Feeling tired and unmotivated, sleeping more hours, and moving at a slower pace are possible signs that you’re exiting a manic episode. Conflicting emotions and a sense of boredom may come next.

Mania is a physiological state featuring unusually elevated mood, energy, and activity. It often involves feelings of euphoria, impulsivity, or grandiosity.

Many people also experience symptoms of mental and physical agitation, such as restlessness, rapid speech, and a decreased need for sleep.

A clinical episode of mania can last at least 7 days and cause significant impairment. While considered a defining feature of bipolar disorders, mania can also occur under other circumstances, such as traumatic brain injury.

Mania is associated with increases in energy and elevated mood. Therefore, signs that a manic episode is ending usually include the gradual decline of those symptoms and a return to typical functioning.

You may notice a decrease in irritability, sleep disturbances, and low impulse control.

Other signs mania is ending may include:

  • decreased or slowed speech output (compared to speech output during mania)
  • a calmer or more even-keel demeanor
  • increased concentration
  • higher need to pause and rest
  • improved quality of sleep (sleeping more hours and uninterruptedly)
  • reduced tendency to engage in potentially unsafe behaviors
  • diminished sense of general urgency

The end of a manic episode may feel bland and monotonous at first, explained Jacob Wilen, a licensed associate marriage and family therapist in Malibu, California.

You may feel exhausted physically and mentally, and feelings such as anger, frustration, regret, and guilt may also surface.

If you’re receiving medical treatment for bipolar disorder, medications like mood stabilizers and antipsychotics may speed the end of mania. They could also help with reducing compulsive behaviors and restoring emotional regulation, said Wilen.

Some of these medications, however, may lead to intense fatigue and brain fog as your body adjusts to them.

“Working closely with a psychiatrist and therapist during this time is essential,” Wilen advised. “The fog will clear eventually, and you can recover with the help of a treatment team.”

A manic episode can be disruptive, but you can help yourself get back on track by staying proactive.

Be gentle with yourself

Wilen recommends taking it easy on yourself.

“Your body and brain just went through a lot. Don’t take on new projects, make major decisions, and put any travel plans on hold. Reduce stress wherever possible and keep it simple,” he advised.

Keep up with healthy lifestyle habits

Fostering healthy lifestyle habits can help you maintain them when you’re experiencing a manic episode.

Developing a consistent sleep schedule, for example, can encourage your body to naturally want to sleep and wake up at the same time. It may not always override mania, but it can position you for success.

Adhering to your treatment plan is also key.

Rely on your support network

Having a support system available after a manic episode can be a source of comfort and guidance. Support systems can include trusted friends, family members, healthcare professionals, and organized groups of people sharing similar experiences.

Wilen indicated that attending an intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a common recommendation for treating bipolar disorder.

“IOPs offer group therapy 4 to 5 days per week, where you can process your experiences with others with similar diagnoses,” he said. “Some IOPs offer yoga, nutrition counseling, and sobriety groups if addiction is a co-occurring problem.”

Consulting with a mental health professional

Medications and targeted interventions can help you manage symptoms and episodes of mania.

If you’ve just experienced a manic episode, speaking with a mental health professional can ensure you’re on the correct dosage of medication and that no adjustments to your treatment plan are needed.

Learning more about mania can help you and those around you recognize the end of manic episodes and know what to do in the aftermath.

Can a manic episode be prevented?

Episodes of mania may not be completely preventable due to complex interactions between genetics and brain chemistry, but reducing the frequency and intensity of episodes is possible if you consistently follow your treatment plan.

How can I prep my life when I think a manic episode is coming?

Working with a mental health professional can help. Tracking your symptoms and stressors can also help you gain insight into any changes that may suggest an oncoming mood episode. It’s also important to keep your emergency contacts and medication information at hand.

How do you calm a manic episode naturally?

Research shows that medication is the only reliable form of intervention for mania. Stress management, avoiding alcohol and other substances, and a support system that understands mania can also help.

Signs that a manic episode is subsiding may include sleeping more and better, speaking and moving slower, needing more time for rest and relaxation, being able to focus more, and becoming more aware of (and avoiding) possible unsafe behaviors.

It’s also natural to experience increased fatigue, guilt and remorse, and boredom. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and support systems and being kind to yourself can help you return to your usual as soon as possible.