for Bipolar Disorder is Available?

The key to helping someone gain control of their bipolar disorder is attending several types of therapy. This provides them with an arsenal of approaches to help them ease their symptoms and feel more in control. The most common types of therapy to help people with bipolar disorder include:

• Animal-Assisted Therapy
• Holistic Therapy
• Inner Child Work
• Psychiatry
• Somatic Therapy
• Family Therapy 
• Group Therapy
• Individual Psychotherapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Biosound Therapy
• Medication Management
• Conscious Recovery

Prescription medications can also help people minimize their symptoms of bipolar disorder and make more progress. 

Begin Treatment for Bipolar Disorder at Robles Ranch

Robles Ranch understands that living with bipolar disorder causes a person to be compelled to feel, think, and act in ways that might seem mysterious or disconcerting to others. Our team of therapists teaches people to understand the full impact of bipolar disorder and how to calm a manic episode. We also discuss options for prescription medications that help ease their symptoms. We believe in everyone’s power to improve their mental health. Let us show you the Robles Ranch way.

Contact us today, and get enrolled quickly in one of our programs. Don’t let bipolar disorder overtake your life.