Bipolar Disorder

Major mood swings between depression and euphoria are often indicative of an underlying psychiatric disorder called bipolar disorder. If your mood fluctuates to the extreme, the expert psychiatric providers of Lewis Family Psychiatry provide individualized assessments, medications, counseling, and care through a convenient telemedicine platform. For more information, call the office in Wellington, Florida, or reserve an appointment online today.

What is bipolar disorder?

Once known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder that involves major mood swings to the extreme ends of the spectrum. These alternations of euphoria and depression can impact your ability to function normally despite sometimes having periods of regular moods between the fluctuations.

Lewis Family Psychiatry diagnoses and treats three types of bipolar disorder:

Bipolar I

Bipolar I disorder causes extreme shifts in mood and involves depressed and manic episodes lasting two weeks or more. You might first notice something’s wrong during a manic episode involving risky or dangerous behavior.

Bipolar II

Bipolar II is similar to bipolar I. Instead of getting manic episodes, however, you get hypomanic episodes. Their symptoms are less intense. Usually, you get a diagnosis of bipolar II during depressive episodes.

Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymic disorder is the mildest type of bipolar disorder. Your periods of depression and hypomania are longer-lasting, but the symptoms are less intense and disruptive than bipolar I or II. 

How can I tell if I have bipolar disorder?

Bipolar symptoms fluctuate based on the state of your mood. Depressive episodes are massively different from manic or hypomanic episodes. 

Manic episodes might involve:

• Euphoria
• High self-esteem
• Agitation
• High energy
• Risk-taking behaviors
• Multitasking
• Talkativeness
• Insomnia

On the other hand, depressive episodes might involve:

• Hopelessness, sadness, or guilt
• Low energy
• Changes in your sleep patterns
• Suicidal thoughts 
• Loss of enjoyment of activities you usually love
• Changes in your appetite

You should report any of these symptoms to your psychiatric provider during your initial telemedicine visit with Lewis Family Psychiatry.

What are my treatment options for bipolar disorder?

Individualized psychiatric care is always the best way to treat bipolar disorder. The team at Lewis Family Psychiatry often combines several therapeutic approaches to address your health from different angles. 

Mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and other medications can regulate your brain chemistry and function, relieving some of your mood swings and symptoms. At the same time, you may attend telemedicine counseling sessions to explore and resolve any underlying issues that contribute to your condition and address certain behaviors. 

You may also benefit from introducing lifestyle changes such as nutritional adjustments, exercise, and meditation. 

The Lewis Family Psychiatry team is committed to helping you improve your mental, emotional, and physical health. Call or book an appointment online today for expert telehealth treatments for bipolar disorder.