Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, also sometimes known as manic depressive disorder, is a chronic mood disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of either mania (highs) or depression (lows).
Bipolar symptoms can vary, but patients typically experience changes in:
- Mood
- Sleep
- Energy
- Appetite
- Speech
- Interest & activity levels
- Racing Thoughts
- And more.
Treating Bipolar on Psychiatry.Live
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can bring severe highs and lows, and these mood shifts also affect one’s thinking, functioning and behavior. People with bipolar disorder will typically go through periods of time where they are overly active and happy, followed by periods of time in which they are sluggish and sad. Think of mania and depression as the two “poles” of mood – like the North (high) and South (low) pole – which leads to the name bipolar.
Some individuals can experience symptoms of both mania and depression during the same single episode. Over the course of the illness, depressive symptoms typically occur more frequently than manic symptoms. However, once an individual has experienced a single hypomanic or manic episode, they are considered to have bipolar disorder rather than a depressive disorder, and the treatment is different as well.
People who suffer from bipolar disorder are not always in a manic or depressive state, but when these episodes do occur they often significantly impair one’s functionality. If an episode is severe, one can even experience hallucinations. Hallucinations are defined as experiencing sensations that are not there in reality, and this can be through hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things. Someone experiencing any of this or any sort of mood swings or bipolar disorder, or suicidal thoughts should see a doctor or provider right away.
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Diagnosing and Treating Bipolar Disorder
Treatment for bipolar disorder is usually lifelong and can include a combination of medications and psychotherapy. You and your online psychiatric clinician and therapist can help determine the severity of your bipolar disorder and what type of treatment is needed. There are many forms of therapy available to those suffering from bipolar disorder:
- Psychotherapy
- Support groups
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Psychoeducation
- Family therapy
Typically, the medications used for treatment will be from these three classes of medication:
- Mood stabilizers
- Antipsychotics
- Anticonvulsants
- You may also take additional classes of medications like antidepressants as well, though these have to be taken very carefully so that we don’t cause a manic episode. This is the reason why being open with your symptoms is so important.
During an online video session on Psychiatry.Live, the psychiatric provider will ask you a series of targeted question about your symptoms, your medical history and your family history. They may ask you to fill out a questionnaire or give you medical tests to help uncover any underlying condition that may be causing your symptoms like nutrient deficiencies, thyroid problems or hormone imbalance..
Once a diagnosis has been made, your clinician will develop a treatment plan that will help transform the quality of your life.
Our clinicians take a holistic approach to the treatment plan that may include talk therapy, sleep management, nutrition, exercise alongside prescribed medication.
Conditions We Treat
Brett Vasquez
