Bipolar Disorder Testing for Adults in The Woodlands
Around 7 to 8 million adults in the United States are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For many, symptoms start to appear in the late teen to early adult years. Bipolar disorder often affects mood, energy levels, and everyday activities. While this is a complex mental health condition, effective treatments are available. The path to a treatment plan that is right for you starts with testing and getting a diagnosis. At Geo Psychological Testing, we offer bipolar disorder testing for adults in The Woodlands and the Greater Houston Area.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition categorized by periods of depression and mania (intense, high-energy, euphoric, elevated moods) or hypomania (a milder form of mania). There is no one cause of this disorder. Instead, it can be a combination of genetics, stress factors, environmental factors, brain structure, chemical imbalances, and trauma. There are three main types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymic Disorder.
Bipolar I: At least 1 manic episode that lasted at least 7 days or required hospitalization. Manic symptoms are severe and can include psychosis. Depressive episodes can follow manic episodes but are not required for diagnosis.
Bipolar II: Major depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. The hypomanic episodes are often less severe than the Bipolar I diagnosis, but the depressive episodes can be much more severe.
Cyclothymic: These are chronic, milder mood fluctuations. It is periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms. To be diagnosed, symptoms must be present for at least two years or one year in children and teens.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Adults?
While bipolar disorder is often stereotyped as going from one mood to another quickly, the signs and symptoms are often more nuanced. The disorder involves patterns and episodes, or distinct time periods, of extreme mood shifts. These periods go from highs (mania or hypomania) to lows (depression) or can even feature periods of mixed symptoms. These episodes impact daily life, relationships, work, sleep, and more. They can last days or up to months.
During depressive periods, adults may experience:
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Fatigue or low energy nearly every day
- Changes in sleep – too much or too little
- Changes in appetite/weight gain or loss
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Thoughts of death or suicide (in severe cases)
If you or someone you know is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, help is available.
Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S., available 24/7. You can also chat via 988lifeline.org. For Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free). You are not alone.
Common manic signs may include:
- Extremely elevated, euphoric, or irritable mood
- Increased energy or restlessness
- Decreased need for sleep without feeling tired
- Rapid speech or feeling pressure to keep talking
- Racing thoughts or jumping between ideas
- Inflated self-confidence or grandiosity
- Impulsive or risky behaviors (spending sprees, risky investments, unsafe decisions)
- Being easily distracted
- Increased goal-directed activity (starting many projects at once)
While hypomania is not as drastic as mania, it is still noticeable. Common signs may include:
- Feeling unusually upbeat or energized
- Being more productive or talkative than usual
- Needing less sleep
- Feeling unusually confident or creative
Why Bipolar Disorder Testing for Adults Is Important
These symptoms can impact your daily life and your loved ones. Untreated bipolar disorder can affect job performance and stability, as well as decision-making and your overall quality of life.
The Process of Testing for Bipolar Disorder in Adults
There isn’t a single blood test or brain scan for bipolar disorder. The testing is non-invasive, including clinical interviews and questionnaires, where we look at your symptom history, family and personal medical history, and mood screenings. This allows us to see long-term patterns. During these questionnaires and interviews, there are no right or wrong answers. We are looking for trends, ruling out other medical causes, and identifying the root of the issue.
After Testing
With the proper care and treatment plan, many adults with bipolar disorder are able to live a stable, happy, and successful life. Treatment plans often involve therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. There are also lifestyle strategies, such as sleep routines and stress management, that help reduce symptoms.
At Geo Psychological Testing, we offer bipolar disorder testing for adults in The Woodlands and the Houston area. Getting the right support and understanding is the first step forward. To schedule, give us a call or contact us through our website here.