there's such a thing as a bipolar test?

Man, I wish my normal T had brought this up when she first started suspecting bipolar. My temp T wants to start testing me straight away. I think it's probably just an enormous questionnaire and I have no idea how accurate that would be, but yeah. Apparently it exists. I might have some answers rather than just mood disorder cannot rule out bipolar.

But this also means if I'fail' the test, I have to deal with the MVA. FUuUuuUUUuU....

Uhhhh, comicgeek007 check this link out, it might be helpful:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/bipol...ml#post3090862

Thanks! I took the test on PC a while back and totally bombed it. Like, it told me to seek help immediately. I laughed it off at first but then my life started to get completely out of control. And then my T brought up bipolar, and she's not the first T to do so, either. The last T thought I was just being an ungrateful child to my mother- who had been abusing me at the time- so I cussed that T out and never went back.

But I digress...

I am the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything!!!!

I scored a 42 on the bipolar quiz.

I got 53, do I win a prize?

Okay, so I'm not sure I'm THAT bad. Maybe I just can't see it from my perspective. *shrugs*

I'm surprised your T is giving you some sort of bipolar test to take --it's really usually pdocs who do this sort of diagnostics -in theory, anyway, therapists aren't really qualified to. In any case, I think your best bet is your regular psychiatrist, I think it takes more of an evaluation for a definitive diagnosis than a written test (I don't think it is relied on on its own), on the other hand, it is something you will be able to take to your regular pdoc to help him with the diagnosis.

In my opinion it will be important for diagnosis for you to either stay on your meds for some time (or off, but it sounds like you're much better on), because otherwise, some if not many symptoms you will be having will be due to withdrawals from meds and I think that would confuse things.

I think it would be helpful to keep a mood journal. How you're feeling, how long those emotions last, and what precipitates them (whether an event, an interaction with someone, stress, meds withdrawal or new med on board, etc.), that should help things along.

From your diagnosis (I assume from your regular pdoc) it sounds like he/she is keeping their options open until they know you better. Of course it completely depends on the situation, but I tend to see that as a good sign, I think it takes time to make such a diagnosis, it seems to be a difficult one to make.

I'm glad your temp T is supportive.

I think it's a pretty normal thing to doubt. It was for me anyway. I just kind of put up with it for 10 years because I'd get in "normal" periods and think that I was just kind of making all the rest of it up. Almost split personality in a way (although not really... I don't want to even pretend to know what THAT'S like).

Sometimes it would be painfully obvious that I needed some drastic help, but then after a few weeks (or months sometimes... depending) I'd just... not feel that way anymore. Very damn confusing.

Particularly since it doesn't sound like you have a concrete diagnosis yet I imagine it's even more confusing. Maybe the test would be a good thing?

That said... I got a 50 on the test. I'm taking that as good.

He's a really personable guy and he wants to try to rule out things. I think he's actually a psychologist, so although not able to prescribe meds, better than a licensed social worker. But yeah. I think it'll take a long time to make a definitive dx.

fjdhdhdhdh!!! I understand this so much!! I kept doubting anything was a problem until I had a manic episode and thought I had superhuman powers.

I do the same thing... especially since my UPs don't end up doing anything too nutty for myself. (normal for me is VERY cautious and self-controlled). It's more like I just relax a lot more and have fun. And get super productive sometimes.

It's easy to pass off... and don't really know. Am anxious about the psychiatrist whenever that happens.

I mean this as validating not invalidating, so I hope it's taken this way, but my take is that if the 'ups' don't cause major distress/seriously negatively affect your quality of life (you're relaxed, have fun, are productive, etc.) then it's a good thing, something to celebrate and enjoy, not pathologize. What a sad society we'd be if we medicated away such things...

I understand what you mean - and I do tend to enjoy them.

At the same time, I have a lot of nights that I don't remember. I've woken up and not known where I was. I've gotten lost in unknown cities because I decided I didn't need to pay any attention to where I was.

What I really mean is that I have never experienced psychosis - I am always grounded in that way. And I have such a low self-esteem most of the time that I never get an overly inflated ego - my biggest ego is "Yeah I am pretty awesome actually!!!!!" as opposed to "I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!!"

I pay more attention to it as energy than my actual mood. I'll be so wired that I can't really sleep and am all over the place. I'll be babbling to someone and switch topics half way through a sentence because I forgot what I was saying, and make a million plans with people and then forget about them or realize that I've double or triple-booked... So.. it complicates things, and has caused me trouble.

I just don't do things that would stand out to a random stranger.

(and by relax, I mostly meant that I let my inhibitions go... sorta like I would when drunk, but I'll do the same thing sober. Normally I am very reserved in regards to my thoughts!)

I'll go ahead and validate your validating point. I love love LOVE hypo when I'm just energized enough to get all the things done, including the creative tasks, but hate it when I get so hyper I can't hear myself think through the sound of my racing thoughts and then can't do anything. I would never want to medicate away my productive hyperness (and I don't want to medicate at all when I'm depressed.... but that's for other reasons).

42? what kind of an answer is that?

Maybe you need to know the ultimate question before you can understand the answer....

(nothing of substance to add to the convo other than I got a 54 which supports my dx of bp1 the hospital gave me )

It means the answer is ME!! I am the answer to life, the universe, and everything!!!! (thank goodness I don't have delusions or grandeur or I would possibly be in trouble right now, hahahaha)

Lol Cheshire Cat. If only I could remember more actual quotes...

Haha! you guys made me smile

OMG! I figured it out!

"Who am I?"

"ME!!!!" as Me= 42

I solved the Ultimate Question!

I got a 50 on that bipolar quiz, which I took a couple of years ago when I merely suspected I had BP, and pointed toward a dx of BP 1. I scored 50 again when I retook the test a week or so. I still don't know officially what flavor I have.....pdoc gave me a provisional BP 2 but now I've had a couple of major manic episodes and a mixed episode, which arguably make me a 1. Who knows.....I don't suppose it really matters in the end.