mania
This term describes an intense, often irrational drive that can manifest as a personal obsession or a collective social phenomenon. It carries a strong connotation of loss of control, where the subject is driven by an internal force rather than a reasoned choice. In a clinical context, it refers to a specific psychiatric state of hyperactivity and euphoria. While the word is generally used as an uncountable noun to describe the general condition of madness or excitement, it can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific types of obsessions, such as a "tulip mania" or "a mania for gambling."
Meanings
An obsessive enthusiasm or extreme fondness for a particular activity, object, or person.
"The sudden mania for collecting vintage stamps swept through the city."