Do I have bipolar?
If that question keeps circling back, you're not alone. And you don't have to sit with the not-knowing. A few minutes and a validated screening tool can give you a clearer picture of what's going on, plus an actual next step.
Everyone has ups and downs. Bipolar is different — distinct stretches where your energy, sleep, and behavior shift noticeably from your usual baseline. Periods of feeling unusually wired, sleeping little but doing more, thoughts racing, choices that don't quite fit who you are, often followed or preceded by heavy, low weeks. The pattern is the signal, not any single mood.
Not sure if this is bipolar?
Take the free MDQ screening, one of the most widely used clinical tools for identifying bipolar spectrum symptoms.
- This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
- Your results come with personalized recommendations.
Talk to someone who treats bipolar every day
All Saya psychologists are PRC-licensed (RPsy). Bipolar care usually pairs a psychiatrist (MD) for medication with a psychologist for therapies like CBT, IPSRT, and family-focused therapy.
Psychologist · RPsy
Sarrah Pedrosa, RPsy
English, Filipino, Bisaya
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Psychologist · RPsy
Melany Heger, RPsy
English, Filipino
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Psychologist · RPsy
Cheska Balagtas, RPsy
English, Filipino
View ProfileQuestions people ask us
How do I know if it's bipolar and not just mood swings?+
Everyday mood swings pass in hours and stay tied to what's happening around you. Bipolar episodes last for days or weeks and show up as a distinct shift: a stretch of unusually high energy, less need for sleep, racing thoughts, and impulsive decisions, often followed or preceded by low, heavy periods. It's the pattern and duration, not just the intensity, that matters.
At what point should I actually talk to someone?+
If you've had a period of at least several days where your energy, sleep, and behavior were noticeably different from your usual self, or if mood shifts are affecting your work, relationships, or finances, it's worth a professional conversation. Bipolar is highly treatable, but it's often missed for years because the high periods can feel productive.
Can bipolar be managed without medication?+
For most people with bipolar I or II, medication (typically a mood stabilizer) is the foundation of treatment because it's what prevents future episodes. Therapy — especially CBT, IPSRT, and family-focused therapy — is added alongside to help with routines, triggers, and relationships. A psychiatrist should be involved early.
What does bipolar treatment actually cost in the Philippines?+
At Saya, psychiatric consultations start at ₱2,850 for an initial visit and ₱2,150 for follow-ups with a PRC-licensed psychiatrist (MD). Psychotherapy sessions are ₱1,750 for a 50-minute session. Most bipolar care combines both — a psychiatrist for medication and a psychologist for therapy.