Bipolar Disorder

While mild mood swings can happen from time to time, ongoing or extreme mood swings may indicate bipolar disorder, which affects nearly 3% of adults in the United States. At Desert View Counseling & Consulting in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona, their experienced team diagnoses and treats bipolar disorder in patients 14 and older. Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation by phone or request one online today.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder, formerly referred to as manic depression, is a mental health disorder associated with extreme mood swings that include feeling very down (depressed) cycled with periods of euphoria (being overjoyed). When not treated, bipolar disorder can negatively affect your quality of life by impacting your job, school, or relationships. 

What are the various types of bipolar disorder?

The different forms of bipolar disorder include:

Bipolar 1 disorder

Bipolar disorder 1 means you’ve had at least one manic (euphoric) episode followed by major depression or hypomanic episodes. 

Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar II disorder is characterized by at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode but no manic episodes.

Cyclothymic disorder

If you have cyclothymic disorder, you’ve had at least two years (one year if you’re a child or teenager) of periods of hypomania cycled with depression symptoms. 

Which symptoms can bipolar disorder cause?

Bipolar disorder can cause the following symptoms:

• Feeling upbeat or wired cycled with sadness and fatigue
• Agitation
• Sleeping a lot cycled with sleeping too little
• Distractibility
• Thoughts of suicide
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Impulsive decisions
• Social isolation 
• Extreme or ongoing mood swings
• Anxiety 

Bipolar disorder is often diagnosed in teenagers or in early adulthood. 

What increases the risk of bipolar disorder?

The cause of bipolar disorder isn’t clear, but its risk factors include:

• Family history of bipolar disorder
• Brain chemistry changes
• Stress
• Trauma
• Drug or alcohol misuse

Complications of untreated bipolar disorder may include financial or legal challenges, substance misuse, or poor performance at work or in school.

How is bipolar disorder treated?

The Desert View Counseling & Consulting team diagnoses bipolar disorder in patients 14 and older by completing a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. They ask about your emotions, moods, behaviors, thoughts, medications, and lifestyle. 

The Desert View Counseling & Consulting experts offer the following treatments and more for bipolar disorder:

• Medication management
• Spravato® ketamine nasal spray
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT)
• Family-focused therapy
• Psychoeducation

Your personalized treatment plan varies by the type and severity of bipolar disorder you struggle with. The Desert View Counseling & Consulting team tailors a program that offers exceptional outcomes and follows up as needed. The practice also offers genetic testing to determine which medicines are likely best based on your genes.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth bipolar disorder evaluation at Desert View Counseling & Consulting by phone or request one online today.