Bipolar Disorder

CONDITIONS

Bipolar Disorder services offered in Phoenix, AZ

Bipolar disorder doesn’t always appear as you expect because its symptoms vary depending on the type. Whether you have severe or mild symptoms the psychiatric professionals at Peak Mental Health provide individualized care, including mood-stabilizing medication and therapy.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder causes mood swings between mania and depression. However, there are three types of bipolar disorder. While they all cause high and low mood episodes, the severity of your symptoms varies.

Bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder is the original manic depressive disorder. You have episodes of full-blown mania and major depression, usually with neutral periods between the two. In this type of bipolar disorder, your manic episodes are severe, often requiring hospitalization.

Bipolar II disorder
Bipolar II disorder causes swings between hypomania and major depression. Hypomania is a less severe type of mania that doesn’t disrupt your life or lead to hospitalization.

Cyclothymic disorder
This type of bipolar disorder causes more frequent mood swings than bipolar I and II, but your symptoms are less severe than hypomania and major depression.

ADHD is usually diagnosed between four and seven years of age. The condition continues throughout adulthood for one-third of children who have ADHD. Even if you learn you have ADHD at a later age, some symptoms begin during childhood.

What symptoms does bipolar disorder cause?

An episode of full-blown mania lasts at least seven days. During a manic episode, you may:

Talk rapidly, frequently switching topics
Need little to no sleep
Feel energetic despite lacking sleep
Have uncontrollable racing thoughts
Stay constantly active
Engage in risky behaviors (spending sprees, drinking while driving)

You could also have hallucinations or delusions during a manic episode.

When your mood swings to major depression, you may:

Feel sad, worthless, and hopeless
Lose interest in activities you enjoy
Withdraw from family and friends
Sleep more or less than usual
Eat more or less than usual
Struggle to make decisions
Feel anxious or restless
Think about suicide

Many people have physical symptoms when they’re depressed, such as headaches and muscle or joint pain.

How is bipolar disorder treated?

We treat bipolar disorder with mood-stabilizing medications and therapy. Combining both treatments produces the best outcomes as therapy gives you the tools you need to manage the impact of bipolar disorder on your daily life.

During therapy, your mental health professional may help you learn to recognize the signs of an approaching mood swing and teach ways to prevent it. Many people use therapy to overcome stress and insomnia. Getting the sleep you need can go a long way toward keeping your moods steady.

Whether you’re worried about mood swings or you’re already diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Peak Mental Health can help. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book online today.

All Conditions

Providing Relief to Those Experiencing the Following Conditions

No matter what emotional or behavioral challenges people face, they receive exceptional care at Peak Mental Health.

Anxiety

OCD

Insomnia

Eating Disorders

ADHD

Depression