People who experience this symptom talk rapidly and jump from one topic to the next.
Whilebipolar disorderis generally considered a mood disorder, symptoms can also include disorders of thoughtparticularly during manic episodes.
As a result, people experiencing mania focus attention on nonessential information.
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Racing thoughts and flight of ideas are also common symptoms ofschizophreniaand some cases ofADHD.
Causes of Flight of Ideas
Flight of ideas is not a condition.
It is a hallmark symptom of bipolar disorder.
The treatment that may help depends on the condition that an individual has been diagnosed with.
Racing thoughts and flights of ideas may be relatively mild or quite severe.
For example:
“I am hungry.
Does my dog need to go for a walk?
I wonder what the weather will be tomorrow.
What is the purpose of life?
I should learn to play canasta.
My mom should lose some weight.
Wait, I forgot to pick my kids up from school.”
Racing thoughts occur rapidly and can be confusing and distressing.
However, racing thoughts tend to follow a logical path and are connected.
I could know the information if I studied more but studying also makes me feel more stressed.
Washington, DC; 2013.
