Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options
Bipolar Disorder is often misunderstood as “mood swings,” but it is far more complex than occasional ups and downs. It is a serious mental health condition characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. These episodes often move between periods of mania or hypomania (high energy, impulsivity, or euphoria) and depression (low mood, hopelessness, or lack of energy).
Without treatment, these cycles can disrupt careers, relationships, and personal stability. But with therapy and the right support, people with bipolar disorder can lead fulfilling and productive lives.
At Groundbreaker Therapy, we provide DBT-based treatment and integrative approaches that help clients recognize mood changes early, regulate emotions, and create sustainable stability. We specialize in supporting professionals, young adults, and students who want to manage bipolar disorder while continuing to pursue meaningful goals.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder with several subtypes:
Bipolar I Disorder
Defined by at least one manic episode, which may be followed by hypomanic or depressive episodes.
Bipolar II Disorder
Defined by at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode, without a full manic episode.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Periods of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms lasting at least two years but not meeting full criteria for mania or major depression.
The length, intensity, and frequency of episodes vary. Some clients may experience long periods of stability between episodes, while others may cycle more frequently. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward treatment.
Common Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Mania or Hypomania
- Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood
- Decreased need for sleep
- Increased talkativeness or pressured speech
- Racing thoughts or being easily distracted
- Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
- Risky behavior (spending sprees, reckless driving, substance use)
Depression
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
- Changes in sleep (too much or too little)
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of worthlessness or suicide
The intensity of these episodes determines whether the mood state is classified as mania (severe) or hypomania (milder but still disruptive).
What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder does not have a single cause — it develops through a mix of genetic, biological, and environmental factors.
Common causes and risk factors include:
- Genetics: Having a close relative with bipolar disorder or another mood disorder increases risk.
- Brain chemistry and structure: Differences in neurotransmitters and neural circuits may affect mood regulation.
- Trauma and stress: Stressful life events or early trauma can trigger or worsen symptoms.
- Sleep disruption: Irregular or poor sleep often triggers mood episodes.
- Substance use: Alcohol or drugs can intensify symptoms and interfere with stability.
Recognizing these triggers and vulnerabilities is a vital part of treatment planning.
Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
Diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional. At Groundbreaker Therapy, we ensure the process is thorough and compassionate. Assessment may include:
- Identifying the presence of manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes.
- Evaluating the severity, duration, and frequency of episodes.
- Reviewing the family history of mood disorders.
- Ruling out medical causes (e.g., thyroid issues, neurological conditions).
- Screening for co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, or trauma.
Because bipolar disorder overlaps with other mental health conditions, an accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.
Bipolar Disorder Treatment Options
What Is Best for Bipolar Disorder?
The most effective treatment for bipolar disorder combines psychotherapy with medication management. Therapy provides coping skills, emotional regulation tools, and support systems, while medication helps stabilize mood cycles.
At Groundbreaker Therapy, we focus on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as a core treatment approach. DBT equips clients with practical skills for regulating emotions, tolerating distress, and building healthy relationships — essential tools for managing the highs and lows of bipolar disorder.
We also collaborate closely with psychiatrists and medical providers to ensure clients receive integrated care, especially when mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or antidepressants are part of treatment.
Groundbreaker’s Approach to Bipolar Disorder
Our specialties include:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Counseling for Professionals: Supporting business leaders, healthcare providers, lawyers, educators, and creatives managing the challenges of bipolar disorder while excelling in their fields.
- Young Professionals’ Mental Health: Helping adults in their 20s and 30s build sustainable work-life balance while navigating career and identity.
- College Mental Health: Guiding students through academic stress, social dynamics, and mood regulation during transitional years.
- Anxiety and Depression Treatment: Addressing co-occurring symptoms that often accompany bipolar disorder.
Additional therapies we may integrate into treatment:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Effective for managing depressive episodes, identifying early warning signs of mood shifts, and improving medication adherence.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Especially helpful in the form of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT). Focuses on stabilizing daily routines, sleep cycles, and relationship patterns to reduce mood episode triggers.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Supports emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and impulse control — particularly valuable during manic or mixed states.
- Mindfulness Practices: Helps manage stress, improve self-awareness, and prevent relapse by supporting balance and emotional stability.
- Integrative Therapy: Combines CBT, IPT, DBT, and mindfulness to create a tailored plan that adapts to the shifting needs of bipolar disorder.
Treatment is always personalized. Some clients focus on early warning signs and relapse prevention, while others work on repairing relationships, building career resilience, or finding meaning in their experiences.
Living With Bipolar Disorder
Living with bipolar disorder means learning to anticipate, manage, and recover from mood episodes. With treatment, clients can:
- Recognize early signs of mania or depression and take proactive steps.
- Use DBT skills to regulate emotional extremes.
- Develop consistent routines around sleep, nutrition, and activity.
- Build support networks with family, friends, and professionals.
- Improve communication and relationships.
- Practice self-compassion, reducing shame and stigma.
Many clients discover that living with bipolar disorder also brings unique strengths, such as creativity, drive, and resilience. Therapy helps channel those strengths while reducing the risks of destabilizing episodes.
How Groundbreaker Therapy Can Help
At Groundbreaker Therapy, we know that bipolar disorder affects not just mood but every area of life. That’s why we provide:
- Expertise in DBT: Tools for stabilizing emotions and reducing impulsivity.
- Specialized counseling for professionals, young adults, and students.
- Holistic, integrative care that blends evidence-based therapies with lifestyle and resilience strategies.
- Collaboration with psychiatrists and medical providers for cohesive treatment.
- A safe, validating environment where you can share openly without fear of judgment.
- Flexible scheduling to ensure therapy fits into your life.
If bipolar disorder has left you feeling unstable, overwhelmed, or uncertain about your future, you don’t have to face it alone. Schedule a consultation with Groundbreaker Therapy today and begin building the balance, stability, and confidence you deserve.