Bi-polar- more information

[xsecretsx]

Hey,
So i guess i just want a bit more information about bi-polar and how i would know if i have it.

My closest friend has mentioned it several times, and he wants me to get checked.

Looked around some websites and quizzes etc, and just want to find out more.

What is it. How do i know if i have it?

[PutYourHeartsUp]

Bipolar is a mental disorder. The ONLY way to know if you have it is to see a mental health professional. Self diagnosing can be extremely dangerous, so try to stay away from online quizzes and such. I'm sure another user with more information on what it is specifically will post sometime soon.

[PSY]

You can learn a great deal about bipolar disorder (type I and type II) by doing a Google search. Basically, it's a mood disorder, where a person alternates between mania and depression. The mania is more pronounced with one type than with the other. When someone is "manic", they may have a great deal of energy (and therefore fail to get enough sleep, if any), make reckless decisions (have sex with random people or go on shopping sprees they can't afford), become extremely excitable and/or irritable, etc. These are NOT like the mood swings teenagers experience when their hormones are out of whack (sad one moment, happy the next, then angry afterward, all within the span of one day). The mania generally lasts for at least one week, whereas the depression lasts for much longer. There may be times where a person feels "normal" in between the episodes of mania and depression.

Like the previous poster said, you CANNOT diagnose yourself with a mental illness. Internet quizzes and lists of symptoms are completely useless, because they do not take anything else into account (ex. general medical conditions, substance abuse, your family history). You will need to get a referral from your regular doctor for a psychological professional in order to determine whether or not you are dealing with bipolar disorder, a different mood disorder, etc.