Do you feel like you are not in control your emotion? Do you suffer from spates of depression intermixed with an influx of manic energy? If so, you may have bipolar disorder. If you think you may have bipolar disorder, it is important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible so you can begin treatment. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you think you may have bipolar disorder.
Do You Have a History of Bipolar Disorder in Your Family?
Bipolar disorder can be passed down genetically from your family to you, making people with a family history of bipolar disorder more susceptible to the illness. In fact, if one of your parents have bipolar disorder, you have between a 10% and 25% chance of developing the disorder. If you have two parents with bipolar disorder, that number jumps to a 10% to 50% chance of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Have You Had Signs of Mania?
Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive disorder, as manic episodes are followed by depressive states. Here are some of the most prominent signs of mania:
- You are in an elevated “high” state of happiness for long periods of time
- You tend to talk very fast
- You tend to have persistent and racing thoughts
- You are easily distracted
- You often feel overconfident
- You do not need to sleep as much as other people
- You often feel restless and can act impulsively
Do You Often Feel Depressed?
The other half of the equation is often feeling depressed. Depression is beyond feeling occasionally sad, as it is completely normal to feel unhappy or sad at times. Depression is a chronic state of unhappiness, characterized by these symptoms.
- You feel hopelessness over long periods of time
- You tend to avoid seeing your friends and family
- You have a big change in appetite, either overeating or eating much less
- You have issues concentrating and making decisions
- You are no longer interested in activities you used to enjoy
- You often feel lethargic and fatigued
- You have thought about suicide
Have You Taken a Bipolar Disorder Test?
Online you can find a number of different tests and quizzes that hope to help individuals find out if they have bipolar disorder. Take one of the tests and get your results. You can find a good bipolar disorder test here.
Bipolar Treatment Studies at Synergy Research Centers
If you answered “yes” to a few of the questions above, you may have bipolar disorder. If that is the case, visit a medical professional immediately. If you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is suggested to receive treatment immediately. One form of treatment is clinical research studies, that can provide treatment for free. If you are interested in joining a bipolar research study, contact Synergy Research Centers in San Diego today. Give us a call at (888) 619-7272.