What would you do to decide if you have bi-polar disorder?

By a trustworthy Dx: It might mean trying more than one therapist, but have a thorough evaluation, describing the symptoms & history to a competent, experienced professional. That's what they're trained to do. Don't try to self-diagnose, it'll add to your anxiety. Do track your symptoms so you can relate them accurately. Too many people think they have the disorders with high profiles in the media. You may or may not.

Bipolar: Bipolar I and bipolar II, In the first, manic phases are more severe, and in the second, depressive phases are more severe. There is also cyclothymia which is a low grade version of bipolar disorder in general, where mood swings are not as severe in either direction, manic or depressive. A psychiatrist will look for extreme swings of mood as part of formulating a diagnosis as opposed to testing.