I think I have bipolar disorder, how do I know???

Answer 1

What are your symptoms? I recommed seeing a psychiatrist. Bipolar disorder is very serious and it requires medicine. If you think you may have it there are two different types of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar I disorder is marked by full manic and major depressive episodes. Most experience an alternation of the episodes; for instance, months of depression followed by months of mania.
However some many have mixed episodes in which they swing from manic to depressive symptoms and back again in the same day.

Bipolar II disorder is marked by mildly manic episodes and major depressive episodes. Some people with this pattern tend to accomplish huge amounts of work during their mild manic periods.

A state of mania typically experience dramatic and inappropriate rises in mood. They symptoms of mania span the same areas of functioning---emotional, motivational, behavioral, cognitive, and physical---as those of depression, but mania affects those areas in an opposite way. A person who is in a manic episode has active, powerful emotions in search of an outlet. People w/ mania seem to want constant excitement, involvement, and companionship. They enthusiastically seek out new friends and old, new interests and old, and have little awareness that their social style is overwhelming, domineering, and excessive.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Ed (DSM-IV) cassifies types one and two bipolar disorder and a manic episode as:

Manic Episode
1. A period of abnormally and persistently evevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least one wee.
2. Persistence of at least three of the following: inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, more talkativeness than usual, or pressure to keep talking, flight of ideas or the experience that thoughts are racing, distractibility, increase in activity or psychomotor agitation, excessive involovement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences.
3. Significant distress or impairment.

Bipolar 1 Disorder
1. The presence of a manic, mild manic (hypomanic), or major depressive episode.
2. If currently in a hypomanic or major depressive episode, and history of a manic episode.
3. Significant distress or impairment.

Bipolar 2 Disorder
1. The presence of hypomanic or major depressive episode.
2. If currently in a major depressive episode, there is history of a hypomanic episode. and vice versa. There is no history of a manic episode.
3. Significant distress or impairment.

I hope this helps you out a bit. THIS IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY! PLEASE DONT TRY TO SELF DIAGNOSE. Please go see someone if you beilieve you bipolar.

Answer 2

Just do a web search on "signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder" and read through the listed sites. My step-sister is bi-polar and without her medications she goes from extremely high and happy, then crashes down to a severe depression. But, bipolar can range from slight to severe. The listed sites will give you some of the symptoms. If you feel you have this you should talk to your doctor about seeing a psychiatrist to get the help you need.

Good Luck and remember it's not the end of the world!

Answer 3

You should check with a psychologist, but typically a bipolar sees emotional swings from one extreme to another. On the depressive side "everything is awful, life is awful, this, that, or the other thing sucks" and then magically back to manic where everything is hyper-excitable - perhaps sexually, perhaps in whatever you need to get done - flurry of emotions and/or activity. No middle or stable ground, usually.

Answer 4

Bipolar have saver mood swings, Happy one minute crying or incredibly angry the next. Often they go into long periods of melancholy.Their is treatment for it that works quit well.

Answer 5

First, you have to be older than 18 to even be diagnosed with this disorder. Second, this is a disorder that you cannot diagnose yourself with; you may refer to the DSM-IV to see what the symptoms are, but no self-diagnosing. If you are truly concerned about your mental health you need to see a mental health professional.

Answer 6

See a doctor, ASAP. Take 4 fish oil supplements, daily, in addition to other medications: start now.

Answer 7

well it can be diagnosed as young as 10 so just go see a counsler.

Answer 8

first off, get counceling! go to your primary doctor and talk to her, she may refer you to a pshyciatrist.!

Answer 9

angry mood swings