Bipolar Disorder
5.7 million American adults are affected, are you one of them?Questionnaire
Has there ever been a period of time where you were not yourself and...
...were so irritated that you started fights or agruments?
...felt much more self confident than usual?
...got much less sleep than usual but weren't tired?
...were more talkative or spoke faster than usual?
...had racing thoughts?
...were easily distracted?
...had more energy than usual?
...were more social and outgoing than usual?
...were much more interested in sex than usual?
...did things that were unusual for you?
...spent money that got you or your family in trouble?
If you checked yes to more than one of the above, have several of these ever happened during the same period of time?
How much of a problem did any of these cause you?
Have any of your blood relatives had manic-depressive illness?
Has a health professional ever told you that you have manic-depressive illness?
Symptoms
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings so that at one time, a person can be overly energized or be extremely sad. It is also possible for a person to experience periods of normal moods. However, when the person is not experiencing a normal mood, he or she is either going through periods of highs, or episodes of mania, or periods of lows, or episodes of depression. A person is diagnosed with mania if he or she has three or more of the above symptoms for a week or longer. However, depression is diagnosed if five or more of the above symptoms are evident for two weeks or longer.
A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. The person who experiences it may feel good and may even function better. However, hypomania can become severe and can turn into depression if left untreated. Sometimes severe symptoms can lead to psychosis, or psychotic symptoms, which include hallucinations and delusions.
Mania |
Depression |
Increased energy Euphoric mood Extreme irritability Racing thoughts, talking very fast Distractibility, inability to concentrate Little sleep needed Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers Poor judgment Spending sprees Increased sexual drive, abuse of drugs or alcohol, provocative behavior Denial |
Sad, anxious, or empty mood Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed Decreased energy Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions Restlessness or irritability Sleeping too much or not at all Change in appetite, resulting in an unintended weight loss or gain Chronic pain not caused by physical illness or injury Suicidal thoughts or attempts |