Bipolar Disorders
Are you struggling with Bipolar disorders?
Episodes of mania and depression often last for several weeks or months. Treatment for bipolar disorders aim to reduce the severity and number of episodes of depression and mania to allow as normal a life as possible.
What are bipolar disorders?
Bipolar disorders are a group of psychological problems which are characterised by periods of elated or high mood, as well as periods of low mood.
During a high mood period little sleep is needed, ideas run through one’s mind and a feeling of being extremely productive is experienced.
In this high period risk-taking and impulsive behaviours increase, including spending money recklessly, gambling, having sex with individuals that one would not have normally, or drinking heavily and using recreational drugs.
During low mood periods, energy is reduced, more sleep is needed, tiredness increases, and negative thoughts about others, oneself and the world proliferate.
Some individuals may also experience suicidal thoughts; if you identify with this or feel you are in crisis, please ensure you seek immediate support from NHS111, call 999, or visit your GP for an emergency appointment.
When to seek treatment for bipolar affective disorders
Signs that you should consider seeking treatment for bipolar disorder:
You have moods that seem overly high or very low for periods of time (e.g., that last for more than a few days at a time).
You are not sleeping well, either feeling very tired/or not feeling the need for sleep at all, alongside some of the other physiological symptoms such as loss of appetite, lots of energy or extreme tiredness or fatigue.
You are having some big ideas about things that others seem to find unusual or strange, but that make sense to you, alongside the symptoms above.
You are feeling very low in mood, not feeling like doing anything you used to do, or having strong negative feelings about yourself that will not go away.
What treatments do Onebright offer for bipolar disorder?
We offer a range of treatments for bipolar disorders, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), as there is a good evidence base to suggest this can be effective in reducing relapses, helping improve depressive symptoms and the severity of manic episodes, increasing psychosocial functioning and improving quality of life and ability to function in social and occupational settings.
Benefits of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for bipolar disorder
CBT is an evidence based, goal-oriented and collaborative psychological therapy approach that focuses on understanding the past and present connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours (termed the ‘formulation’). It also offers powerful tools, strategies, and techniques to identify, challenge and reframe unhelpful thought patterns and associated feelings and behaviours, helping to significantly improve mental health and quality of life.
Get started by answering some simple questions below or call 020 8175 4908
Begin your journey with therapy for bipolar disorder
Onebright's client liaison team are available Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm (excluding bank holidays).
You must be aged 18 years or above to access our therapy services.
You must be aged 18 years or above to access our therapy services.
Bipolar Disorders FAQs
There are different types of bipolar disorders that individuals can experience, all categorised by different criteria. Common types include:
- Bipolar I disorder: An individual has had at least one manic episode (either before or after hypomanic or major depressive episodes) which lasted longer than a week.
- Bipolar II disorder: An individual has had at least one major depressive episode and experienced symptoms of hypomania lasting longer than four days, but has never had a manic episode.
- Cyclothymia: An individual has experienced hypomanic and depressive episodes over the course of at least two years, but symptoms are not severe enough to meet the diagnostic criteria of bipolar I or bipolar II.
- Bipolar I disorder: An individual has had at least one manic episode (either before or after hypomanic or major depressive episodes) which lasted longer than a week.
- Bipolar II disorder: An individual has had at least one major depressive episode and experienced symptoms of hypomania lasting longer than four days, but has never had a manic episode.
- Cyclothymia: An individual has experienced hypomanic and depressive episodes over the course of at least two years, but symptoms are not severe enough to meet the diagnostic criteria of bipolar I or bipolar II.
Bipolar disorders are mainly characterised by extreme changes to your mood. This may include experiencing symptoms related to high moods, also known as mania or hypomania, and low moods, also referred to as major depressive episodes. These moods typically last for a few days or weeks at a time.
Individuals with bipolar disorder will often go through periods where they do not experience any symptoms, and their mood is stabilised.
Individuals with bipolar disorder will often go through periods where they do not experience any symptoms, and their mood is stabilised.
