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Some of the signs of domestic abuse, such as physical marks, may be easy to identify. Others may be things you can easily explain away or overlook—say, chalking up a friend’s skipping out on an activity you once enjoyed together as being due to a simple loss of interest.

Domestic abuse affects each person differently, but it impacts everyone both physically and psychologically. It’s often an aggregate of related signs of domestic abuse that tip someone off that a person is at risk.

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone regardless of their social, educational, or financial status. While red flags aren’t always proof that someone is being mistreated in this way, they are worth knowing. Many who are abused may try to cover up what is happening to them for a variety of reasons, and it goes without saying that these individuals could benefit from help.

Physical Signs of Domestic Abuse

If someone is being physically abused, they will likely have frequent bruises or physical injuries consistent with being punched, choked, or knocked down—and they’ll likely have a weak or inconsistent explanation for these injuries.

Some signs of physical abuse include:

• Black eyes
• Bruises on the arms
• Busted lips
• Red or purple marks on the neck
• Sprained wrists

It’s also common for someone to try to cover up the physical signs with clothing. For example, you may notice someone you care about wearing long sleeves or scarves in the hot summer. Wearing heavier than normal makeup or donning sunglasses inside are also common signs of domestic abuse.

Emotional Signs of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse, of course, can take a serious emotional toll, creating a sense of helplessness, hopelessness, or despair. Domestic abuse can cause people to believe that they will never escape the control of the abuser. They may also exhibit a constant state of alertness to the point they never can completely relax.

Other emotional signs of abuse include:

• Agitation, anxiety, or constant apprehension
• Changes in sleep habits (sleeping too much or not enough)
• Developing a drug or alcohol problem
• Extremely apologetic or meek
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Low self-esteem
• Seeming fearful
• Symptoms of depression
• Talking about or attempting suicide

These symptoms, of course, could be due to many other conditions or factors, but they are typical of domestic abuse victims who feel they are trapped in an abusive relationship.

How Abuse Causes Behavior Changes

If you notice that someone who was once outgoing and cheerful has gradually become quiet and withdrawn, it could be a sign of domestic abuse.

You may notice that the person:

• Becomes reserved and distant
• Begins isolating themselves by cutting off contacts with friends and family members
• Cancels appointments or meetings with you at the last minute
• Drops out of activities they would usually enjoy
• Exhibits excessive privacy concerning their personal life or the person with whom they’re in a relationship
• Is often late to work or other appointments

Showing Signs of Fear

People who are being abused may seem anxious or nervous when they are away from the abuser, or they may seem overly anxious to please their partner. If they have children, the children may seem timid, frightened, or extremely well-behaved when the partner is around.

Although victims may not talk about the actual abuse, they might refer to the abuser as “moody” or having a bad temper. They may reveal that the partner is particularly bad-tempered when drinking alcohol.

Sometimes, the fear a victim of abuse experiences is so intense they feel paralyzed to make decisions or to even protect themselves or their children. When the fear gets to that point, they will even turn down help offered by friends, family, or even professional protective services.

What Controlling Behavior Looks Like

Domestic abuse is not about violence, it’s all about control. If you notice that someone seems to be controlled or extremely manipulated in all areas of their life, it could be a sign they are being abused at some level.

Here are some examples of control:

• Asking permission to go anywhere or to meet and socialize with other people
• Constant calls, texts, or tracking by their partner wanting to know where they are, what they are doing, and who they are with
• Having very little money available to them, not having access to a credit card, or having to account for every penny spent
• Not having access to a vehicle
• Referring to their partner as “jealous” or “possessive,” or always accusing them of having affairs

How to Help a Loved One

If you suspect a loved one is experiencing domestic abuse, there are steps you can take to support them and encourage them to get help. Listening to your loved one, watching for warning signs, and offering support are essential.

If your loved one confides in you, help them make a safety plan. This plan should include excuses they can use if they need to leave the situation, where they can go if they decide to leave, and an escape bag filled with essentials they will need if they need to leave quickly. 

