If you’ve been experiencing emotions that range from incredible highs to devastating lows and unpredictable shifts in your mood and energy, a bipolar disorder test may help you with a diagnosis. To diagnose bipolar disorder, a physician may perform a physical exam, ask about your symptoms, and recommend blood testing to check if another condition, such as hypothyroidism, is causing your symptoms. If no underlying causes of your symptoms are found, a psychological evaluation is the next step.
If you’ve been putting off a bipolar disorder test, here are some reasons why you should consider getting one soon.
1. Have a clear diagnosis
The first step and most important reason to stop putting off a bipolar disorder test is that a diagnosis gives you peace of mind about your problem. Your problem now has a name, and now you know why you’re not feeling well. While you might have difficult thoughts around the diagnosis, ultimately, it’s a positive event. Remember that it can take a long time to diagnose a mental illness. It may take some time for you to realize something was wrong and find help. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your own mental health.
2. Get the help you need
A diagnosis is important because it means you will be able to get help managing your bipolar disorder. An appointment with a health professional, regular therapy sessions, and self-learning are all part of this process. You can be your strongest advocate by asking your mental health professional questions like “What can I expect in treatment and recovery?” and “How can I help improve your recovery?”
3. Learn to manage your emotions
With bipolar disorder, you often experience one emotion or another and every one of them is usually to the extreme. Even before you’ve been officially diagnosed, you might already know the basics of your diagnosis, like what the symptoms look like and how they manifest themselves in your day-to-day life. With help from your mental health professional and your support system, you can learn how to deal with those extreme emotions and improve your life.
4. Find a community
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. This means you are not alone! Your mental health professional will be able to point you towards a support group in your area and you will be able to meet others experiencing bipolar disorder if you wish to do so.
There isn’t one genetic reason, chemical imbalance, or life event that is at the heart of every bipolar disorder case. Every patient’s experience with bipolar disorder varies from that of others with the condition. If you’ve been putting off getting diagnosed and taking a bipolar test, we can help! Synchronous Mental Health believes in providing relief from adult mental health conditions with as few medications as possible and can help you find safer alternatives to high-risk medications. Schedule an initial consultation with us to get started.
