Do I Have Bipolar I Disorder?

Do you show a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy, lasting at least 1 week and present most of the day, nearly every day?

Do you experience inflated self-esteem during the period of mood disturbance and increased energy?

Do you experience decreased need for sleep during the period of mood disturbance and increased energy?

Are you more talkative than usual during the period of mood disturbance and increased energy?

Do you experience a flight of ideas during the period of mood disturbance and increased energy?

Do you experience distractibility during the period of mood disturbance and increased energy?

Do you experience an increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation (i.e., purposeless non-goal-directed activity) during the period of mood disturbance and increased energy?

Do you experience an excessive involvement in activities that have a high potential for painful consequences during the period of mood disturbance and increased energy?

Is the mood disturbance sufficiently severe to cause impairment in social or occupational functioning or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others or are there any psychotic features?

Can you confirm that the episode is not attributable to the effects of a substance (e.g., drug abuse, medication, other treatment) or to another medical condition?

You do not have bipolar I disorder.

While it is unlikely that you have bipolar I disorder, you are displaying some signs related to the disorder. Only an appointment with your doctor will make things clear. Your doctor may carry out a physical exam to rule out other conditions that may be causing symptoms. Your doctor may also refer you to a psychiatrist to do a psychiatric assessment. Additionally, your doctor may ask you to keep a diary of your moods, sleep patterns and other useful information to find the right solution to your problems. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms to compare this information with the diagnostic criteria for bipolar I disorder.

Unfortunately, you are displaying several symptoms typically seen among individuals who have bipolar I disorder. It’s very important to receive treatment at the earliest sign of bipolar I disorder, to prevent it from getting worse. If the disorder is left untreated, it can cause more problems such as financial problems, relationship issues and poor performance at work or school. Bipolar I disorder is, unfortunately, a lifelong condition however, symptoms can be managed by sticking to your treatment plan. Remember that bipolar disorder does not go away on its own. You need treatment to get your symptoms under control.