How to Tell If You Have Bi-Polar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a challenging mental illness that can cause a person's moods to vary dramatically between periods of intense depression and mania. If you are experiencing symptoms that you think may be caused by bipolar disorder, keeping track of your moods and sleeping schedule may assist your doctor in making a diagnosis.

Things You'll Need

• Notebook/journal
• Calendar

Instructions

1. Review your family medical history. A large percentage of people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder can name at least one relative who also suffers from the disorder. Be sure to let your doctor know if your family has a history of mental illness.

2. Examine your sleeping schedule. People with bipolar disorder often have trouble sleeping and sometimes go for days on only a few hours rest. While most bipolar patients tend to enjoy this period of increased energy, it can signal the onset of a much more serious phase of the illness. Keeping track of how much rest you get each night can help you and your doctor spot and identify patterns in your sleeping schedule.

3. Make a note of when and how often you feel depressed. Though everyone experiences occasional "blue" days, bipolar patients often suffer from periods of intense clinical depression. Bipolar depression is characterized by a decreased appetite, difficulty concentrating and fatigue, as well as feelings of guilt and helplessness.

4. Keep track of when and how often you feel hyper, restless or unusually full of energy. Along with periods of clinical depression, bipolar patients also suffer from periods of mania. These periods of mania are characterized by racing thoughts, delusions of grandeur, irritability, inappropriate social behavior, increased sexual appetite, severe insomnia and poor judgment.

5. Make an appointment to talk to your doctor. Only a medical professional is qualified to diagnose bipolar disorder. Once your doctor has made a diagnosis he will work with you to come up with a customized treatment plan.

Tips & Warnings

• In the event that you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you and your doctor may find it helpful to continue to monitor your behavior and sleeping schedule.

• The information in this article is for informative purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you are suffering from bipolar disorder, please consult your doctor.

References

• National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder

Resources

• Mayo Clinic: Bipolar Disorder
• Bipolar Self-Assessment