There are no physical tests for bipolar disorder - at least not yet. There may come a time when genetic testing and/or brain scans might be used for diagnosing, but there's a long way to go before that can happen.

If you suspect bipolar disorder, the first thing to do is decide whether anything you are doing or experiencing is having a serious impact on your daily life. If you are having hallucinations or are delusional, if you're putting your job or family in jeopardy, if you're feeling suicidal, putting yourself at financial or health risk, taking dangerous chances - see a doctor as soon as possible.

If there's nothing quite that serious happening, keep a journal of your daily moods and behaviors. Do you see a pattern? Are the feelings and behaviors different from what you feel when everything's basically okay?

A psychiatrist is your best choice when it comes to getting a diagnosis, but if you need to get a referral, make sure you are as clear as possible with your primary care doctor. No matter what kind of health care professional you're going to see, write down the symptoms you're having, especially the ones you're worried about, and take that (and your journal, if you made one) to your appointment. Forgetting something under the pressure of speaking with the doctor could make a difference.