What we treat
Also known as manic-depressive illness, is a mental health condition characterised by extreme mood swings or episodes of mania and depression.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on whether someone is in a manic, hypomanic, or depressive phase. Here’s what each phase normally looks like:
1. Mania - when you feel electrified, so to speak, with unusually high energy and feels like you're on cloud nine. It’s more than just feeling happy or excited; it’s an exaggerated state that can lead to risky behaviour.
Common signs of mania include:
Reckless behaviour: Going on extravagant spending sprees, making impulsive decisions, or engaging in unsafe activities.
Increased energy: People in a manic state do not prioritise sleep and may want to stay up all night without any feeling of exhaustion
Heightened irritability: While mania can involve euphoria, it can also cause extreme irritability or agitation.
Racing thoughts and rapid speech: It’s common to talk very quickly, jump from one idea to another, and feel like their thoughts are racing.
Inflated self-esteem: People might feel overly confident or even believe they have special powers or abilities.
2. Hypomania - similar to mania but on a smaller scale. It’s still a period of elevated mood and energy, but it doesn’t reach the extreme levels seen in full mania. If you're in a hypomanic state you might feel extra productive, creative, or social than usual, but you remain functional and can still set your daily activities in motion independently.
3. Depression - the depressive phase of bipolar disorder can be incredibly challenging. It includes many of the same symptoms seen in other types of depression, such as:
Persistent sadness: Feeling overwhelmingly sad, empty, or hopeless most of the time.
Lack of energy: Feeling fatigued and finding it hard to get out of bed or carry out normal activities.
Changes in appetite: This might include eating too much or too little, which can lead you to gaining or shedding weight.
Difficulty concentrating: Struggling to focus, remember things, or make decisions.
Loss of interest: Activities that you used to enjoy no longer give you pleasure.
Low self-esteem: Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or self-blame.
Sleep problems: Either sleeping too much or having insomnia.
Thoughts of death or suicide: Thoughts and behaviour that are suicidal can happen to those who have severe cases of depression
If you, or someone close to you is suspected to have bipolar disorder, professional help is highly recommended. Someone.health can assist - choose from 200 online psychologists and sign up in less than ten minutes.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that makes your mood, energy, and behavior go haywire. Unlike some mood disorders where you feel down, bipolar disorder is like riding a rollercoaster of high energy and absolute excitement, called mania or hypomania, and soon descending into low, sad periods.
Keeping yourself still and steady is a real challenge, to say the least. But with the right meds, therapy, and lifestyle modifications, you can start take the first step in a journey towards effective management and wellbeing.
Bipolar disorder is far more complex than most people think, but here's a simple break down for you to understand this mental health condition a bit better.
Bipolar is a mood disorder which throws your emotional state into chaos. People living with bipolar disorder experience moments in high spirits (mania) and low spirits (hypomania). On the other side of the coin, they also go through deep sadness and low energy similar to depression.
Everyone experiences these mood swings differently, and they can vary in length and severity. For some, they are over in days, while for others, they stretch into weeks or even months.
The vicious cycle of ups and downs puts you on an emotional rollercoaster, not knowing when the next turn is coming.
Bipolar I disorder: This one displays intense manic episodes that can massively affect the way you function every single day, in some cases, requiring a hospital stay. Moreover, periods that you could consider as the lowest of the lows can also occur.
Bipolar II disorder: The second type is different from the first one. The usual mania in full-throttle gets reduced into hypomania, a gentler version. Nonetheless, there are still changes in your mood and behavior, but it’s not as severe as one would think, and there’s no hospitalization required. However, with bipolar II, symptoms of depression appear to be more frequent and intense.
Understanding which type you are grappling with helps you choose the most appropriate treatment.
There’s no single cause of bipolar disorder. In fact, it is believed to come from a mix of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Here’s a closer look at some of the contributing factors:
Genetic factors - you are most likely to develop bipolar disorder when an immediate family member, like a parent or sibling, has it. However, genetics isn’t the sole culprit, as other factors are also at play. There are instances where you don't have a family history, but there’s still a chance that the condition would arise.
Biological factors - those living with the disorder may have a different brain structure and function. According to research, neurotransmitters—chemicals in the brain that help regulate mood—could be a part of the puzzle. When there’s an imbalance in serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, it could cause the development of the disorder.
Lifestyle factors - lifestyle choices can influence the course of bipolar disorder. Irregular sleep patterns, poor diet, lack of exercise, and substance abuse can all trigger or worsen mood episodes. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is beneficial in managing the condition.
Medications and health conditions - certain medications, like antidepressants, can set off manic or hypomanic episodes. Other medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, can also affect mood stability.
Seasonal changes - some people with bipolar disorder are more prone to feel seasonal changes, especially when transitioning from winter to spring. This can sometimes make symptoms worse, similar to social anxiety disorder (SAD).
Psychosocial stressors - stress from relationships, work, or other social interactions can also trigger mood episodes. Managing stress through therapy, social support from friends and family, and lifestyle changes is one of the solutions to maintaining stability.
When you know your personal triggers well, you have the edge to work with mental health professionals to create effective strategies, minimizing the impact of the triggers.
If you suspect that you might have bipolar disorder, or if you’re currently living with the condition of feeling helpless, do not think twice about getting help. Our qualified psychologists can work with you to create an effective treatment plan. You will be able to understand your diagnosis, set goals, build resilience, and find activities that make you happy and give your life meaning.
While medication is effective and very helpful when it comes to managing bipolar disorder, getting psychological support is equally important. Here’s how your psychologist can help through therapy sessions:
Clarity and education. They can break down your diagnosis and explain the different treatment options, so you’re not left in the dark.
Goal setting and routine stability. Your psychologist can help you set goals and create a realistic plan to keep a steady daily routine, which is excellent for managing mood swings.
Social support engagement. Having a strong support network cannot be overemphasized, and your psychologist can guide you in building and maintaining these connections.
Identifying meaningful activities. They can help you find activities that make you happy and keep you feeling good, which is great for staying positive.
Promoting positive psychology principles: Encouraging resilience, optimism, and motivation through positive psychology principles, your psychologist can help you build a stronger mental framework.
If you or someone you know is grappling with symptoms of bipolar disorder, schedule an appointment with one of our psychologists. They'll be able to provide personalized and evidence-based assistance.
Psychologists available online
Tell us what matters to you, compare suitable appointments and keep your care details in your patient profile.
Find an appointmentIt will not always be obvious and it could be gradual. But when you start feeling better, then that means that the therapy is working.
You'll also be able to see things more clearly as you progress with your talk therapy. Healing, however, is not always so clear-cut. There will always be ups and downs. If that happens, you can talk to your psychologist about your progress and be open with what you're feeling.
Australia has regulatory bodies to ensure we maintain consistent and high standards across the psychology profession.
Yes. They are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), listed with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and individually selected and monitored by Someone.health's expert clinical team.
Appointments are available immediately
Once you have signed up and we have verified your details, you can choose a psychologist who is available immediately. Our website displays in order of the first available appointment.
Only your GP or a psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
Medication can only be prescribed by medical doctors, which includes general practitioners (GPs) and psychiatrists.
If you need the services of a psychiatrist, please visit Call To Mind, a telehealth service specialising in psychiatry.