Mania and hypomania have similar symptoms, though mania is considered more severe than hypomania.
Individuals experiencing symptoms of high moods might experience the following:
- Extreme feelings of happiness and excitement
- Feeling more irritable or aggressive
- Being restless and having a lot of energy
- Needing less sleep than usual
- Racing thoughts and having difficulty concentrating
- Being easily distracted
- Talking quickly or talking more than usual
- Feeling overconfident and adventurous
- Being more impulsive and making poor judgements, such as spending lots of money and taking sexual risks
- Experiencing auditory hallucinations, delusions, or feeling paranoid
Individuals experiencing symptoms of high moods might experience the following:
- Extreme feelings of happiness and excitement
- Feeling more irritable or aggressive
- Being restless and having a lot of energy
- Needing less sleep than usual
- Racing thoughts and having difficulty concentrating
- Being easily distracted
- Talking quickly or talking more than usual
- Feeling overconfident and adventurous
- Being more impulsive and making poor judgements, such as spending lots of money and taking sexual risks
- Experiencing auditory hallucinations, delusions, or feeling paranoid
Low mood symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
- Feeling sad, tearful, hopeless, or depressed
- Losing interest or enjoyment in most activities and hobbies
- Having low energy and feeling tired
- Sleeping a lot, or struggling to sleep
- Changing appetite, such as eating too much or too little
- Low self-confidence and feeling worthless
- Feeling guilty about things when it isn’t necessary
- Having difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Social withdrawal and avoiding spending time with people
- Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harming
- Feeling sad, tearful, hopeless, or depressed
- Losing interest or enjoyment in most activities and hobbies
- Having low energy and feeling tired
- Sleeping a lot, or struggling to sleep
- Changing appetite, such as eating too much or too little
- Low self-confidence and feeling worthless
- Feeling guilty about things when it isn’t necessary
- Having difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Social withdrawal and avoiding spending time with people
- Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harming
There are a number of different therapies that are used to help individuals with bipolar disorder manage their condition. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the more popular types of psychotherapy used to treat bipolar disorder.
CBT can help individuals better understand their diagnosis, recognise unhelpful thinking patterns that lead to manic or depressive episodes, and spot triggers and early warning signs for their mood swings. It also helps them manage their condition and prevent relapses.
It is important to remember that every individual responds to treatment differently. This means some types of therapy or treatments might work better for some people, compared to others.
CBT can help individuals better understand their diagnosis, recognise unhelpful thinking patterns that lead to manic or depressive episodes, and spot triggers and early warning signs for their mood swings. It also helps them manage their condition and prevent relapses.
It is important to remember that every individual responds to treatment differently. This means some types of therapy or treatments might work better for some people, compared to others.
Talking therapies are often used to treat bipolar disorder alongside other treatments, such as medication. This is because it can help individuals with the following:
- Identifying triggers that might lead to a mood swing
- Changing negative thoughts and behaviours
- Keeping regular daily routines, including for sleeping and eating
- Building habits that help them remember to take prescribed medication
- Improving relationships with friends, family, and colleagues through better communication and problem-solving
- Identifying triggers that might lead to a mood swing
- Changing negative thoughts and behaviours
- Keeping regular daily routines, including for sleeping and eating
- Building habits that help them remember to take prescribed medication
- Improving relationships with friends, family, and colleagues through better communication and problem-solving
Alongside therapy, treatments for bipolar disorder may also include:
- Mood stabilisers to help prevent manic or depressive episodes
- Medication to address acute symptoms
- Lifestyle support, such as getting regular exercise and sleep schedule
- Bipolar disorder is often treated with a combination of different treatments and approaches.
- Mood stabilisers to help prevent manic or depressive episodes
- Medication to address acute symptoms
- Lifestyle support, such as getting regular exercise and sleep schedule
- Bipolar disorder is often treated with a combination of different treatments and approaches.
If you are experiencing a severe manic or depressive episode, urgent support is available. If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves or others, or feel in need of immediate support, please call NHS111, call 999, or visit your GP for an emergency appointment.
