Bipolar Disorder

People often describe bipolar disorder as a battle of the two selves, one that is full of energy and motivated about life, and one who feels extremely low, depressed and irritable.

One day you may feel that you can conquer the world and be extremely optimistic about your life, often finding yourself diving into your impulses, such as drinking too much or spending too much money. However, when feelings of low mood start to kick in, you may feel detached from others, and try to isolate yourself from the world for no obvious reason.

You may find it hard to get on with your day-to-day tasks, often feel hopeless and sleep too much or too little. There may be periods when you feel high, where your emotions are overwhelming, rushing and intense. You try to enjoy the opportunities your high and happy self brings, because you know that periods of low mood will follow.

Many people with bipolar disorder may feel able to get on with their daily lives and tasks, however, others may feel that their condition is destroying their relationships and career. Different people can experience bipolar disorder in many different ways, and there isn’t an one-fits-all definition.

Our multidisciplinary team of psychotherapists, doctors, and nutritionists will support you in managing your condition so you can can lead a fulfilling and happy life. Treatment will aim in reducing the severity and frequency of episodes of depression and mania (elevated mood).

Our psychotherapists will help you understand the root causes of your bipolar disorder, and how this affects your behaviours, relationships and they way you manage your emotions.

Therapy may include:

• Understanding core issues that contributed to the development of your bipolar disorder
• Identifying the triggers and signs of an episode of depression or mania
• Developing strategies you can use to cope with early symptoms and triggers
• Challenging unhelpful behaviours and replacing them with more effective behaviours
• Teaching you new skills to improve how you communicate in relationships
• Supporting you in increasing your tolerance to deal with distress
• Building more emotional agility so you can express your feelings, and manage the feelings of others better
• Developing confidence to deal with challenging situations assertively, having a crisis plan in place and setting goals for staying healthy

An assessment with our Consultant Psychiatrist can provide you with a medical diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and a treatment plan moving forwards, that may combine medication, such as mood stabilisers and benzodiazepines, with ongoing psychotherapy.

Lifestyle and nutritional support can provide you with a balanced diet, help you manage stress and sleep patterns, and balance your physiology, all of which can reduce symptoms of mania and depression.