I Was Diagnosed With Bipolar I After Ignoring These Signs for a Year
According to the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, it takes on average six years for a person to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When the condition is undiagnosed, it can wreak havoc on a person's life. The mood episodes can become more severe the longer a person is untreated.
Luckily, I received a diagnosis within one year of the symptoms starting, but that's probably because I developed more serious psychotic symptoms. Looking back, I realize that there were red flags that I ignored before my diagnosis.
Hyperfixation on Goals
About a year before I was diagnosed, I officially started my mental health marketing company. At this time, I started working upwards of 80 hours a week. I felt super motivated, adopted a 'hustle mindset,' and became hyper-focused on my goals. I considered this healthy ambition and didn't think much of it. However, looking back, I realize that this was an increase in goal-directed activity, which is a sign of bipolar disorder.
Brain Fog
In the year leading up to my diagnosis, I had pretty bad brain fog. I would forget what I was doing just five minutes prior. I knew this wasn't normal. I felt like something was wrong, and this feeling wouldn't go away. So I made an appointment with my primary care doctor. I described my brain fog to him. He dismissed this issue as being due to normal age-related memory changes. I wasn't quite satisfied with this answer. But I think it's what I wanted to hear. So I ignored my concerns and didn't bring the issues up to him again.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) doesn't list "brain fog" as a specific symptom of bipolar disorder. However, it turns out that memory and cognitive issues are common in bipolar disorder.
Sleep Changes
I started experiencing sleep changes about a year or so before my diagnosis. I would stay up very late, working well into the early morning hours. Sometimes, I wouldn't go to bed until close to dawn. At the time, I wasn't tracking my sleep. (Now I do). But I probably wasn't getting enough sleep.
Because of the changes in my sleep patterns, I saw a sleep specialist. He diagnosed me with a delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, which is a circadian rhythm disorder. I've since learned that circadian rhythm disorders are common in people with bipolar disorder.
Anxiety
A couple of weeks before my first manic episode, I had what I would call 'anxious distress.' This went way beyond regular stress. I felt as though I couldn't handle or manage things. I worried that I was losing control. This was different from normal for me. I'd never had anxiety like this before.
I was later diagnosed with an anxiety disorder as well. I learned that bipolar and anxiety disorders often co-occur.
Paranoia
I started to have paranoia right before I was diagnosed. Most people experience feelings of paranoia from time to time. So I brushed it off. However, paranoia is a sign of psychosis, which can occur with bipolar disorder.
My Advice
I would encourage anyone having similar issues to make an appointment with a licensed mental health professional. Advocate for yourself. Bipolar disorder is treatable with medications and therapy. Even if it isn't bipolar, it's important to find out what is going on.
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