Mania Is Terrifying

Mania doesn't present as "they're being wacky and could do just about anything next!". It presents as "...something is very wrong and this is properly fucked."

Mania is terrifying to witness.

The unpredictability is not "ha-ha look how eccentric they're being" but more "they just quit their job, bought 40,000 vuvuzelas and missed rent."

It's not "y'know, I wouldn't be surprised"; it's "holy shit they actually did it for real."

I'm aware of one case where a manic person with no qualifications tried to fly to NASA to school them on how to build a Dyson sphere. When they couldn't get a visa, they flew to the Australian Space Agency instead, were detained at the airport and spent COVID lockdown in a psych ward.

I'm aware of people who were manic suddenly starting to stalk celebrities or trying to stab police officers. If those examples don't give you an idea of what is actually involved, I don't know what will.

Describing someone who is merely excited and engaged as "manic" is fucking offensive, especially if they have actually experienced mania before. Attempting to fudge it by saying you're using the "layperson's" meaning, or pretending there's a difference between "mania" and someone being "manic", is equally offensive.

Equating the person being happy or energetic to a harm which has structurally damaged their life is fucking disgusting. There are many words appropriate to describe enthusiasm or effort, and this is not one of them.

If you do not understand this topic, listen to the people who do. Being careless with this word blinds you to very real and serious danger.

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Version: 1

Written: 2026-01-21

Written on: 7.5mg olanzapine since 2025-11-25

Mental health was: poor - estimate 25% brain