Can You Diagnose Me With Bipolar Disorder?

Reader’s Question

I was wondering if you can ask me some understandable questions to help me know if I have bipolar disorder. It would be greatly appreciated because I don’t want to come out about this yet until I’m 100% sure.

Our Consulting Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

To be 100% sure, you’ll need a psychiatric examination and consultation. That’s my first recommendation. To consider the need for such an examination, you might ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have abnormally intense moods of elation and/or depression? While most people have mood swings depending on many factors, Bipolar Disorder has extreme mood swings.
• Have you had episodes of severe depression with suicidal thoughts?
• Have you had episodes of physical and mental hyperactivity? Being too happy? Having no need for sleep? Excessive talking? Racing thoughts and an inability to stay focused?
• Have you been grandiose — felt you were a celebrity or had special skills? Have you been suddenly religiously preoccupied or involved in excessive sexual activity or sexual preoccupation?
• Have you been socially irresponsible — engaging in behavior dangerous to you, spending sprees, inappropraite dress/attire, gambling, alcohol/drug use?
• Have you experienced wide swings that change over days — very happy and hyperactive one day, then followed by feeling very depressed and even suicidal two days later?

This website and others have information on Bipolar Disorder. Research the condition then take your concerns to a psychiatrist for an opinion. If you are experiencing symptoms of a Bipolar Disorder — you have the option of announcing to family and friends that the condition is present and that you’ve taken the appropriate treatment steps. Educating yourself about the condition will help protect you.

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