Mania can be misunderstood—even by experienced clinicians. It’s often confused with symptoms of trauma, ADHD, substance use, or personality disorders. But when mania is missed or mislabeled, treatment can go off course, delaying recovery and increasing distress.

In this 60-minute session, clinician and educator Kelly Scanlon, LICSW, explores how mania presents, why it’s often misdiagnosed, and what to look for when symptoms overlap with other mental health conditions. Participants will gain both clinical insight and a compassionate perspective on helping patients find the right diagnosis and care.

Why This Training Matters

Bipolar disorder affects millions, yet many individuals spend years without an accurate diagnosis. Mania—one of its defining features—is often overlooked or mistaken for another issue: impulsivity from ADHD, emotional reactivity from trauma, or rapid mood shifts tied to borderline personality disorder.

This training sheds light on how and why misdiagnosis happens, the real-world consequences for patients, and how clinicians can improve diagnostic accuracy through careful assessment, open dialogue, and empathy.

Understanding mania isn’t just about labeling symptoms—it’s about seeing the full human experience beneath them. With awareness and precision, clinicians can prevent unnecessary suffering and guide individuals toward the care they truly need.

What You’ll Learn

• How mania manifests across the spectrum—from hypomania to full manic episodes—and how it can be mistaken for other conditions

• Overlapping features between mania and disorders such as ADHD, trauma-related disorders, borderline personality disorder, and substance-induced mood changes

• How cultural context, stigma, and gender bias contribute to diagnostic confusion

• Strategies for improving diagnostic accuracy through collaborative assessment and longitudinal observation

• Approaches to compassionate, clear communication that reduce shame and build trust with patients navigating confusing or shifting diagnoses