How Do I Know I Have Bipolar Mood Disorder (BMD)?

THE MOOD ROLLER-COASTER RIDE

Generally, Bipolar Mood Disorder (BMD) is characterised by changes in energy, behaviour, thought and mood. BMD has signs of alternating high and low periods, whereas a person with depression has recurring lows. 

Bipolar I has the more classic highs (mania) and lows (depression), whereas Bipolar II has the less severe highs, called hypomania, with a more frequent pattern of depression. Bipolar II is often misdiagnosed as depression because of the more subtle form of hypomania. 

Often the person with Bipolar II hides the symptoms of hypomania from the health professional or confuses the signs with depression. Sometimes even medical doctors and psychiatrists miss the signs of hypomania. Cyclothymia is a milder form of bipolar with highs and lows that are less severe. Dysthymia is a low, depressed mood present more of the time than not.

Signs of the Depressive Periods of Bipolar

• Sad, empty, hopeless, irritable or tearful feelings most of the day, nearly every day
• No interest in or pleasure from activities once enjoyed
• Major changes in appetite or body weight
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Feelings of restlessness or being slowed don
• Fatigue, exhaustion, lack of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Inability to concentrate or make decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide (for me, years ago, I just felt so overwhelmed and wanted not to exist)

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Signs of the Manic Periods of Bipolar

• Feeling overly high, energetic, better than good or unusually irritable for at least one week
• Inflated self-esteem, feeling like you can do anything
• Decreased need for sleep without feeling tired
• Talking more than usual, feeling pressure to keep talking (called pressured speech)
• Racing thoughts, many ideas coming all at once (called flight of ideas)
• Distracted easily, thoughts or statements jumping from topic-to-topic
• Increase in goal-oriented activity, restlessness (e.g. I tend to initiate multiple projects with great energy all at once and later I'm unable to follow them through)
• Jumping from one task to another, sometimes in rapid succession
• Excessive pursuit of pleasure (e.g. financial or sexual without considering consequences)
• High risk behaviour (e.g. substance abuse, promiscuity, driving fast and/or recklessly)
• Unusual “spiritual” experiences and in some cases associated psychotic experiences (e.g. delusions, paranoia)

Signs of the Hypomanic Periods in Bipolar

• Feel unusually confident
• Need less sleep
• Unusually talkative
• Thoughts come and go faster than normal
• More easily distracted or trouble concentrating
• More goal-oriented in work, home or school
• More involved in pleasurable or high risk activities, such as gambling, spending or sex
• Doing and saying things that are out of character
• Other people say you're acting strangely or you're not yourself

Now Take Action: Get Your Screening Test

1. Click here to do your screening test for depression
2. Click here to do your screening test for mania

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