A Checklist for Self Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

If you are taking the time to read this article, you may be suffering from depression, mania or anxiety. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that can be managed but cannot be managed alone. People do not have the same symptoms or need the same treatment. This disease, like any other disease, requires medical attention. Do not let the stigma of the diagnosis of mental illness stop you from seeing a doctor. Read through the list of symptoms of bipolar disorder and contact a psychiatrist to evaluate your condition.

Mania

• Mania presents in many different ways. You may have one or several of the following manic symptoms: racing thoughts or the feeling that you never have a calm moment in your brain; euphoria, which is a god-like feeling that you can do or be anything; excessive talking and excitability; impulsiveness that makes you spend large amounts of money regardless of consequences; sexual promiscuity; unusually high self esteem; and feeling indestructible.

Depression

• Bipolar depression typically has the component of major depression. Depression is characterized by periods of time when you are unable to get out of bed or are oversleeping, unusually low moods, a hopeless feeling that the future will not get any better, lack of interest in activities that you typically enjoy, a feeling that routine activities take too much energy to accomplish, and feelings of overwhelming sadness, hopelessness and guilt. Depression is also described as low self esteem, poor coordination, confusion, slow speech and fatigue. Suicidal thinking is present in many individuals suffering from this disease. Depression is different for everyone. You may only have one or two of these symptoms, or you may have experienced all of them.

Anxiety

• Patients usually describe bipolar anxiety as an agitated condition during which they may lose normal capacity of rational thinking and reasonable judgment. Patients are usually unable to control racing thoughts. Because of the level of anxiety, it may be difficult for you to describe this feeling to anyone.

  Bipolar anxiety can feel like very disorganized thinking. It is also desribed as major agitation. If you have had a hard time sitting still during periods of anxiety you may be experiencing severe anxiety.

  Some patients with bipolar disorder do not have high levels of anxiety. Many patients do. If you are experiencing periods of mania and depression, mixed with anxiety, you may have bipolar disorder. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are unsure if you are suffering from a mental illness, call a psychiatrist. Seek help immediately if you are having suicidal thinking.