What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition in which you experience symptoms of depression paired with extreme emotional highs, or mania. With bipolar disorder, you might develop mood swings that affect your sleep, energy, behavior, and judgment. Seeking treatment can help manage your emotions.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Signs and symptoms of mania and depression associated with bipolar disorder include:
Mania
- Unusual talkativeness
- Feeling upbeat, wired, or jumpy
- Racing thoughts
- Poor decision making
- An exaggerated sense of self-confidence
- Increases in energy and activity
- Agitation
- Being distracted
Depression
- Feeling sad, hopeless, or empty
- Tearfulness
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Unintentional weight loss or weight gain
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Fatigue
- Thoughts of suicide
- Feeling worthless
- Difficulty concentrating
- Restlessness
If you experience symptoms of bipolar disorder that negatively impact your everyday life, visit Florida Behavioral Medicine of Tampa for an evaluation.
What are the risk factors for bipolar disorder?
While anybody can develop bipolar disorder, the following factors increase your risk of experiencing it.
- Genetics
- Physical changes in the brain
- Family history of bipolar disorder
- Traumatic life events
- High-stress situations
- Alcohol or drug abuse
Mental health conditions that might occur with bipolar disorder include anxiety, eating disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and substance abuse.
How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?
To diagnose bipolar disorder, your psychiatrist completes a physical examination and a psychiatric assessment. They ask questions about your mood and other symptoms to properly diagnose your condition and develop a personalized treatment plan.
What is the treatment for bipolar disorder?
Your evidence-based bipolar treatment at Florida Behavioral Medicine of Tampa might include:
Medications
Taking medications can stabilize your mood and restore your quality of life. Your psychiatrist might recommend Spravato™ nasal spray, oral medications, or both. They use pharmacogenetics to choose a medication regimen that best matches your genetic makeup.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy at Florida Behavioral Medicine of Tampa might involve one-on-one counseling, family counseling, social support groups, or more than one type of talk therapy.
TMS
Noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain responsible for mood control.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle strategies that might offer bipolar disorder symptom relief include avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs, maintaining a regular routine, eating right, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep.
Don’t live with symptoms of bipolar disorder when simple treatment options are available at Florida Behavioral Medicine of Tampa. Schedule an evaluation over the phone or online today.
