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Bipolar Disorder ChecklistHow is bipolar disorder diagnosed? There is no laboratory test that can detect bipolar disorder. However, as of late there has been some studies on thermographic imaging where scientists believe they can detect early diagnosis of bipolar symptoms. Please see my page on Bipolar Hoax. But bipolar symptoms or behaviors can be observed and evaluated with a bipolar disorder checklist. The easiest way is with a bipolar disorder checklist. Below is a simple questionnaire that can help you and your doctor to determine if you or your loved one has the common symptoms of bipolar disorder. You may want show your doctor your answers to the above bipolar disorder checklist or you may choose to forget the doctor and
determine your own journey toward WELLNESS like I did.
Before starting my optimal wellness program I read 163 books in order to understand my manic depressive "disease." Below are just a few you may wish to look at.
Mania the Flip Side of Depression For most, mania and hypo mania last too briefly and are always followed by unpleasant depressive crashes. With depression, all is despairing and lonely and in severe cases can lead to suicide. However, the experience of mania can be as dangerous. While everyone enjoys lifting out of the depression and cycling up, up, up to a place where everything seems possible and all the world is at your beck and call, at its extreme mania is infinitely dangerous and destructive. In mania, some become hyperactive, hyper-sexual, overly talkative, overconfident, extremely elated and have an unreasonable sense of invincibility. When these episodes strike, the bipolar can not remember ever having crashed. All they think about is how great they feel while racing again. They feel they are the best race driver around, that they will never crash. Because their motor is revved up, they speak and act very rapidly and become impatient with how slow the rest of the world is going. I have known times when I start blowing the horn too soon. I'd finish other people's sentences for them--and that is not an endearing quality believe me. My son, Jason, hated it! During mania or hypo mania episodes, I would want to be alone to do what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. I would be like a engine revved up beyond its highest speed and if left that way would eventually destroy itself by burning out. This is why it is important to recognize the mania symptoms which presently can only be measured by the typical bipolar disorder checklist.
Bipolar is Difficult to Detect You may have gone a very long time before understanding you may indeed have bipolar affective disorder especially if you or your doctor have not used a bipolar disorder checklist. The reasons for this has to do with the Hyde and Jeckel symptoms. Most people (including you) when they are feeling energized, exuberant, and "all the world is beautiful," wouldn't consider visiting a doctor or psychiatrist. By contrast, when you experience the depressive episode of bipolar disorder you may feel you need help now. Right now! You feel hopeless, useless, unresponsive and unbelievably sad. At this time when you describe only your depressive symptoms to your doctor, you may be misdiagnosed with major depression instead of bipolar disorder. Because he may not have thought to ask you to answer the questions on the bipolar disorder checklist. Regarding what type of depression is diagnosed incorrectly is only a problem if you intend to swallow the drugs he prescribes. If you plan to use the natural remedies, it doesn't matter if you have major depression or bipolar manic depression because with natural treatments the body is treated as systemic (everything is to be in good running order like the fine tuned engine of your car). Your whole body, mind and soul has to have the right amount of "essentials" in order to make you a whole person. There is another questionnaire to help diagnose bipolar disorder. It is called an MDQ. MDQ stands for Mood Disorder Questionnaire. It is designed to help professionals (including yourself) to identify bipolar-related symptoms. Most professionals recommend, you to remember, only a doctor can provide an accurate diagnosis for this bipolar disorder checklist. This is particularly important if you're choice is to use bipolar medications. And sometimes this is necessary initially. However, for your own peace of mind you can check over this bipolar disorder checklist to diagnose yourself to determine if you believe you have bipolar disorder. If in fact, you believe you have bipolar disorder, then you have several choices: Choice #1, is to go to your doctor who will do a diagnostic exam or Choice #2, diagnose yourself. What does a diagnostic exam consist of after I've gone through the bipolar disorder checklist? Choice #1. A complete psychiatric history by your doctor Your doctor will ask you questions about your behaviors, beliefs, tendencies, feelings, moods, medications, activities, etc. He will not only detail your current and past symptoms, but also ask you about the symptoms or diagnosis of immediate family members and relatives. Some say bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component, therefore, if there is a family history of depression or bipolar disorder there is a chance you may have it as well (so they think). Choice #2 Ask yourself these same questions mentioned above. I've put together another short bipolar disorder checklist, similar to what a psychologist would ask you, to guide you further in your journey toward wellness:
