Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder, previously referred to as Manic Depression, is a brain disorder that causes abnormal shifts in mood and energy levels, causing difficulty in carrying out day-to-day activities and self-care.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), there are four types of bipolar disorder:

• Bipolar I Disorder — manic episodes of at least seven days and depressive episodes lasting about two weeks.
• Bipolar II Disorder — a pattern of depressive and hypomanic episodes or episodes that aren’t as full blown as the manic episodes in bipolar I.
• Cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia) — a year or more of depressive and hypomanic symptoms that don’t meet the requirements for a hypomanic or depressive episode.
• Other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders — bipolar symptoms that don’t fit into the other three categories.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose and is typically done so by a licensed psychiatrist. While you should take care not to self-diagnose, you can look out for signs and symptoms common to bipolar disorder, such as:

• Extreme emotions
• Severely irrational behavior
• Rapid speech
• Racing thoughts
• Delusional thoughts
• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or too little)
• Changes in activity levels
• Mood episodes that include manic and/or depressive symptoms

Keep in mind that mood episodes and mood changes may not be extreme all the time, so bipolar disorder can be hard to detect. In fact, individuals with bipolar and borderline personality are frequently misdiagnosed with the incorrect mental illness at least once prior to receiving the correct diagnosis.

At Serenity, we pride ourselves on having the most knowledgeable psychiatrists in the field, so if you think that you or a loved one may have a form of bipolar disorder, reach out to schedule an appointment at a clinic near you.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment Options

Typically, bipolar is treated with medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Sometimes psychotherapy can also be an effective supplemental treatment for patients with bipolar disorder.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find the right medication to help stabilize and keep mood balanced without side effects that can be intolerable for some. For circumstances like this, Serenity Mental Health Centers offers several effective alternative treatment options as well.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields, like an MRI, to stimulate the brain. TMS has proven to be very effective for a large number of patients with severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even neurological disorders.

Ketamine IV Therapy

We also offer ketamine treatments as a supplement to TMS therapy or as a standalone treatment option. Ketamine is a very effective treatment for anxiety and depression for many patients, who often report improvements in their symptoms after just the first ketamine infusion.

Contact Us Today

If you would like to learn more about ketamine treatment, TMS therapy, and other options to get help for Bipolar Disorder, contact us at Serenity Mental Health Centers to set up an appointment for a consultation. Call 844-692-4100  to schedule a consultation at one of our offices in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, or Utah.