- True happiness, the kind that sustains and nourishes stems from a place of balance and self-awareness, not from a runaway train of thoughts and impulses.
There is a peculiar kind of brilliance that descends when Mania takes hold. It isn't the quiet, contented joy of a sunny afternoon or the gentle warmth of genuine connection. No, this is an incandescent almost blinding light, a feeling of utterly boundless energy and an electric surge of ideas.
It’s a happiness that promises the world, a deceptive allure that whispers of invincibility and for a while you believe it.
The world sharpens into vivid focus, every color more vibrant and every sound a symphony. Sleep becomes an unnecessary luxury as the mind races with a thousand brilliant plans, each more audacious than the last.
You might feel extreme irresistible urge to create, connect, speak and every word feels like pure gold. This is not just feeling good, it is divine sensation. It is a compelling, intoxicating state where every impulse feels like a stroke of genius and every decision no matter how reckless feels absolutely right.
Crucially, this isn't a happiness that springs from within. It’s a borrowed high, an artificial elevation that unbeknownst to you in the moment that is burning through your reserves at an alarming rate.
Read More
The heightened mood. While euphoric is often accompanied by an edge of irritability – a short fuse when the world doesn't keep pace with your accelerated thoughts.
The "goal-directed activity" becomes a scattergun approach, starting a dozen projects without finishing one driven by an urgent excitement that quickly fades.
The grandiosity, that exaggerated sense of self-importance can lead to impulsive behaviors that unravel lives.
Imagine suddenly deciding to spend every penny on a grand, ill-conceived venture or engaging in conversations that push boundaries and damage relationships.
In the moment, it feels exhilarating, elation that you’re finally living life to its fullest. But the aftermath can be devastating leaving a trail of financial hardship, broken trust and profound regret.
This isn't to say that periods of heightened mood are always dangerous. Hypomania, a milder form might even feel productive and enjoyable. But when it escalates, when the brilliance becomes blinding and the energy turns frantic, that’s when the "happiness" transforms into something else entirely. Full-blown Mania that may require hospitalization.
It’s a powerful reminder that not all elevated states are benign. True happiness, the kind that sustains and nourishes stems from a place of balance and self-awareness, not from a runaway train of thoughts and impulses.
Understanding this difference is the first, crucial step toward navigating the complex landscape of our own minds.
