Bipolar and Depression

A key feature in telling if you have bipolar is meeting the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.

This is one thing that makes bipolar disorder complicated.

Bipolar is the combination of Major Depressive Disorder and expansive mood episodes categorized as either Hypomanic or Manic.

We'll explore those in a moment.

With all these factors it can be very difficult to truly know if someone has bipolar or is in a depressive episode.

Great care and attention need to be taken on the part of the therapist to assess the individual's personality and base level of function is.

For instance, if someone is naturally extraverted and high energy but going through a depressive episode it could very easily appear as if the person is having a hypomanic episode after the depression lifts.

Bipolar and Mania

The other definitive feature to know if you have bipolar is understanding what counts as a manic episode.

There are 2 types of manic episodes as alluded to above.

A Hypomanic is an elevated mood lasting 4 consecutive days in which the person has inflated self-esteem, is more talkative, needs less sleep, increases goal-directed activities, and engages in risky behaviors.

A Manic episode is an elevated mood lasting for a full week in which the person experiences the symptoms listed above. 

ONLY if you meet the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder AND whether a hypomanic or manic episode do you have bipolar.  

Cyclothymia

Now let's look at Cyclothymia.

This is the least known of bipolar disorders because the symptoms are less severe and shorter lasting.

Essentially, Cyclothymia is a pattern of elevated and depressed episodes over the course of a 2-year period.

The biggest difference between Cyclothyia and Bipolar I and Bipolar II is that Cyclothymia is only diagnosable if in that 2-year period you have never met the criteria for a Major Depressive Disorder, Hypomanic episode, or a full Manic episode.

If you have met the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, then you have either Major Depressive Disorder or Persistent Depressive Disorder.

Combined with a Hypomanic episode and you have Bipolar II; combined with a full Manic episode and you have Bipolar I.

Conclusion

So, you now have a pretty good idea of an answer to the question, "Do I have bipolar?" 

Likely, you do not. 

Cyclothymia, Bipolar I, and Bipolar II are complex, and nuanced mental disorders that are a combination of depressive symptoms and manic symptoms.

Cyclothymia is a cyclical experience of hypomanic and depressive symptoms over 2 years that never meet the full criteria for hypomania or major depressive disorder. 

Bipolar I requires full criteria for major depressive disorder AND a full manic episode.

Bipolar II requires full criteria for major depressive disorder AND a hypomanic episode.