Bipolar Disorder

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder causes extreme changes in mood and energy levels. These dramatic changes are exhausting and affect your day-to-day function.

People with bipolar disorder experience distinctive stages known as mood episodes. These can be manic (excitable), hypomanic (mildly excitable), or depressive (low mood). There are three categories of bipolar disorder — bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia.

What is bipolar I disorder?

Bipolar I disorder is the most severe type of bipolar. Manic episodes of feeling energized or wired may last a week or more. You’re likely to experience symptoms such as:

• Inflated self-esteem
• Less need for sleep
• Talking loudly and quickly
• Being easily distracted
• Irritability
• Overexerting yourself
• Risk-taking behaviors
• Racing thoughts

You might cause yourself money problems because of an uncontrolled spending spree when manic or get into trouble because you feel overconfident and can’t control what you say.

Between manic episodes, there are severe bouts of depression during which you’re almost the exact opposite of the person you become when you’re manic. Fatigue, inability to think clearly or function normally, and feelings of shame, guilt, and self-loathing replace the confidence and endless energy.

What’s different about bipolar II disorder and cyclothymic disorder?

Manic episodes in bipolar II are less extreme than in bipolar I, and hypomania is more common. Between episodes of depression and mania, you might experience periods of relative normality. The depressive episodes of bipolar disorder could be severe, though.

If you have cyclothymic disorder, the swings between depression and mania are frequent and relatively constant. The symptoms are less severe than those of bipolar I or II.

How is bipolar disorder treated?

Paramount Health Directions personalizes bipolar disorder treatment for each patient. Medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers can help, or for some patients, anticonvulsants could be an option. 

It can take a while to find the right balance of medications, but Paramount Health Directions offers genetic testing to improve prescribing accuracy and effectiveness.

Psychotherapy is also essential for treating bipolar disorder. Talking therapies help you understand and learn to manage your condition better and give you the tools required to reduce behavioral problems and rebuild relationships.

Paramount Health Directions also offers advanced treatments like ketamine therapy with Spravato® esketamine nasal spray and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Patients who don’t respond to other treatments may find these options beneficial. Nutrition counseling, stress management, lifestyle changes, and dietary supplements could also help.

If you find life difficult because of extreme mood swings, or your current bipolar disorder treatment program isn’t improving your quality of life, call Paramount Health Directions or request an appointment online today.