Denton County Living Well Magazine September/October 2019 | Page 48

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years. They show up as changes in behavior, thinking, and
emotions.
The difference between mania and hypomania is primarily
the severity of the symptom where mania is more extreme.
Mania or hypomania can be seen in the following symp-
toms:
Changes in behavior may include:
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Poor hygiene
Talking to oneself or odd speech
Difficulty with making or maintaining friendships
Substance abuse
Unusual facial or body movements
Unblinking vacant expressions
Difficulty picking up on social cues
Threatening behaviors
Increasing isolation
Inappropriate emotional responses like laughing at something sad
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• Decreased need for sleep
Elated mood to exaggerated optimism
Increased energy
Increased confidence
Extreme focus on projects
Increased physical or mental activity
Increased creativity or productivity
Increased libido to hypersexual thoughts and behavior
Difficulty concentrating
Inflated sense of self-importance
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• Risk taking and reckless behavior
Racing speech and thoughts
Grandiose delusions
Hallucinations
Emotional changes are often seen in:
• Angry outbursts
• Extreme moodiness or irritability
• Severe anxiety and fearfulness.
Changes in thinking might include paranoia:
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Obsessing about the past
Visual or auditory hallucinations
Delusional thinking (illogical and nonsensical ideas)
Difficulty with concentration or following a train of thought
Trouble distinguishing dreams or television scenes from reality.
Bipolar
Bipolar is a mood disorder with swings to opposite ex-
tremes. It’s believed there may be a correlation between
this disease and ADHD. There are a couple forms of bipo-
lar, one in which mania is more severe. The less extreme
state is called hypomania. With bipolar, the mood swings
in teens can change in the course of just a few hours or
days. During adulthood the swings can last much longer,
for weeks or months.
Depressive symptoms to watch for include:
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Loss of interest in activities
Decline in grades
Difficulty concentrating
Prolonged sadness or irritability
Loss of energy
Change in sleep patterns
Change in food intake
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
No longer experiencing pleasure
Suicidal thoughts
Anxiety, worrying, and anger
Schizoaffective disorder
This disease has the combined symptoms of both schizo-
phrenia and bipolar. The symptoms, therefore, can be any
combination of symptoms for the two distinct diseases.
Getting help
If your child exhibits signs of SMI, be aware that counselors
and therapists often don’t have the educational and med-
ical background to diagnose or treat these specific brain
diseases. Seek an evaluation at a walk-in mental health
crisis center or a licensed psychiatrist. You can also consult
with your family doctor who can make a referral.
Kimberly Blaker is a freelance lifestyle writer. She also writes content and blog
posts for businesses in a variety of industries and is an expert in on page SEO.
www.kimberlyblaker.com
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DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019