Bipolar Disorder

What is Bipolar Disorder?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder consisting of intense emotional states called mood episodes, mania/hypomania (abnormally happy or irritable mood) and depression (sad mood), that last days to weeks at a time. This disorder causes changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function.

Living with Bipolar disorder, especially undiagnosed and untreated, can be challenging. It is an illness that is often misunderstood. As a community, it is important that we try to learn about it and recognize it in order to create a safe space for those who are struggling with it. Most are surprised to find out that bipolar disorder is common in highly intelligent and creative types.

Let us have a discussion and learn more about Bipolar.

The following are a list of the most common questions with our best clinical answers. We believe this information will be helpful as you learn more about bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is an episodic condition in which a person cycles between two or more mood extreme states, including either mania, hypomania, or a mixed state. These mood changes are often confusing to both the person with the disorder as well as outsiders looking in, given there seems to be no specific reason for the shift (swing).

Feelings expressed by individuals living with bipolar disorders

Excessively elevated mood either up or down making you the life of the party or the mouse in the corner
Confusion and not knowing how to plan because of uncertainty of what mood they will be in
Feeling trapped by the swings; a prisoner when they are bad, an escapee when they are good
Feeling irritated and out of sorts suddenly, yet knowing their responses are unmerited
Getting into uncharacteristic situations and/or relationships and wondering why they did that
Feeling on top of the world and having uncharacteristically high levels of energy causing insomnia
Confused why they did or said certain things
Making decisions that they later regret
Feelings of living in a dual reality and wanting to hide or isolate from the world
Levels of extreme confidence that can disappear overnight

“For a long time, there has been so much stigma, so much confusion, and so much uncertainty about this illness,” said Eric A. Youngstrom, PhD, a professor of psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies bipolar disorder

Treatment

Treatment will include many factors including working on creating healthy habits. Medication is a key solution to properly treat Bipolar Disorder.

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms or have already been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and want further help with treatment, please schedule your tele-med or in office appointment with us today. You deserve to live your best life.

Our team's expertise and caring nature is the recipe for success in each patient's path to mental wellness and recovery. You can rest assured our Raleigh Psychiatrist and mental health providers at Medpsych Integrated will help you improve the quality of your life.