Below is a another bipolar disorder checklist I use. It's a list of feelings and symptoms of mania often described by bipolar patients. This is a rather lengthy bipolar disorder checklist but it may help you to determine if you ever experienced or are in a mania episode. Which of the following dead end streets are you racing down and how many? In other words, which of the following feelings and symptoms of mania, as described below, relate to you? A complete medical history and physical exam. A complete medical history and physical exam is to rule out any physical illnesses that may be producing or mimicking the symptoms of bipolar disorder. AIDs, a brain tumor or head injury, diabetes, epilepsy, Lupus, MS, a salt imbalance or thyroid disorder can produce bipolar-like symptoms. If no physical cause is found, if no other psychiatric disorder better accounts for symptoms, if the current symptoms have been of significant duration or cause significant impairment in functioning, you may then be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. If you believe you have bipolar disorder then it is important to start some treatment program right away. It is important to get treatment for bipolar disorder as early as possible. Many people with bipolar disorder do not know they have it. Some do not seek treatment because they feel ashamed, embarrassed, or "freak out" believing they have a mental disability because they do not realize bipolar affective disorder is just that. A disorder of a body part, which happens to be the brain. It can be fixed just like any other broken body part. Others don't get treatment early, because as mentioned above, they are incorrectly diagnosed with other illnesses. Without appropriate treatment the disorder can become more difficult to treat. So getting the professional treatment for your bipolar disorder can help alleviate the following risks:
Learning how to recognize the warning signals of bipolar disorder through such a bipolar disorder checklist, may help you or a loved one receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment more quickly. So be on the look out for the flashing warning signals. What happens when someone is diagnosed with bipolar disorder? If your choice is #1 and you choose the AMA route, patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder will be evaluated for treatment. The three basic elements of treatment for bipolar disorder are medication, psychotherapy with group support, and education. A person diagnosed with bipolar disorder will be started on medication to stabilize his or her moods and address acute symptoms. Prescription medication is important in treating bipolar disorder. Prescription medication may help control the number of episodes a person experiences. The older a person gets, the more frequent their episodes become. If a person experiences four or more episodes a year the disorder can become more difficult to treat, so it is important to get treatment as early as possible. Most people are aware of the role that medication plays, but often underestimate the adverse effects of such drugs. Many who follow the AMA road (or detour) to health are not aware of non-drug alternatives available to them. One is the importance of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, also known as "talk therapy" permits a patient to identify the impact of the disorder on his or her life and to begin recognizing events and thinking patterns that may lead or have led to episodes of their illness. The therapist may again use a another form similar to the original bipolar disorder checklist to confirm bipolar affective disorder and to guide the client towards health. This process of therapy best occurs within a safe and and private setting. Another alternative is natural alternatives that have been known to help people overcome such disorders as Bipolar, ADHD, Anorexia, Nervosa, Bulimia Nervousa, Panic Disorders, Major Depression and Social Phobias. Before starting choose what route you will take on your journey toward wellness. It is always wise to check out all the condition of the highway for possible obstacles of that choice: pitstops, dead ends, old bridges, pot holes, construction areas, detours and to look for the road that offer the more satisfying rest stops and safest trip. Medicines always have sign effects which lead to cracked engines which costs more and more money to fix. Natural remedies rarely have side effects unless your are allergic to the particular herb suggested. Some people are allergic to such natural things as peanuts, soybeans, milk, etc.(there are reasons for this but that's another story), so nothing is guaranteed except if you choose the AMA and use a psychiatric drug you will experience grave adverse effects. So, check your intended route and check it twice. Choose carefully and begin your
NEW START
today. After your NEW START
begin your new journey toward OPTIMAL WELNESS today. It's a great trip! Read my story here,
Bon Voyage, The author of this website is not an M.D. and therefore must post this required FDA disclaimer. None of the statements, self testing, nor recommended alternatives to overcoming bipolar symptoms have been evaluated by the FDA. Therefore, the tested and proven experiences, testimonies, supplements and alternative and natural therapies are for informational purposes only and does not purport to prescribe, diagnose or cure any mental or physical condition. Though as a counselor she does advise her clients to be informed and involved in the recovery of their physical and mental health. The above information has transformed many lives and the same can happen for you, but you alone are responsible for the decisions you make concerning all aspects of your health. Bipolar Disorder Checklist to No More Bipolar Disorder
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Dr. Cares™
Catherine Sinclair, PhD., uses the trade name Dr. Cares™. She is a licensed pastoral counselor. The information contained in this website is not to be taken as a substitute for professional advice from your qualified medical practitioner. 
