ssion. Signs and symptoms of mania include discrete periods of: Increased energy, activity, restlessness, racing thoughts, and rapid talking Excessive "high" or euphoric feelings Extreme irritability and distractibility Decreased need for sleep Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers Uncharacteristically poor judgment A sustained period of behavior that is different than usual Increased sexual drive Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior Denial that anything is wrong Signs and symptoms of depression include discrete periods of: Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down" Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions Restlessness or irritability Sleep disturbances Loss of appetite and weight, or weight gain Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical disease Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in manic-depressive illness as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, which shades into moderate depression; then come mild and brief mood disturbances that many people call "the blues," then normal mood, then hypo mania (a mild form of mania), and then mania. ...
