Bipolar Disorder Therapist in Phoenix, AZ

Bipolar disorder is medically known as a brain disorder that causes a change in a person’s mood, energy level, and ability to function. Anyone dealing with bipolar disorder may experience intense emotions during sporadic time frames that occur typically during distinct periods, these intense emotions can last from days to weeks long and are known as episodes or mood episodes. These episodes are categorized into different categories, which are manic/hypomanic and depressive.

Bipolar disorder is quite complex in the fact that it affects the individual’s mental state. Each individual who is diagnosed with the disorder is from one of these four distinct kinds of bipolar. For the doctor to identify the kind of bipolar you are dealing with, they will review all of the information given and any tests. This way you both will be able to understand a better way for treatment and to start getting your life back on track.

• Bipolar 1

Bipolar 1 is the first kind of bipolar disorder that is characterized by the manic episodes the person may be dealing with, these episodes will occur with or without depressive symptoms. Your manic episodes usually last around a week, but they can last longer depending on the circumstances. Your mania can go from moderate to severe and will require you to be hospitalized to help ease the symptoms.

• Bipolar 2

Bipolar 2 is a type of disorder that is characterized by having both manic and depressive episodes. The mania that may be experienced with bipolar 2 is less severe than what may be experienced in bipolar 1 disorder; however, bipolar 2 can bring major depressive episodes either before or after the individual has had a manic break.

• Cyclothymic Disorder

Cyclothymic disorder individuals often deal with both manic and depressive episodes for around two years or longer. The mania and depressive episodes that an individual may deal with are much less severe with this type of bipolar type over bipolar 1 and 2, but this does not cause unstable moods, which means the individual dealing with the cyclothymic disorder may deal with periods of normalcy and it will be mixed with mania and depression.

• Other types of bipolar disorder

There are some whose symptoms do not fit into one of the three categories listed above for bipolar disorder, if that is the case, the individual may be considered the last and final type of bipolar disorder which is known as the “other” type. The “other” type of bipolar disorder may be caused by various factors that influence them including drugs, alcohol, or underlying medical health conditions.

There are four different kinds of categories for bipolar disorder, and each provides differentiating symptoms from one another, as bipolar disorder can cause unpredictable changes in the person’s mood and behavior, which ultimately results in significant distress and difficulty in their life. These symptoms include:

1. Bipolar 1 Disorder
2. One manic episode minimum, which may be followed by a hypomanic or major depressive episode
3. Mania which may trigger a break from reality called psychosis

• Bipolar 2 Disorder
• One major depressive episode
• One hypomanic episode
• The individual may have never dealt with a manic episode previously
• Cyclothymic Disorder
• Minimum 2 years of dealing with periods of hypomania symptoms that may be mixed with periods of depressive symptoms
• Less severe depression
• “Other” Types of Bipolar Disorder

Related disorders which may have induced bipolar disorder, causes include drugs, alcohol, or due to an underlying medical condition

At Jade Health and Wellness, we believe in understanding and caring for our patient’s needs and their overall wellness. We work to provide the best skills and therapy methods to help improve our patient’s care and provide ways for them to learn and understand what is going on. Our psychiatric nurse practitioner, Dr. Courtney Gaines, provides our patients dealing with bipolar disorder specialized care and actively explores different ways to help the patients who come to us. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2375 East Camelback RD Suite 600 Phoenix, AZ 85016. We serve patients from Phoenix AZ, Scottsdale AZ, Paradise Valley AZ, Alhambra AZ, Tempe AZ, and surrounding areas.