Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Cyclical highs and lows that disrupt work, relationships, and stability.
Bipolar requires expert psychiatric management — accurate diagnosis, mood stabilization, and careful monitoring. We pair medication with therapy and lifestyle protocols that reduce cycling and protect long-term stability.
Bipolar Disorder care at a glance
- Who we treat
- Adults 18+
- Where
- In person in Scottsdale, AZ · Telehealth in AZ, NY, KS, MN, OR, WA
- Insurance
- Commercial insurance accepted for psychiatry and therapy
- Care team
- Psychiatry, therapy, and primary care clinicians working as one team — not a single provider
How it shows up
Bipolar is cyclical — periods of elevated, wired, or irritable mood with less need for sleep, alternating with distinct lows. The cycles disrupt work, relationships, and stability, and the highs can feel productive until they're not.
What's driving it
Bipolar is a distinct condition requiring expert psychiatric management. It's commonly mistaken for unipolar depression, which matters: antidepressants alone can destabilize bipolar. Accurate diagnosis changes everything about the treatment.
When to seek help
If you've had periods of feeling unusually elevated or wired with little sleep, alongside distinct lows, a careful psychiatric evaluation is essential. Stability is the goal, and it's achievable with the right plan.
Who We Typically See
Someone whose moods have cycled for years, sometimes misdiagnosed as depression and given an antidepressant that made things worse. They want stability without losing themselves or their spark.
Treatment Options at a Glance
Stability without losing yourself.
The right mood stabilizer, steady routines, and careful monitoring of the body that carries the medication.
Lithium
What it targets
Mood stability and relapse prevention.
The most proven mood stabilizer, with careful lab monitoring.
Lamotrigine
What it targets
Bipolar depression and prevention of depressive episodes.
Well tolerated and weight-neutral for many patients.
Atypical antipsychotics
What it targets
Mania, mixed states, and bipolar depression.
Several are approved for bipolar depression specifically.
Rhythm & sleep stabilization
What it targets
Routines that protect mood.
Regular sleep is one of the strongest mood stabilizers.
Metabolic monitoring
What it targets
Weight, glucose, lipids, thyroid, and kidneys.
Because protecting your body matters as much as your mood.
Options are prescribed only when clinically appropriate, after evaluation by a licensed provider.
The evidence
About 1–2% of adults live with bipolar disorder; misdiagnosis and long delays to correct diagnosis are common.
Source: Merikangas et al., 2007
Quick Self-Check
Could it be Bipolar Disorder?
Answer a few questions to see whether your responses point toward Bipolar Disorder or toward something else. Either way, we'll help you take the next step.
Over the past two weeks, how often have you experienced each of the following?
01Periods of feeling unusually elevated, wired, or "high" lasting days
02Times of much less need for sleep while still feeling energetic
03Periods of racing thoughts or talking much faster than usual
04Taking risks or doing things you later regret during "up" periods
05Distinct low periods with sadness, exhaustion, or loss of interest
Medically reviewed by
Aileen Macaraeg, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
PRX Dual Board Certified · Family Medicine & Psychiatry
Dual board certified in family medicine and psychiatry, treating mental and physical health as one connected system.
Take the next step.
Whether the screening pointed here or somewhere else, the right next move is a conversation. Reach out and we'll help you find your path.
Get started