Also, put your loved one in touch with resources to help them stay safe and get the help they need. This can include domestic violence shelters and helplines offering information and direct assistance. The National Domestic Abuse Hotline is a resource that offers assistance via phone, chat, or text. You can text “START” to 88788 or call 1-800-799-7233 to speak to an advocate. You can also find more tips for creating a safety plan on their website.

You can also encourage your loved one to join a domestic violence support group to help them heal from their experiences.

Complaining is a natural part of human communication. It is often a response to problems or a way to communicate dissatisfaction. Sometimes, however, people might find themselves wondering if they complain too much. In such cases, knowing how to stop complaining can help you manage your stress in more adaptive ways.

It’s probably not realistic to decide never to complain again, but setting limits can be beneficial. This article explores why people complain, the impact it can have on well-being, and steps to minimize daily complaints.

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Why Do People Complain?

It can be helpful to better understand what causes this type of communication. People complain for a wide variety of reasons. Some factors that play a role:

Emotional Regulation

Sometimes people complain as a way to manage their emotions. By venting their feelings, they hope to lessen the severity of these distressing emotions.

Mood

People may be more likely to complain when they are experiencing negative moods. The problem with this is that people complain more when they are in a bad mood. Their complaining then leads to further negative moods, creating a vicious cycle.

Personality

Research suggests that certain personality traits play a role in how frequently people complain. Perhaps not surprisingly, people who rate high on the trait called agreeableness are the least likely to complain.

Social Factors

Other people can also influence how often people complain. Being around people who tend to complain a lot can make people more likely to air their own grievances. Shared complaining can also serve as a form of social bonding.

Even people who frequently share special moments with loved ones, follow their passions in life, write about gratitude in a journal, or engage in other positive activities may still find themselves complaining more than they need to—and more than is healthy. 

Most people do need to express frustrations from time to time. People need to talk to loved ones about feelings, both positive and negative. They need to seek the opinions of those they trust when facing difficult choices or situations.

These actions can be positive, but it can also often involve sharing stories about problems. Sometimes that slips into excessive complaining or gossip—and that can be a slippery slope. A healthier form of complaining includes brainstorming solutions,

Are You Complaining Too Much?

How do you know if you are complaining too much? It can be helpful to pay attention to your daily communication—whether in person, by text message, or another method. Notice how much of the content of your conversations is focused on complaints or negativity.

It’s normal to notice that some of your daily communication involves dwelling on grievances or complaints. But if you notice a pattern that many of your words are focused on negativity, it may be a sign that you need to find a way to address your complaining.

Some signs that you might be complaining too much:

• You air negativity but don’t try to find any solutions
• You often ruminate about past events
• You experience a lot of regrets and wish you could go back and change things
• You frequently experience feelings of anxiety
• You’re usually irritable after complaining
• You have a negative mood and outlook on life
• Talking about problems makes you feel helpless or hopeless

Frequent complaining might also reduce the number of positive influences in your life. The people who do want to spend time with you tend to reinforce your negativity through co-rumination, or re-hashing past events over and over again.

How to Stop Complaining

If this rings true to you and you would like to renew your commitment to keeping things as positive as they can be, try he following plan to minimize complaining, maximize optimism, and reduce stress.

The first step is to become aware of complaining too much or slipping into rumination. The next step is to try something new. These proven strategies can help:

Journaling

Writing in a journal brings many health and wellness-related benefits. The trick to effective journaling is to write about the problem and your feelings about it, then brainstorm solutions and see the positives in your situation.

Seeking Support

Social support is a great stress reliever, and if you’re lucky, you have some supportive and wise people in your life to talk to when you’re down. Instead of complaining to them, laugh with them.

If you face a more significant challenge, tell them how you’re feeling, get their thoughts (and maybe a hug), and move on to happier topics. No complaining is necessary.

Remaining Grateful

Counting your blessings can be a great way to get out of a bad mood or switch your focus away from your frustrations. It’s hard to complain when you’re thinking about how lucky you are.

