FIRST SIGNS “Green Zone”
- Looking at this Bipolar Index list to check symptoms.
- I become conscious of generally heightened emotions.
- Buying new sorts of food and clothes and other items.
- I create new domestic routines and move my furniture.
- I start behaving rather more sociably than normal.
- Typing faster than usual but still quite accurately.
- My diary is fuller than usual and I make lists of jobs.
- My song and story writing becomes more creative.
- I take on new jobs and seek new business ventures.
- My neuroses diminish so my behaviour diversifies.
- Friends casually mention that I seem to be rather high.
- Constantly getting up at six o’clock in the morning.
- Typing extremely fast but with occasional mistakes.
- My hands tremble slightly more than they usually do.
- There are not enough hours in the day to do my jobs.
- My mouth is rather dry and I sweat more than usual.
- I start talking too much and rather faster than usual.
- I am more suggestible and more eager to please others.
- I work enthusiastically at least fifteen hours every day.
- Personal hygiene and household jobs are neglected.
- Friends express slight concern about my state of mind.
- My autopilot car driving is rather slower than usual.
- I start staying in bed for up to twenty hours each day.
- Time seems short and seems to pass very quickly.
- Time appears to pass rather more slowly than usual.
- I become very eager to be more friendly than usual.
- I become slightly impatient with my everyday tasks.
- I forget where I’ve parked my car at the supermarket.
- I have some difficulty in adjusting my digital watch.
- My vision seems clearer and colours appear brighter.
WARNING SIGNS “Orange Zone“
- Friends express real concerns about my state of mind.
- I start talking far too much and much faster than usual.
- My home becomes very untidy and I can’t do any jobs.
- My autopilot driving becomes much faster than usual.
- I lose my appetite and sometimes feel sick when eating.
- I am unable to create new ideas or invent new systems.
- I have some difficulty in resolving everyday problems.
- Time really drags and I become bored and aimless.
- I become indecisive and start to worry over choices.
- I become unable to cope with normal everyday tasks.
- Friends suggest I take my tablets or go to the doctor.
- Unusual impulses to drink alcohol or smoke cigars.
- I start making unusual numbers of simple mistakes.
- I work obsessively at least eighteen hours every day.
- I become irrationally irritated over everyday tasks.
- My hands start shaking far more than they usually do.
- I have an increased sex drive and mild sex fantasies.
- I have a tendency to shuffle slightly whenever I walk.
- My facial colour becomes abnormally pale and waxy.
- I start to constantly check in my mirror for symptoms.
DANGER SIGNS “Red Zone“
- Friends are alarmed by my dangerous symptoms.
- Sleeping patterns disrupted so my bed is in disarray.
- In private I start to swear constantly over nothing.
- I suffer intense compulsions to finish all my jobs.
- Television plays and films seem unusually lifelike.
- Changes in my body odour and toilet functions.
- Greatly increased sex drive and vivid sex fantasies.
- Strong desires to start silly superficial love affairs.
- I become completely apathetic and abnormally lazy.
- Sounds seem far louder and odours seem stronger.
- Friends insist upon accompanying me to the doctor.
- My conversations all become obsessive monologues.
- I constantly forget any appointments I have made.
- I have difficulty in working out times and dates.
- I cannot remember my home telephone number.
- I am unable to wind my hairdryer cord as usual.
- Friends tell me I am walking with a peculiar gait.
- My short term memory becomes very poor indeed.
- Routine household tasks seem almost impossible.
- I swear frequently for no reason – even in public.
- The doctor significantly increases my medication.
- I forget how to read the date on my wrist watch.
- I have difficulty with spelling and very easy maths.
- I type at excessive speed but with numerous errors.
- I start to drink alcohol and smoke cigars.
- I have strong urges to start buying pornography.
- I am unable to follow the plot of even a simple film.
- I get panic attacks and abnormal feelings of fear.
- Angry frustration and rage over everyday problems.
- Constant obsessive introverted morbid thoughts.
DEADLY SIGNS “Black Zone“
- Friends suggest that I should be hospitalised.
- I am extremely clumsy. Always dropping things.
- My hands shake so much that I can hardly write.
- I keep forgetting the names of people I know well.
- I get totally lost when driving on familiar routes.
- I become disorientated. Cannot tell left from right.
- An exaggerated reaction to any startle responses.
- I become completely unable to tune my guitar.
- I forget my own address and my way home.
- My eyes glitter and stare abnormally.
- Friends insist that I must be hospitalised at once.
- Unreasoning fury over everyday situations.
- The television seems to speak to me personally.
- I am unable to operate my computer.
- I am unable to drive my car.
- I become sexually overactive or impotent.
- I become dizzy and unable to walk properly.
- I start to have suicidal thoughts.
- I set up suicide scenarios.
- I attempt suicide.