Take This Bipolar Hypomania Quiz

Take This Bipolar Hypomania Quiz Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Mania and Hypomania Print Quiz for Bipolar Hypomania Episodes By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 17, 2020 bluecinema/Getty Images More in Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Mania and Hypomania Depression Diagnosis Treatment In This Article Table of Contents Expand Self-Test Scoring Other Factors View All Back To Top How do you know whether youre hypomanic? Periods of hypomania are possible whether you have Bipolar I or Bipolar II disorder. This quiz will help you determine whether youve ever had hypomania. You can use the results when speaking with a health care professional (even if you havent been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at present). The quiz is written as if youre currently experiencing an episode, but you can also use it for past periods when you suspect hypomania was happening. If thats the case, consider a period of at least 4 days when some symptoms from each group were present every day, for most of the day. Please note that this is not a formal diagnostic test. The results are intended for your use in talking to a doctor about your mental state. Hypomania Self-Test Keep count of the number of questions where your answer is Yes in each group. Group 1 Have you had an unusual increase in energy and/or activity?Do you feel abnormally happy, even though nothing in your life can account for it? The happiness may have begun with something special, but the happiness has lasted longer than normal.Is your mood abnormally expansive?Are you abnormally irritable for no real reason??? Group 2 These symptoms should represent a noticeable difference from your normal behavior or experience, and observable by others. Are you feeling grandiose, or is your self-esteem higher than normal? For example, do you feel you are better at a task or activity than all the others around you (when you normally dont feel that way)?Do you feel rested after just a few hours of sleep?Are you talking more than usual, or do you frequently feel like you absolutely must keep talking?Do you have racing thoughts  or are you speaking extremely rapidly, jumping from topic to topic (flight of ideas)?Are you very easily distracted?Are you physically extremely restless, or are you plunging into projects on impulse (for example, emptying out all your closets at once around 3 a.m., or calling 25 friends to invite them to a barbecue that afternoon)?Are you taking foolish risks without giving much thought to possible consequences? Or are you spending money recklessly??? Group 3 Are your behaviors causing serious difficulties in your life (for example, severe problems in relationships or at work or school, you lose your job because of them, etc.)?Are you having hallucinations, or are you delusional?Have you had to be hospitalized because of your symptoms in order to prevent you from harming yourself or others??? NOTE: Any yes answer in this group rules out hypomania; consider the Bipolar Mania Quiz instead. Scoring After you have scored your results, its essential to read about other important factors (below). Group 1:0-1 Yes 0 points2 Yes 1 point Group 2:0-2 Yes 0 points3 Yes 1 point Results In general, 2 points are necessary to be diagnosed as having a hypomanic episode. However, the presence of a number of symptoms in any single group is an indication that youre in need of a mental health evaluation. Your doctor may still conclude that you have bipolar disorder. Other possibilities: You may be experiencing mania rather than hypomania.You may be having a mixed episode.You may have another psychiatric diagnosis such as cyclothymia. Other Important Factors You must also consider these elements: Did your symptoms begin with the use of an illegal drug? If Yes, a diagnosis of hypomania cant be confirmed, but you should seek treatment immediately.Did your symptoms begin after the use of a prescription medication or other medical treatment? If Yes, the presence or absence of bipolar hypomania must be evaluated by a doctor, but again, you should seek treatment immediately. In Conclusion The psychiatric symptoms listed above are always a cause for concern  and may indicate a hypomanic episode. If you are troubled by any of them, seeking medical help is recommended