Bipolar disorder is common among modern people with sudden and frequent mood swings being its main sign. These mood swings are not limited to simply going from bad to good, they can range from deep depression to excessive euphoria. In the most extreme cases of the disease, a person may commit reckless acts, being under the influence of deep despondency or, conversely, high euphoria. Such behavior always attracts the attention of others.
Symptoms and phases of the disorder
The stages of euphoria and depression in bipolar disorder do not have strictly established time boundaries. For example, a person can experience high spirits and inspiration for years and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, find themselves in a state of emotional crisis. These mood swings can be long-lasting and can seriously affect an individual's quality of life.
The depressive phase is divided into four main stages, which include:
- The initial stage, when the individual experiences a worsening of mood, a sense of hostility to the world around them, and a decrease in vitality and quality of sleep.
- The second stage, characterized by increasing depression, emotional decline accompanied by deterioration of appetite, apathy, listlessness and decreased performance.
- The third stage is when the severity of symptoms reaches a peak. A feeling of absolute needlessness appears, speech becomes more primitive and incomprehensible, prolonged periods of immobility with blank stares are possible. Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon. The person becomes completely socially isolated.
- The fourth stage, reactive, is when the main manifestations of the disease are reduced, and the person becomes more balanced and capable of an adequate perception of reality again.
The manic phase, or emotional rise, also goes through several stages:
- The hypomanic stage, which endows the person with excess energy, improved appetite, and a desire to maximize sleep time. Speech becomes rapid, topics of conversation change frequently, and memory improves.
- The stage of pronounced mania, when all the above symptoms are significantly intensified. A person can stay awake for up to 20 hours in a row, their speech becomes even more rapid and jagged, communication is accompanied by laughter and inappropriate jokes, while a person is not able to listen attentively to the interlocutor.
- Manic frenzy, when the symptoms reach their climax. The patient almost does not sleep, moves a lot and constantly says something.
- The stage of motor sedation, which is characterized by a gradual decrease in activity and a decrease in the pace of movements.
- And finally, the last, reactive stage, when the mental state normalizes, but some lethargy may be observed. Events the things that occurred during stages 2 and 3 are often forgotten.
There may be times between periods of change in emotional state when the person feels and behaves completely normal.
Who testing is recommended for
Taking the test is recommended for people who notice periodic mood swings that are unrelated to external circumstances. Although bipolar disorder is a serious condition that can only be diagnosed and treated by a qualified psychotherapist, taking the test can be an important step toward understanding your condition.
Structure of the test
The test includes two sections, where the first one contains 28 statements reflecting the main symptoms of bipolar disorder. Under each statement there are answer options "yes" and "no". By selecting "yes", you are agreeing with the proposed statement.
The test results will help determine the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder and can be categorized as:
- high probability;
- relative likelihood;
- low probability of developing the disorder.
If you experience unusual behavioral changes, mood swings, or stress, we strongly recommend taking our online test for bipolar disorder on the website to detect and prevent the development of this serious illness in a timely manner.
