Preparing for an appointment

You may start by seeing your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist. You may want to take a family member or friend along to your appointment, if possible, for support and to help remember information.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

• Any symptoms you've had, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for the appointment
• Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes
• All medications, vitamins, herbs or other supplements you're taking, and the dosages
• Questions to ask your doctor

Some questions to ask your doctor may include:

• Do I have bipolar disorder?
• Are there any other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests will I need?
• What treatments are available? Which do you recommend for me?
• What side effects are possible with that treatment?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
• Should I see a psychiatrist or other mental health professional?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can have?
• What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions. Be ready to answer them to reserve time to go over any points you want to focus on. Your doctor may ask:

• When did you or your loved ones first begin noticing your symptoms?
• How frequently do your moods change?
• Do you ever have suicidal thoughts when you're feeling down?
• Do your symptoms interfere with your daily life or relationships?
• Do you have any blood relatives with bipolar disorder or depression?
• What other mental or physical health conditions do you have?
• Do you drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or use recreational drugs?
• How much do you sleep at night? Does it change over time?
• Do you go through periods when you take risks that you wouldn't normally take, such as unsafe sex or unwise, spontaneous financial decisions?
• What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?