Bipolar Disorder

Fears and worries that continually or severely affect your thoughts and behaviors indicate you’d benefit from anxiety disorder treatment. Keilah Ford, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, of KADDs Wellness in Houston, Texas, takes a holistic approach to helping people with anxiety disorders heal. She evaluates everything influencing a patient’s mental health, including spiritual, social, physical, and emotional well-being. To benefit from Dr. Ford’s considerable experience and compassionate anxiety disorder treatment, call KADDs Wellness today. You can also book a telehealth or in-person appointment online.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder causes mood changes that cycle between depression and mania (feeling energized and overconfident). The three main types are:

Bipolar I disorder

Bipolar I disorder patients experience extreme mood swings and may suffer from psychotic episodes involving hallucinations and/or delusions.

Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar II disorder also causes depressive and manic mood shifts. However, mania is less pronounced than with bipolar I disorder and doesn’t cause psychosis.

Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymia causes hypomania (mild mania) and less severe depression.

KADDs Wellness treats all forms of bipolar disorder. Dr. Lord also diagnoses and treats other mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (depression) and anxiety disorders.

What symptoms are typical of bipolar disorder?

Depression causes a persistent low mood with negative emotions like despair, shame, self-loathing, and sadness blocking pleasurable feelings. A major depressive episode consists of five or more of the following problems experienced over at least two weeks:

• Low mood most or all of the time
• Loss of interest in most or all pleasurable activities
• Decreased/increased appetite and/or significant weight change
• Frequent pacing or other purposeless movements
• Chronic fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Difficulty thinking clearly and indecisiveness
• Repeatedly considering death and suicide

Mania causes three or more symptoms representing substantial behavioral changes from the following list:

• Racing thoughts
• Inflated self-esteem
• Little need for sleep
• Talking more
• Being easily distracted
• Focusing on goal-directed activity
• Recklessness and irresponsible behaviors like speeding and overspending

Mania symptoms must be present consistently for at least a week. Hypomania episodes must also affect you most of the time but for at least four consecutive days.

What treatment do I need for bipolar disorder?

At KADDs Wellness, Dr. Lord approaches bipolar disorder holistically, considering everything that influences your mental health. There’s no cure for bipolar disorder, but this all-encompassing approach is the most effective way to manage your condition.

Psychotherapy techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) help you examine and change unhealthy thought patterns. Relaxation techniques, including mindfulness, are also helpful.

Patients with more severe symptoms could benefit from medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers. You might need antipsychotics if you have bipolar I disorder. Dr. Lord uses GeneSight® testing to determine which medicines best suit you based on your genetic makeup.

Call KADDs Wellness to schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment with Dr. Lord. You can also schedule a bipolar disorder consultation online.