Recognizing someone who is a probable candidate for bipolar disorder can easily be resolved if the person is already exhibiting symptoms. Although, if the symptoms aren’t that prominent and the person is subject to coming back to his normal status, it wouldn’t be likely to be diagnosed because of
the apparent signs.

To mentally suspect someone having a bipolar disorder within the family or the community is hard especially when you have no idea where to start. It’s best to leave it to the experts.

It’s easier to recognize something that is shown than something that is not. When you see someone with bleeding hands, you know that you have to fix medications and clean the wound of the affected part. When it comes to recognizing a person with such a psychological disorder, it wouldn’t be easy as
telling that he has broken ears or swollen fingers.

Tests must be made to diagnose if the person is really undergoing a stage of the disease. Upon testing a person, he goes into numerous psychological and medical examinations which can help assume or rule out any kind of problem. These tests can also help check if there are any related complications
that have occurred to support the problem.

The tests to help diagnose a problem generally consist of:

• Laboratory tests. Testing via laboratory usually includes CBC or complete blood count, other blood tests, and thyroid tests. Urinalysis may also be provided.

• Physical tests. This is all about the outer physique of a person that includes the measuring of weight and height, taking of vital signs such as the person’s temperature, respiratory and pulse rate and blood pressure, auscultation of the lungs and heart and examining the abdomen as a whole.

• Psychological exam. Considered as one of the most important part of the test. Here, the physician will initiate conversation and trigger some of the patient’s inner thoughts and feelings. Psychological exams can help distinguish the behavioral pattern that might have caused the disorder.

The patient may also be asked to fill out certain questionnaires that can help in psychological assessments. With proper permission from the patient, the doctor can also question close relatives and friends that can further provide information of episodes of depression or mania.

Criteria for diagnosis

In order to be diagnosed with the disorder, a person must meet certain criteria that are stated by the manual published by the association which is responsible for American psychiatric society indicated as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This manual can be the basis for
health providers to diagnose conditions regarding mental health.

Upon diagnosing a person, the criteria must be based specifically on the type of bipolar disorder as well as the types of episodes and history. To be able to learn more on the situation, you have to talk intently to your doctor and ask the long term treatments to the condition. Researchers say that
bipolar disorder can be regarded as a series of disorders with varying symptom and degrees.

Early diagnosis for a person with bipolar disorder is very important. In the event that people are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, the person affected will not get sufficient cure because the treatment may be severe or inappropriate. Thus, it is better to consult skilled medical professionals whose
training and experience can provide the proper care in the most appropriate manner.

Before going into the rough details, we’ll have a rerouting of ideas to know the main reasons why people who have bipolar disorder results in suicide.

First, there are generally two types of bipolar disorder which are: Bipolar I and Bipolar II. These two subtypes can be regarded as symptoms which are appropriate basis for diagnosing the disease.

Bipolar Type I

In this occurrence, the person may at least have one or two manic episodes even without episodes of previous depression.

Bipolar Type II

The person must at least have an episode of depression and a hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes usually refer to a lesser and much briefer condition compared to a manic episode that lasts only for a few days and not at all severe.

Hypomania episodes would be associated with elevated moods like irritability and changes in everyday functioning that doesn’t require hospitalization. Here, depression is much more longer than hypomania.

Cyclothymia

This is somewhat included in the type but is considered as the milder bipolar form. Compared to the extremes bipolar people are exhibiting, cyclothmia mood swings are moderate.

Psychosis

This is the time when bipolar becomes severe. The person undergoes episodes of delusions and hallucinations that detaches them from reality. Some goes into thinking that they are someone or they see and hear things that, in reality, aren’t there.

With all the things related to the disorder, it all goes down to one thing – suicide. Because the person can no longer understand what is happening to him, his behavior is taking over his entire system and is overwhelming his thoughts and feelings. And because the person believes that he is
incapable of doing anything good, he commits suicide.

Suicide is a sin. But then again, it has become one of the most effective solutions to outrun every single problem that occurs in someone’s life. If someone in your family has already been diagnosed of the disorder, it is proper that the members of the family see to it that the person is taken care
of.

Any thoughts of committing suicide must have immediate attention to rule out the idealism. It is advisable that the person seeks medical health. The risk for committing suicide will appear within the earlier course of the illness.

To be able to diagnose if a person has suicidal tendencies, one must observe signs and symptoms such as:

• Hopeless and helpless feelings

• Thoughts about wanting to die or talking about the afterlife

• Feels that he or she is just a burden for her family and friends

• Abuses drugs and alcohol

• Writing random good-bye notes

• Organizing affairs like preparing for near death

Suicide is possible especially if you know someone who is suffering from an early stage of bipolar disorder. If you or anyone you knows who are feeling suicidal, bipolar or not, always find ways to rid of it like calling a doctor for advice and help, never leaving suicidal persons alone, and making
sure that any access of harm that the person can use against himself is no where to be found.

It is important that one understands the different causes of the disorder in order to totally prevent the risk of suicidal attempts. Life is the most important thing to be taken care of. It’s a pity to see it wasted.