Bipolar Disorder Therapy
BIPOLAR DISORDER THERAPY
Bipolar disorder refers to the experience of shifting between two emotional states of mania and major depression. Bipolar disorder affects a person’s thinking, energy, behavior, and mood. Mania and hypomania are distinct periods of noticeable mood changes. Manic and hypomanic moods are excessively elevated, expansive, or irritable with increased energy and activity levels. Major depression is a noticeable pattern of depressed or low mood that can include a lack of interest in normal activities, low energy, irregular sleep and eating patterns, difficulty concentrating, low self-worth, and thoughts of death.
Episodes of mania, hypomania, and major depression may be diagnosed as a mental health disorder when they impact your normal level of functioning at home, school, or work, or in relationships.
Symptom Self-Check
Do you experience unpredictable mood swings?
Do you experience at least one week of abnormally high levels of energy?
During that time of high energy, do you need less sleep? Are you more talkative than normal? Do you participate in activities that have a higher likelihood for negative consequences? Do you have an exceedingly high belief of your abilities or skills?
Do you also experience at least two weeks of depression?
Treatments for Bipolar Disorder:
Bipolar disorder can be treated and it’s important to work with a professional to help identify an effective treatment plan. Treatment for bipolar disorder can include:
- Counseling
- Medications (i.e. antidepressants, mood stabilizers)
- Group counseling
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Social support
- Education and empowerment
- Stress management and reduction
- Self-care (sleep hygiene, exercise, nutrition)
- Relaxation (deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness)
- Spiritual integration (prayer, faith groups)
If you are experiencing any symptoms of mania, hypomania, or depression that are impacting your well-being and functioning, please connect with Lacamas Counseling for professional therapeutic support to address and alleviate your symptoms of mania, hypomania, or depression.
Additional Resources for Bipolar Disorders:
Factsheet for Bipolar Disorders by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Bipolar Disorders by NIMH (National Institute of Mental Illness)
Mental health diagnoses of bipolar disorder include:
BIPOLAR I DISORDER
At least one manic episode over a lifetime; possible experience of more manic, hypomanic, or major depressive episodes.
BIPOLAR II DISORDER
At least one hypomanic and one major depressive episode.
CYCLOTHYMIC DISORDER
A re-occurrence of symptoms (not meeting criteria for an episode) of hypomania and depression that occur for at least a year.