Research has found that practicing gratitude increases subjective well-being, life satisfaction, and mood while reducing feelings of depression.

Taking Action

The urge to complain comes from dissatisfaction with something going on in life (often coupled with a feeling of inability to change it). Complaints can be a signal that action is needed.

So, the next time you feel like complaining, instead focus on what you can do to change your circumstances—and then (if possible) do it.

Cultivating Optimism

It’s much easier to drop negative habits by replacing them with positive ones. Replacing negative thoughts and words with optimistic ones brings so many benefits. It’s worth trying, even if you’re not planning on giving up complaining anytime soon.

When Is Complaining a Good Thing?

Complaining isn’t always a bad thing. When done effectively, complaining can actually have a beneficial impact on your well-being. The key is that it needs to be done in a certain way and for a specific purpose.

Such findings are consistent with other research on emotional expressions of frustration. While venting emotions is sometimes seen as a way to achieve catharsis, evidence shows that it makes negative emotions even worse in many cases.

This also holds true in online settings. Posting a negative review or rant might make you feel better momentarily, but studies show that focusing on these negative emotions worsens moods. Rather than releasing emotions, it tends to amplify them.

So what can you do to make complaining effective and productive? Some strategies that can help:

Advocate for Yourself

Complaining with a purpose is essential, particularly when standing up for yourself at work or in a relationship. Constant griping in any situation is bound to create more stress and conflict, but strategic complaints that focus on finding practical solutions can make airing these grievances more useful.

Use Complaining to Gain Clarity

Ruminating over past events can be harmful, but sometimes journaling or talking about things that are troubling you can help you process and gain clarity regarding your experiences.

Limit Your Complaints

Focus on keeping your daily communication primarily positive. When you do complain, do so mindfully and be aware of how it might negatively impact your mood. 

Consider setting aside a limited amount of time to worry or complain about a problem. Set a time, and then stop once your time is over.

Avoid Co-Complaining

It might be tempting to let others reinforce your complaints, but spending a lot of time ruminating over your complaints with others can have negative effects. Instead, try to limit the amount of time you spend with people who complain a lot.

Erich Fromm was a neo-Freudian psychoanalyst who suggested a theory of personality based on two primary needs: the need for freedom and the need for belonging. He suggested that people develop certain personality styles or strategies to deal with the anxiety created by feelings of isolation.

He suggested four of these character types are unproductive orientations, while one is a productive orientation.

Basic Assumptions of Fromm’s Personality Theory

Fromm believed that character is something that stems both from our genetic inheritance and from our learning experiences. Some aspects of our character are hereditary. Other aspects stem from what we learn at home, in school, and from society. And of course, there is the interplay between the these influences.

Fromm’s Four Unproductive Character Orientations

Fromm believed that character is something deeply ingrained and difficult to change. However, being aware of our tendencies and being committed to change can help inspire change.

The different traits that emerge from each of the five character types have both positive and negative aspects. However, Fromm generally viewed the first four orientations as unproductive.

The Receptive Character Type

The receptive type is characterized by a need for constant support. They tend to be passive, needy, and totally dependent upon others. While they require ongoing support from family, friends, and others, they do not reciprocate it.

Receptive types also tend to lack confidence in their abilities and have difficulty making their own decisions. Fromm suggested that this character type is more likely to emerge when people grow up in overbearing and controlling households.

The Exploitative Character Type

The exploitative type is willing to lie, cheat, and manipulate others in order to get what they need. In order to fulfill their need to belong, they might seek out people who have low self-esteem or lie about loving someone they really don’t care about.

According to Fromm, people with this character type take what they need either through force or deception and exploit other people to meet their own selfish needs.

The Hoarding Character Type

The hoarding type copes with insecurity by never parting with anything. They often collect a massive amount of possessions and often seem to care more about their material possessions than they do about people.

They have an unhealthy attachment to material items and feel more secure when surrounded by their many possessions. Despite accumulating large quantities of material goods, they never feel satisfied, and it always seems like something is lacking.

