Mania and hypomania are often referred to as the "up" side of bipolar disorder. Though either a manic or a hypomanic episode can be quite destructive, we as clinicians often hear concerns from patients about treating these kinds of mood episodes. The reality is that after a long struggle with depressive episodes, a manic or hypomanic episode can sometimes feel like a welcome break for our patients. It is during these episodes that patients oftentimes become non-compliant with their medicine and other on-going treatment modes (e.g. therapy) - perhaps because a part of them does not want to let go of the euphoria that mania and hypomania induce.As clinicians it is our responsibility to negotiate this difficult and delicate dilemma in our patients' mood functioning. On one hand we want our patients to feel good, and on the other we know how precipitous the guise of euphoria can prove to be for the patient, his/her loved ones, and for the course of treatment.
In my own experience working with patients with bipolar illness I often hear people express fear that treating mood symptoms, especially hypomania, will negatively impact their creative process. On one hand I can easily empathize with their concerns, yet as a clinician I worry about the impact that these concerns will have on their treatment and progress. There are no easy answers to this dilemma.In contemplating about all this I recently came across a very interesting article that poignantly discusses this very real and fairly common predicament.
You can read the article here:
If you have any thoughts or input on this topic - whether from a clinician's or patient's point of view - kindly share it with us. We would love to hear your thoughts.
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