When hypomania turns harmful, from the Harvard Mental Health Letter
Artists, entrepreneurs, and other creative people tend to be energetic and inventive, bursting with new ideas, and more than ready to talk about them. These are also some of the characteristics of hypomania, reports the Harvard Mental Health Letter. Hypomania is a mood state or energy level that is markedly higher than "normal" but not as extreme as the mania that accompanies bipolar disorder.
The hallmarks of hypomania include exaggerated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, racing thoughts or ideas, marked distractibility, agitation, and excessive participation in pleasurable activities that tend to invite personal or financial harm, such as sexual indiscretions or impulsive business investments.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealthOnline+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or faculty expert.
With HHO+ you get these exclusive benefits:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
SPECIAL OFFER! UNLOCK EXPERT ACCESS for 30 days FREE!
Already a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.