Effective Management Techniques for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that can affect anyone regardless of your age. The disorder can cause severe symptoms that can harm your life and your family and friends. Fortunately, the Chicago bipolar disorder specialists offer a wide range of treatments that can help you manage the disorder.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder refers to a mental illness that triggers dramatic changes in a person’s mood, changes in sleep patterns, and the ability and energy to think clearly. Patients with bipolar disorder experience intense fluctuations in their mood, often known as depression and mania. They may experience episodes of extreme excitement, sadness, and hopelessness. The cause of bipolar disorder is still unknown, but several factors such as the environment, altered brain structure, stress, and genetics contribute to its development. If the disorder is left untreated, it can deteriorate and cause life-threatening symptoms. Although bipolar disorder is a lifetime disorder, the team at Uptown Psych can create a treatment plan to help you manage it.

What are the common symptoms of bipolar disorder?

There are three major categories of bipolar disorder, including Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder. These types of bipolar disorder share common symptoms, but there are specific diagnoses for each form which depend on a meticulous examination of your symptoms.  While individuals with Bipolar I disorder have severe manic episodes, people with bipolar II disorder experience extended periods of depression, which can result in an irreversible impairment. Some of the common symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

Manic episodes that last for at least a week and exhibit the following symptoms:

• Over-the-top self-confidence
• Risky behavior
• Racing thoughts
• Talking too much, loudly and fast
• Difficulty focusing
• Enhanced multitasking skills and overbooking
• Sleeplessness

Hypomanic episodes may last for four days and exhibit less severe and shorter symptoms of manic episodes.

Major depressive episodes that last for about two weeks and exhibit the following:

• Lack of interest in your favorite activities
• Feelings of restlessness
• A decreased or increased appetite
• Suicidal thoughts or even a suicidal attempt
• Difficulty focusing
• Feelings of guilt
• Oversleeping or needing less sleep
• Heightened feelings of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Unexplained fatigue

If you experience any of the above symptoms or suspect that you have bipolar disorder, do not hesitate to visit Uptown Psych. The team offers a wide range of treatments and therapies to help control and mitigate bipolar disorder.

What are the available treatment options for bipolar disorder?

During your appointment at Uptown Psych, the team conducts a comprehensive physical exam and psychiatric assessment to get information about your behavior patterns and feelings. They may also request you to keep a daily record of your sleep patterns, moods, and other factors that may help them to determine the appropriate treatment for the disorder. In extreme cases, the team may refer you to a psychiatrist, whom you can confide in and open up about your emotions. At Uptown Psych, tempering and mitigating symptoms of bipolar disorder is the central goal.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder, call Uptown Psych or schedule an online appointment today.