Intense periods of excitement, agitation, and impulsivity followed by periods of feeling worthless or hopeless can indicate bipolar disorder. This complex mood disorder negatively impacts your ability to function, personal relationships, and quality of life. Extreme bipolar mood episodes may also endanger the patient and those around them. Ronald Kaufman, PsyD, and the team at FamilyTime Centers can help you or your child cope with bipolar symptoms so you can enjoy a full life. FamilyTime Centers has offices in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles and in Inglewood, California. To schedule a consultation, call the practice today or book an appointment online.
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.
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:
Depressive symptoms include:
Bipolar disorder can develop at any age, but it’s most frequently diagnosed in teens and young adults.
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.