How to Know If You are Bipolar

With its characteristic mood swings from low energy and suicidal thoughts to high energy and racing thoughts, you might think that bipolar disorder would be easy to identify. But it's not always that straightforward. Sometimes the mood episodes aren't that extreme, their duration varies, and both moods can exist at the same time. You may suspect something is wrong but come out of the mood episode and be tempted to shrug it off. Ignoring the symptoms can be a disastrous mistake.

Instructions

• 1

  Learn the symptoms. Bipolar mania is defined by talkativeness, distractibility, elevated self-esteem, thoughts that won't stop, and tremendous energy to the point where you can't sleep or need very little sleep. During a manic episode it's also typical to engage in pleasure-seeking activities that have the potential of being harmful or illegal. In addition to low energy and thoughts of suicide, symptoms of depression include fatigue, lack of interest in life, inability to think or concentrate, and feeling worthless, hopeless, and sad.

• 2

  Watch for the nuances. The symptoms of bipolar disorder are not always extreme. Hypomania has less severe manic symptoms, and a mixed episode means you'll be manic and depressed at the same time. Under these circumstances, you may find yourself in a constant state of frustration and agitation rather than experiencing the more obvious mood swings.

• 3

  Trust family and friends. Learn all that you can about bipolar disorder but do it together with a partner. Don't isolate yourself. You may need to rely on a trusted person to be honest about your symptoms. Someone else can often see the signs of a mood swing sooner and better than the person who is bipolar. In a manic phase you may feel so good that you won't recognize you're in the midst of a mood episode, especially if it happens to be your first one. If you're depressed you won't be motivated to find help and may need a nudge from a friend or family member.

• 4

  Keep a log. One of the most important tools is to keep a daily record of your moods. In addition to your mood, this should include brief notes about events, personal interactions, medications, physical illness, or anything significant that happened. This record helps identify mood swings. It will be invaluable because episodes may last so long, or cycle so infrequently, that you won't remember when the last episode occurred, how long it lasted or events that may have triggered it.

• 5

  See your physician. If you're not sure about your symptoms, make an appointment to see your family physician. They can screen for physical illnesses that might be causing the symptoms and refer you for a psychiatric evaluation if necessary.

• 6

  Talk to a mental health professional. This is an absolute necessity. There aren't any blood tests or definitive diagnostic procedures for bipolar disorder. It often coexists with other psychiatric disorders or the symptoms may indicate a different psychiatric illness. The only way to know for sure if you have bipolar disorder is to undergo a complete assessment by an experienced psychologist.