Our Services / Bipolar Disorder

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder involves intense mood swings that interfere with your ability to function in life. The extreme emotional states, or “mood episodes,” caused by bipolar disorder involve both highs and lows. Intense emotional highs characterize manic episodes, while depressive episodes involve severe emotional lows. 

When you have bipolar disorder, your mood swings don’t occur within a single day. Instead, mood episodes can last for days, weeks, and even months. You may also experience periods where your mood remains at an equilibrium like others who don’t suffer from the condition.

Bipolar disorder can cause significant distress. It may interfere with school or work, strain personal relationships, and in some cases, present with psychotic symptoms that require hospitalization. 

The good news is that Dr. Kaufman and the team at FamilyTime Centers have the expertise to help you manage bipolar disorder so you or your child can lead a full, productive life.

How can I tell if I have bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder has three subtypes. Bipolar I involves extreme manic and depressive episodes. Bipolar II has similar mood swings with less intense high episodes, known as hypomania. More frequent but less severe mood swings characterize cyclothymic disorder. 

Manic/hypomanic symptoms include:

• Racing thoughts
• Agitation
• Impulsivity
• Decreased need for sleep
• Excessive talking
• Hallucinations or delusions

Depressive symptoms include:

• Feeling worthless or hopeless
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in most activities
• Decreased appetite
• Fatigue 
• Slowed behavior
• Sleep disturbances

Bipolar disorder can develop at any age, but it’s most frequently diagnosed in teens and young adults. 

How does treatment address bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder affects each patient differently. A personalized treatment plan helps reduce the distress of bipolar disorder, control mood episodes, and restore quality of life. Bipolar disorder care at FamilyTime Centers begins with a comprehensive evaluation performed by Dr. Kaufman to determine your individual treatment needs. 

Many patients do require stabilization with psychiatric medication, but providing the tools to develop healthy coping habits is also critical in addressing bipolar disorder. 

Psychotherapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and neuropsychiatric treatments, including BrainPaint® neurofeedback, and eye movement desensitization and reprogramming (EMDR), can provide the tools children and adults need to cope with the emotions and behaviors that come with bipolar disorder. 

If you or a loved one suffers from extreme mood episodes, don’t hesitate to schedule an evaluation. Call FamilyTime Centers today or book an appointment online.