About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can sometimes seem like an unpredictable train ride that turns through mountains of mania before swiftly meandering through valleys of depression. In Long Beach, California, Pacific Mind Health psychiatrists know the true impact these unexpected mood swings can have on your daily life and your ability to think clearly. The attentive psychiatrists can help you to take control of your journey and regulate your mood with effective treatments. Call or schedule your personal consultation online.
What is a bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition involving extreme mood swings with emotional highs of mania or hypomania and lows of depression and overarching sadness.
When you feel depressed, you might feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in activities. When your mood shifts to mania, you feel a sense of euphoria and heightened energy or become unusually irritable.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Mood swings can affect energy, sleep, activity, judgment, behavior, and cognition. The frequency and severity of mood swings vary depending on the person.
If you have bipolar disorder, you might experience episodes of mania and hypomania and episodes of depression.
What causes bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder isn’t clear, but several factors may contribute. Some factors might trigger a bipolar episode or exacerbate the condition, such as drug or alcohol abuse and periods of high stress.
What are the treatments for bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is typically a lifelong condition, but there are effective available treatments to help you manage your condition and regulate your mood.
To treat your bipolar disorder, Dr. Flatow or Dr. Thomas might recommend:
Start by booking your personal consultation with a compassionate Pacific Mind Health psychiatrist. Call or schedule online today.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition involving extreme mood swings with emotional highs of mania or hypomania and lows of depression and overarching sadness.
When you feel depressed, you might feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in activities. When your mood shifts to mania, you feel a sense of euphoria and heightened energy or become unusually irritable.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Mood swings can affect energy, sleep, activity, judgment, behavior, and cognition. The frequency and severity of mood swings vary depending on the person.
If you have bipolar disorder, you might experience episodes of mania and hypomania and episodes of depression.
- Mania & Hypomania
Mania and hypomania have the same symptoms. Mania is more severe and causes more noticeable problems and symptoms such as a decreased need for sleep, unusual talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased energy, agitation, and an exaggerated sense of self-confidence. - Major Depressive Episode
A major depressive episode involves symptoms such as a depressed mood and feelings of sadness, a loss of interest in activities, insomnia and sleep problems, and fatigue.
What causes bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder isn’t clear, but several factors may contribute. Some factors might trigger a bipolar episode or exacerbate the condition, such as drug or alcohol abuse and periods of high stress.
- Genetics
Bipolar disorder is more common in people with a close relative, such as a sibling or a parent, with the condition. There may be certain genes involved in causing bipolar disorder, but more research is needed. - Biological differences
People with bipolar disorder seem to have physical changes in their brains compared to people without bipolar disorder. The importance of the changes is still unclear.
What are the treatments for bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is typically a lifelong condition, but there are effective available treatments to help you manage your condition and regulate your mood.
To treat your bipolar disorder, Dr. Flatow or Dr. Thomas might recommend:
- Medications, such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety and antidepressants
- Psychotherapy and counseling
- Education and support
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Substance abuse treatment when necessary
- Lifestyle changes, including nutrition, exercise, and stress management
Start by booking your personal consultation with a compassionate Pacific Mind Health psychiatrist. Call or schedule online today.