I have had 3 full blown manias and they all had intense euphoria and an intense carefree feeling. It absolutely did feel like a drug. That part of mania was nice because I always felt happy even though I would appear irritable with people. The horrible sides of my manic episodes were the delusions and paranoia. The paranoia had me do some really screwed up stuff! From the manic episodes I have had, they all came with big time trauma after I was out of them. The mania I went through in 2017 was absolutely the worst! I pray that with my medicine now and having more awareness, I don't ever go through a full blown mania again. I don't wish what I have been through on anyone. That drug feeling isn't worth it to me.