The Marketing Character Type

The marketing type looks at relationships in terms of what they can gain from the exchange. They might focus on marrying someone for money or social status and tend to have shallow and anxious personalities.

Fromm believed that people with this character type tend to be opportunistic and change their beliefs and values depending on what they think will get them ahead.

He also suggested that this behavior harms human freedom since people with this type seek to achieve power, wealth, and social status by using others to achieve those aims.

The Productive Character Type

The productive type is a person who takes their negative feelings and channels the energy into productive work. They focus on building loving, nurturing, and meaningful relationships with other people. This applies not only to romantic relationships, but also to other familial relationships, friendships, and social relationships.

People with a productive character type are often described as good spouses, parents, friends, co-workers, and employees.

Fromm’s Theory of Fundamental Human Needs

Fromm also suggested that people possess five key fundamental needs:

• Relatedness: The first human need for relatedness refers to a desire for human connections and meaningful relationships. It is directly related to the productive orientation, which is characterized by the ability to form healthy relationships with other people and to give and receive empathy. Lack of relatedness, Fromm suggested, was a central problem that had a significant impact on mental health.
• Transcendence: This need refers to the desire to connect to things that are greater than ourselves. It can involve a sense of purpose, or it can focus on things such as nature, art, or religion. People who have a productive orientation are more likely to pursue activities that provide them with this sense of transcending and making connections with the world outside of themselves.
• Rootedness: People have a need to feel that they belong. Seeking rootedness can help people form connections and create a sense of safety and security. An unhealthy need for rootedness can lead to over-dependence and inflexibility. People who have the receptive orientation, for example, may have a stronger need for rootedness as they seek a sense of stability in their lives.
• Identity: Fromm believed that people also have a need to develop a sense of self. This can create a solid sense of identity that allows people to have healthy self-esteem and confidence, but it can also lead to problems. People with a marketing orientation, for example, may feel compelled to define themselves through their possessions. They may be heavily influenced by societal pressures and consumer culture.
• Freedom: The need for independence and autonomy is a key aspect of Fromm’s theory of personality. This need can conflict with the need to belong, creating a sense of anxiety that may fuel unproductive behavior. The hoarding character orientation, for example, seeks to find freedom by accumulating material possessions, which the individual things will provide stability and a sense of control over the environment.

The character orientations Fromm described result from people’s efforts to fulfill and adapt to these needs. The productive type is the healthiest, and strikes a harmonious balance. The other orientations represent less healthy ways of coping with such needs. In each case, people overemphasize one needs while neglecting others.

All of us have moments when we say to ourselves, “I can’t do this anymore.” Usually, these are times when you feel exhausted, depleted, overwhelmed, and unable to manage life’s stressors.

In other words, if you’re saying to yourself, “I can’t do this anymore,” you might be experiencing the symptoms of burnout.

Reaching a breaking point like this isn’t enjoyable, but when looked at the right way, it can be thought of as a wake-up call to make some changes in your life, and to figure out new ways of managing your stress.

Let’s take a look at what burnout may look like, what the causes are, how to cope, and when it may become necessary to seek out mental health support.

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What “I Can’t Do This Anymore” Feels Like

When the words “I can’t do this anymore” pop into your head, you are usually at a place in your life where you feel emotionally, mentally, and physically unable to cope with everyday things.

Maybe you have been working a high-stress job and were trudging through for a while, but then your boss tossed you a project that felt impossible to manage, and you reached your breaking point.

Perhaps you are a parent who has been dealing with cranky, sick children for several days. Today you found out your furnace needs to be replaced, and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Burnout can happen to anyone at any time but is most commonly experienced by working people, or people in caregiving types of roles (parents, people caring for older relatives).

Burnout isn’t the same as feeling generally tired or overwhelmed. Usually, people who are experiencing burnout have been trying their best to keep it together, but then one thing after another piled up, and they just didn’t have the strength to continue.

