Looking for an online bipolar disorder test?

There is no self-test you can take to determine whether or not you are experiencing bipolar disorder. Mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder, are complex and require a thorough evaluation from a qualified healthcare provider.

If you’re not ready to book that first appointment with a psychiatrist, therapist, or your primary care doctor to talk about the symptoms you’re experiencing, our online bipolar test is a good place to start. While our bipolar test can’t provide you with a diagnosis, it can help you learn more about your symptoms and give you psychiatrist-backed guidance on next steps.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by intense swings in a person’s mood, energy levels, behavior, and ability to function. Most people experience mood swings in their day-to-day lives, but for people with bipolar disorder, these swings (which are referred to as mood episodes) typically last days or weeks at a time and interfere with their ability to function at work, school, or in relationships.Mood episodes range from extreme emotional “highs” (mania) involving euphoric, energized, or irritable behavior to “lows” (depression) involving intense hopelessness or indifference.

The only way to know if you have bipolar disorder is to see a qualified mental health professional, like a psychiatrist. If your mental health is making it hard to go about your day, it’s time to reach out for support.

Take our 10-minute assessment to see if Talkiatry is right for you.

1. Intense shifts in mood that lasts days or weeks at a time

People with bipolar disorder will experience intense shifts in mood that may include periods of mania (extreme high), hypomania (a milder form of mania), or depression (extreme low). The shifts in mood can range in severity and often people will experience periods of normalcy in between.

2. Changes in sleeping patterns

Sleeping patterns can change dramatically for people with bipolar disorder. During episodes of mania, a person may have trouble staying or falling asleep and may feel energized and euphoric despite only getting a few hours of sleep a night. During episodes of depression they may feel unmotivated to get out of bed or seem constantly fatigued.

3. Irrational thoughts

During episodes of mania, a person will often experience changes in their thinking patterns. They may obsess over certain thoughts or ideas or have irrational thoughts or incoherent speech. Some people will experience symptoms of psychosis during either depressive or manic episodes. This includes delusions, false beliefs, or hallucinations.

4. Change in behaviors

During an episode of mania, a person with bipolar disorder may engage in risky behaviors and make snap decisions without considering the consequences. Several things can contribute to this change in behavior including increased energy, lack of sleep, disoriented thinking, or delusions. Everyone will experience mania differently but some common behaviors associated with manic episodes include gambling, spending sprees, reckless driving, risky sexual behavior.

5. Difficulty functioning

The highs and lows of bipolar disorder will look different for everyone. But regardless of the severity of manic or depressive episodes, for anyone living with bipolar disorder, shifts in mood make it challenging to function in daily life. Someone with bipolar disorder may find it difficult to keep up at work, school, or in relationships.

If you think you or a loved one might be experiencing bipolar disorder, support is available. A psychiatrist can help you learn more about your symptoms and options for treatment so that you can get back to feeling like yourself.

ADHD and bipolar disorder are two distinct mental health conditions that share some common symptoms including hyperactivity, impulsivity, restlessness, distractibility, risk-taking, irritability, restlessness, and hyper-focusing.

Though many of the symptoms between these two conditions overlap, someone with bipolar disorder will experience these symptoms periodically—episodes of mania or depression can last anywhere from days or weeks at a time. Someone with ADHD will experience these symptoms persistently over the course of their lives.

It also is possible to be living with both bipolar disorder and ADHD.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, reach out for support. A psychiatrist can help you learn more about your symptoms and treatment options so that you can get back to feeling like yourself.

Everyone will experience mood swings from time to time, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have a mental health condition. People with bipolar disorder will experience intense changes in mood, behavior, or thinking that last for days to weeks at at time and is disruptive to their daily life. These changes in mood are characterized by extreme highs (mania), and lows (depression). Bipolar looks different for everyone, some people will experience periods of normalcy in between episodes of mania or depression. Others may not experience mania at all, but may experience hypomania, a more mild form of mania that can be less disruptive to daily life.

Symptoms of mania

Symptoms of bipolar mania may make you feel good at first, but quickly become uncomfortable and erratic. They may last 7 days or longer, and may be severe enough to require hospitalization. These symptoms include:

• Feelings of elation or extreme irritability
• A decreased need for sleep
• A sense of well-being that exceeds reality (euphoria); a feeling of invincibility
• Talkativeness or faster speech that seems out of character
• Irrational thoughts
• Difficulty focusing
• Poor decision making (spending sprees, reckless driving); risky or out-of-control behavior

Symptoms of hypomania  

Hypomania has milder symptoms than mania, and hypomanic periods may last fewer than 7 days. Often, people are unaware they are in a hypomanic episode, as they may feel very good and motivated to get things done, without experiencing the major disruptions in day-to-day life that mania can cause.   Still, friends and loved ones may sometimes recognize changes in behavior that signify a hypomanic episode.  

Symptoms of depression

Symptoms of bipolar depression are much more extreme than just “feeling down.” They may last 2 weeks or longer and include:

• Feeling very down, sad, or anxious
• Lack of interest or enjoyment in activities
• Low energy or fatigue
• Lack of focus or concentration, slowed behavior
• Decrease or increase in appetite
• Decrease or increase in sleep
• Excessive feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Suicidal thoughts or frequent thoughts of death

People with bipolar mania or depression may also experience symptoms of psychosis, including delusions, false beliefs, or hallucinations. Hypomania does not include psychotic symptoms.

1. Learn about bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is complex and there are many misconceptions surrounding the condition. For example, many people assume bipolar disorder is simply mood swings. These misconceptions can be harmful and lead to stigma around the condition. Being knowledgeable about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and how it affects a person’s behavior and thinking will help you support someone going through it.

2. Have a plan

When your loved one is feeling good, set an emergency plan for helping them in the event of a severe episode of either mania or depression. The plan should include how you can best support them through their episodes as well as what to do if they are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or are engaging in risky or dangerous behavior.

3. Listen

It’s hard to understand what someone with bipolar is going through if you haven’t lived with the condition yourself. Rather than offering advice or trying to make your loved one feel better, just listen with an empathetic ear. Your loved one will feel supported and relieved when their feelings and experiences are validated and accepted without judgement.