Acıbadem Taksim Hospital Psychiatrist Dr. Levent Turhan shared 10 questions that can test whether a person has bipolar affective disorder.
Giving information about bipolar affective disorder, which is common in society, Dr. Turhan, "It is seen as a mental illness that causes such behaviors without any reason and causes serious problems in the quality of life, cannot control the severity of emotions, and causes great difficulties in professional or interpersonal communication." used the phrase.
Dr. Turhan, bipolar disorder, which has two types; He emphasized that it is possible to treat the disease, stating that it is also called "manic-depressive disorder" or "bipolar disorder" because he experiences exuberance (mania) in one period and depression (depression) in the other.
“Are you sometimes extremely unhappy, sometimes extremely happy?”
Stating that this change in emotions is not excessive and does not make the professional / social life of the person difficult, this situation is considered normal. Turhan said, “However, if extreme unhappiness lasts longer than 2 weeks, anger or extreme joy lasts longer than 4 days and is incompatible with what you are experiencing, for example; If you get very happy even when you get very bad news or feel sad even when you get very good news, you may have bipolar affective disorder.” said.
“Do you sometimes feel extremely sluggish or over-energized?”
Dr. Referring to the fact that people can feel sluggish and energetic during the day, Turhan said, “However, while patients with bipolar affective disorder feel sluggish despite sleeping all the time during the depressive period, their movements slow down and they spend most of the day without getting out of bed. They eat little or no food. In the mania period, although they rest very little, they are always extremely energetic, constantly moving, almost never sitting, they can get angry and use physical violence on something very simple.” made a statement.
“Are you engaging in risky behavior?”
Noting that sometimes small risks can be taken in life, Dr. Turhan said, “We calculate the result of these risks and if the losses are tolerable, we take risks. However, people with bipolar affective disorder take risks that are greater than those that can be taken without calculation, such as driving fast, using drugs, spending excessive money, etc. during episodes.” he said.
“Do you laugh unnecessarily or don’t speak at all?”
Dr. Turhan stated that the behaviors of bipolar affective disorder patients to their environment change according to the attack period, and said, “While talking much more than usual in the mania period, they jump from subject to subject, laugh at things that are not laughable, talk to themselves or laugh. In the depression period, they withdraw and talk much less, and their communication with people decreases.” said.
“Do you have trouble controlling your thoughts?”
Stating that patients with bipolar affective disorder have difficulty in controlling their thoughts, Dr. Turhan says, “While he thinks very fast in mania attacks, he thinks very slowly in depression attacks and even has difficulty in thinking.” used the phrase.
“Are you engaging in unrealistic behavior?”
Dr. Turhan, “Bipolar affective disorder patients may say that they see or hear things that do not exist in reality. They may have unrealistic beliefs such as believing that they are prophets, saints, or a very important person.” he said.
“Do you have thoughts of death or suicide?”
Stating that suicidal and death thoughts can be seen in both depression and mania periods in bipolar affective disorder patients, Dr. Turhan, “In people with a depression attack; extreme unhappiness, inability to enjoy activities that used to be enjoyable, tendency to cry, loss or increase in appetite/weight, insomnia or sleep increase, slowed movements, decreased amount of speech, worthlessness, thoughts of guilt, difficulty concentrating, irritability, lack of sexual desire, death or may have suicidal thoughts.” made statements.
Feeling very sleepy or denying sleep?
Dr. Turhan, stating that insomnia can be seen during mania and depression periods, "There can be a decrease in the need for sleep, even a state of denial of the need for sleep, especially in the mania period." said.
“Is there a change in your appetite?”
Saying that an increase or decrease in appetite can be seen, Dr. Turhan, "In the mania period when all the symptoms of exuberance are revealed, an increase in appetite is also remarkable." he said.
“Are you distracted?”
Dr. Emphasizing that distraction can be seen in both depression and mania periods, Turhan said, “Attention; You may not be able to recover due to your daily busy hustle or because your responsibilities are above your potential. However, if your distraction is persistent and you are constantly having trouble concentrating without any valid reason, it is useful to consider bipolar affective disorder. he added.
Be the first to comment