Symptoms

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that there are three defining characteristics of burnout. The WHO classification of burnout pertains to burnout at work, but these characteristics can apply to other situations that might cause you to experience intense overwhelm and defeat.

If you are experiencing burnout, you may have gotten to the point where you feel a lack of empathy towards others, and a feeling like you “just don’t care” anymore. You may feel as though nothing you do really matters, and that you are unable to accomplish anything.

Burnout and feeling like you “can’t do this anymore” can have physical manifestations as well. You may experience headaches, stomachaches, muscle soreness, and altered sleep and eating patterns. Burnout can increase the risk of substance abuse as well, and people who are feeling burntout may turn to drugs and alcohol for soothing.

Burnout vs. Other Mental Health Issues

You can experience burnout whether or not you struggle with other mental health conditions. But it’s important to distinguish between feelings of burnout and mental health conditions like depression so that you can get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you are experiencing signs of burnout, along with feelings of hopelessness, very low self-esteem, suicidal ideation, or if you suspect you might be battling depression, please contact a mental health professional.

Identifying the Causes

Burnout usually is related to work or caregiving roles but it can happen to anyone who is experiencing a build-up of stress or finds themselves in a situation where their resources are depleting quickly, especially if they are not getting outside support.

Many people are experiencing burnout right now in light of COVID-19. Burnout is on the rise and you are not alone if you are experiencing it.

Some of the individuals most prone to burnout include nurses, doctors, teachers, and social workers, but anyone who works in a job rife with responsibilities and pressure is vulnerable to burnout. People who are part of marginalized communities, and social justice activists may be prone to signs of burnout as well.

The most common cause of burnout include:

• A pile-on of responsibilities or tasks
• Lack of support at work or in a caregiving role
• Not feeling listened to or heard
• Taking on too many responsibilities at once
• Not practicing self-care, or not having the ability to do so
• Feeling a lack of control over decisions

How to Cope With Feeling This Way

If you are in a place where you are saying to yourself, “I can’t do this anymore,” you shouldn’t feel that you are less than or inadequate in any way. Often, when someone has reached this point, it’s because there is too much on their plate. The truth is, there’s only so much one person can handle.

So one of the first things you can do if you have reached a breaking point is to assess your life responsibilities and see if there is anything that can be changed.

Ask yourself questions like:

• “Is this the right job for me? Might it be time for me to look for a new job?”
• “Is there anything I can take off of my plate and delegate to others?”
• “Is there anyone I can call on to help me with my children/parents/people I am responsible for?”
• “Can I afford to hire someone to help me around the house while I deal with my work or caregiving responsibilities? Are there people in my family who can pitch in more with household chores?”
• “Are there commitments in my life that I can eliminate or postpone for now as I try to manage my other responsibilities?”

In addition to trying to change your life circumstances so that they are more manageable, there are some self-care techniques that you may consider adopting to help manage your feelings and your energy so that you don’t continue to feel bogged down quite so much.

The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends:

• Mindfulness and meditation: Taking 5 to 10-minute mindfulness breaks during your days can make a huge difference
• Exercise: Both cardiovascular exercise and resistance training are effective methods of managing burnout
• Maintain strong boundaries: Make a point not to be “on” at all times; unplug from your work during evening and weekends
• Build a supporting social circle: Having colleagues to vent to, or other people in your circle who understand what you are going through, can be therapeutic
• Consider therapy or counseling: Many therapists specialize in burnout and can help you figure out how to move through this difficult time

A manic episode can leave you feeling like you’re buzzing with energy. It can be disruptive, and it can even lead to impulsive, risky, and downright dangerous behaviors. Recognizing the signs of mania can help you understand when to seek help to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

A manic episode is characterized by a sustained period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, intense energy, racing thoughts, and other extreme and exaggerated behaviors. People can also experience psychosis during manic episodes, including hallucinations and delusions, which indicate a separation from reality.

Symptoms of mania can last for a week or more. Manic episodes may be interspersed with periods of depression, with symptoms of fatigue, sadness, and hopelessness. While manic episodes are most common in people with bipolar disorder, there are also other causes for these extreme changes in behavior and mood. 

