Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder causes intense shifts in mood and energy that disrupt sleep, relationships, and decision-making. Nexa Psychiatry & Wellness in Austin, Texas, with Emma Smith, APRN, PMHNP-BC, and Chad Johnson, APRN, PMHNP-BC, provides careful assessments to clarify symptoms and rule out overlapping conditions. They create individualized treatment plans that focus on stability, routine support, and, when needed, medication management. If your moods feel unpredictable or extreme, book a visit with Nexa Psychiatry & Wellness by phone or online to start managing your bipolar disorder symptoms.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects your mood, energy, and ability to function day to day. People with bipolar disorder cycle through extreme mood shifts instead of their mood going up or down once in a while, as you’d expect.

Normal mood changes usually match what’s happening in your life and don’t last long. In contrast, bipolar episodes often last for days or weeks and feel out of proportion to events.

These shifts can impact sleep, relationships, school, work, and decision-making. If your moods keep disrupting your life or you notice patterns you can’t control, it’s worth getting evaluated.

What do bipolar disorder mood episodes look like?

Bipolar disorder features manic or hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes.

Mania

During a manic episode, you may feel unusually energized, talk faster than normal, need very little sleep, and feel unstoppable. You might take risks, spend more money than you planned, or make choices you wouldn’t usually make. Hypomania feels similar but less intense, though it can still cause significant problems.

Depression

During a depressive episode, you feel sad, empty, hopeless, and exhausted. You may  lose interest in things you once enjoyed and struggle with maintaining focus, motivation, and sleep.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder usually develops from a mix of genetics, brain chemistry, and life stress. Lack of sleep, substance use, trauma, and major life changes can trigger episodes in some people.

Nexa Psychiatry & Wellness offers thorough psychiatric assessments, during which the team inquires about your mood history, sleep patterns, energy levels, and behavioral changes, as well as any family medical history.

They also screen for conditions that can overlap with bipolar disorder, like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

What treatments can help with bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder has no cure yet, so treatment involves managing the symptoms. The Nexa Psychiatry & Wellness team often uses medication management to reduce mood swing severity and help prevent manic and depressive episodes.

Many people also benefit from talk therapy, adopting routines to enhance sleep quality and stress-management strategies. Tracking your mood changes helps you notice early warning signs of an impending episode, enabling you to respond sooner.

Nexa Psychiatry & Wellness offers telepsychiatry appointments, making it easier to keep follow-up appointments and adjust treatment when necessary. If you have bipolar disorder or believe you might, call Nexa Psychiatry & Wellness today to book an appointment online.