Signs of Manic Episodes

Symptoms of mania can vary in intensity, duration, and impact. Manic episode symptoms can be a medical emergency, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and bleeding, which are all symptoms of a serious physical health condition.

Below are some of the common behaviors associated with a manic episode. Many of these behaviors can be easily observed in a loved one, helping you better recognize whether there may be a need for professional help.

Delusions or Hallucinations

If a friend or loved one describes auditory or visual hallucinations (seeing or hearing something that is not there) or shows paranoid or other delusional behavior (believing something that isn’t real), contact a doctor or psychiatrist immediately.

Decreased Need for Sleep

Does your loved one stay awake until 4 a.m., then get up at 8 a.m. ready to go? A decreased need for sleep is common during the emergence of mania symptoms. Sleep problems and bipolar disorder can feed off each other, with manic episodes leading to sleep issues and vice versa.

Being Engaged in Many Activities at Once

A person experiencing a manic episode may be restlessly searching for ways to work off extra energy. This symptom is often described as “multitasking on steroids.” The person may take on many projects, for instance, or experience a burst in productivity that is beyond what they would normally accomplish during a set period.

Talking a Lot or Speaking Loudly

Talking loudly and quickly is a common symptom at the beginning of a manic or hypomanic episode. It’s important to note that, to be categorized as rapid speech, there should be a deviation from the person’s usual speech. Some people naturally talk faster than others, but if someone who usually carefully chooses their words and speaks slowly begins to talk rapidly, be aware.

Easily Distracted

Also be aware if someone starts making clang associations (for example, they get distracted by the rhyming of words such as microphones, xylophones, and ice cream cones). Clang associations may at first sound like poetry, but with bipolar disorder, they often appear out of context and out of character for the person with manic symptoms.

Increased Desire for Sex

Hypersexuality is a common manic or hypomanic symptom. It may include uncharacteristic or risky sexual behavior, such as seeking sex workers, using pornographic websites, having online interactions of a sexual nature, and more.

Increase in Risky Behaviors

Someone experiencing a manic episode may engage in more risky behaviors. These include risky behaviors related to money, such as overspending, going on shopping sprees, or gambling.

Rapid Thinking

Notice if your friend or family member complains that their thoughts are racing uncontrollably. Outwardly, a person with bipolar disorder may appear to be talking fluidly and pleasantly while, on the inside, they are having repetitive, unquieted thoughts.

Flight of Ideas

If someone is entering the manic phase of bipolar disorder, their flight of ideas may be hard to follow. If you are finding it hard to make logical sense of the progression of a discussion, take notice.

Flight of ideas might sound something like this: “I wonder what the weather will be like tomorrow. What is the purpose of life? Oh, I forgot to feed the cat.”

We all have moments in which our words are thrown together in a non-logical progression. The important thing is to notice a change in your loved one’s presentation of their ideas.

Grandiosity

Grandiosity is defined as an exaggerated sense of importance in power, knowledge, or identity. It may occur in both manic and hypomanic episodes.

Grandiose thinking can be someone believing they’re famous, for instance. Maybe they say something like, “We shouldn’t leave the house today because there might be reporters wanting to talk to me,” when there is no basis in reality for these thoughts.

It’s also possible for someone experiencing a manic episode to have delusions of grandeur. For example, they may make statements like, “We have to move to Yemen this weekend, I’ve been named president there.” 

Hostility or Increased Irritability

Irritability and hostility are common during manic episodes. Watch also for unreasonable irritability or hostility. Be cautious and get help if you see this type of behavior.

These symptoms are also associated with an increased risk for violence and suicidal behavior. Do not try to handle the situation on your own.

Thoughts of Suicide

In some cases, a manic episode can result in feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and/or thoughts about death or suicide. If your loved one has thoughts of suicide during a manic episode, seek help immediately.

Excessive Religious Dedication

Increased religious zeal or religious involvement can be another manic symptom. Make note of this if you see it.

Religiosity and spirituality are not signs of mental illness. A sudden intense interest or involvement in religion can be, particularly if other signs of mania accompany it.

Bright Clothing

During a manic or hypomanic episode, a person is more likely to wear brightly colored or flamboyant clothing. A change in how a person dresses may also reflect other symptoms, like having a preference for more revealing clothing due to hypersexuality.

Of course, most people who wear bright-colored clothing are not experiencing a manic or hypomanic episode. But clothing can be a subtle clue if bright choices coincide with other manic or hypomanic symptoms.

How Are Manic Episodes Diagnosed?

For manic episodes to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have a sustained and abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood for at least one week. The mania must be severe enough to cause marked impairment in functioning or require hospitalization. They must also have at least three of the following symptoms:

• Easily distracted
• Engaging in multiple tasks at one time (more than can be realistically accomplished in one day)
• Engaging in risky behavior, like gambling or unprotected sex
• Feeling pressured to speak, talking loudly and rapidly
• Grandiosity or an inflated sense of self
• Little need for sleep
• Racing thoughts

To diagnose bipolar I, the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” Fifth Edition (DSM-5-TR) states that a person must have at least one manic episode that is not “better explained” by schizoaffective disorder, or occurring in someone with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or other specified or unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder.

What Causes Manic Episodes?

Manic episodes are common in people with bipolar I disorder. But they can also be caused by other factors and health conditions, including:

Treatment of Manic Episodes

While there is no cure for manic episodes, a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes can help people manage symptoms and avoid triggers.

Medication

An acute manic episode is often treated with an antipsychotic, while long-term treatment may involve mood stabilizers to prevent future episodes.

Antipsychotics may include:

Mood stabilizers may include:

If you or someone you love is experiencing changes in sleep (being awake for extended periods of time), sleep medication may also be prescribed short-term.

Therapy

Psychotherapy with a trained mental health professional can help you identify when your moods are changing, as well as identify triggers that lead to manic episodes. This professional can also support medication compliance and provide skills to cope with these episodes and improve your quality of life.

Some common therapeutic approaches include:

Support Groups

Support is a crucial part of managing manic episodes. You may consider joining a support group for people with bipolar disorder, especially if you lack resources like supportive friends and family. 

Coping With Manic Episodes

Beyond medication and therapy, a few relatively simple lifestyle changes can help in the management of manic episodes. Here are some to consider.

• Make time for exercise. Do your best to get some sort of physical activity daily.
• Stick to a well-rounded diet and avoid skipping meals.
• Focus on proper sleep hygiene, including keeping a consistent sleep-wake cycle (even on weekends).
• Start a journal. You may consider keeping a notebook to record manic and depressive symptoms. Pay special attention to triggers, like a job change, a breakup, a move, or even situational triggers like staying out late, listening to loud music, starting a new project, or going on vacation.
• Stay on track with doctor appointments, as well as prescribed medication.

Helping Loved Ones With Manic Episodes

If you care for a loved one with bipolar disorder, practicing self-care is important. Look after your own health and well-being so you can have the mental and physical strength needed to help them better handle their manic episodes and other bipolar symptoms.

Also, be vigilant in observing behavior that resembles any of the signs of a manic episode. You might even try asking your loved one to share their experiences so you can journal and record their symptoms for them.

It can also be helpful to learn more about the disorder. Resources like the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: DBSA and the NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness can help. This can help you gain a better understanding of manic episodes, their causes and effects.

Punishment involves the use of adverse consequences to reduce a behavior. The goal is to form an association between the behavior and the negative consequences. Once this association is created, the hope is that the behavior will then be less likely to occur. 

Punishment can involve either applying an aversive consequence (such as getting a ticket for speeding) or taking away something desirable (such as a child losing their screen time privileges).

This article discusses how punishment is used in psychology, its effects, and potential downsides.

Definition of Punishment in Psychology

In psychology, punishment refers to any change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood that that behavior will happen again in the future. The goal of punishment is to either reduce or stop a behavior.

Punishment plays an important role in operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a learning method that utilizes rewards and punishments to modify behavior.

Types of Punishment

When people think of punishment, they often immediately think of the application of some type of negative consequence. Prison, spanking, or scolding are a few examples that come to mind. But punishment can also involve taking good things away, such as losing a privilege or reward.

Behaviorist B. F. Skinner, the psychologist who first described operant conditioning, identified two different kinds of aversive stimuli that can be used as punishment: positive punishment and negative punishment.

Positive Punishment

How can punishment be positive? In this case, the term positive refers to the addition of something. Positive punishment is a type of punishment that is also known as “punishment by application.”

For example, when a student talks out of turn in the middle of class, the teacher might scold the child for interrupting.​​

Negative Punishment

In the case of negative punishment, negative refers to taking something away. Negative punishment is also known as “punishment by removal.”

For example, when the student from the previous example talks out of turn again, the teacher promptly tells the child that they will have to miss recess because of their behavior.

Examples of Punishment

To understand how punishment works, exploring a few more examples of how it might be used in everyday life can be helpful.

• Time-outs: A time-out involves removing a child from a situation and having them sit in a more isolated location. The goal is to punish undesirable behavior.
• Response cost: This punishment method involves taking away desired possessions, such as toys or privileges after an undesirable behavior has occurred.
• Overcorrection: An overcorrection involves someone taking corrective actions after an undesirable behavior. For example, a child who throws toys on the ground during a tantrum will be punished by having to clean up the mess that they made.
• Verbal reprimands: Scolding is an example of punishment. For example, a parent might scold their child by telling them why their behavior was inappropriate.

Is Punishment Effective?

While punishment can be effective in some cases, you can probably think of a few examples of when a punishment does not consistently reduce unwanted behavior. Prison is one example. Serving time in prison does not necessarily serve as a deterrent to future criminal behavior.

Timing

First, punishment is more effective if is applied quickly. Prison sentences often occur long after the crime has been committed, which may help explain one reason why sending people to jail does not always lead to a reduction in criminal behavior.

Consistency

Second, punishment achieves greater results when it is consistently applied. It can be difficult to administer a punishment every time a behavior occurs.

For example, people often drive over the speed limit even after receiving a speeding ticket. Why? Because the behavior is inconsistently punished.

Disadvantages of Punishment

Punishment also has some notable drawbacks. First, any behavior changes that result from punishment are often temporary.

“Punished behavior is likely to reappear after the punitive consequences are withdrawn,” Skinner explained in his book “Beyond Freedom and Dignity.”

Perhaps the most significant short-term drawback is that punishment does not offer any information about more appropriate or desired behaviors. While subjects might be learning not to perform specific actions, they are not learning anything about what they should be doing.

Long-Term Consequences of Punishment

Another thing to consider about punishment is that it can have unintended and undesirable consequences. Researchers have found that this type of physical, or corporal, punishment may lead to antisocial behavior, aggression, and delinquency among children.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that corporal punishment increases behavioral problems and leads to no positive outcomes. It also increases the risk of a range of problems, including:

• Poor physical health
• Increased mental health problems
• Impaired cognitive and psychosocial development
• Increased aggression and violence
• Worse educational outcomes

One summary of the research on the use of physical punishment found that it harmed the quality of children’s relationships with their parents, reduced children’s cognitive abilities, and increased adult aggression and antisocial behavior.

According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, the number of parents reporting spanking their children has declined over the past 25 years. In 1993, 50% of parents reported spanking their kids. By 2017, this number had dropped to 35%.

Alternatives to Punishment

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents avoid spanking and other forms of corporal punishment, including yelling and shaming. While such methods may lead to the short-term reduction of a behavior, they are linked to worse behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial outcomes. 

Other behavioral strategies, such as reinforcement and extinction, may be more effective in many cases. The AAP recommends using safer and more effective disciplinary strategies such as redirecting, positive reinforcement, and limit setting.