If you have bipolar disorder, you’ll likely experience extreme mood swings, moving between manic "highs" and depressive lows, with some periods of feeling normal in between. These mood swings can affect your energy levels, sleep, and ability to carry out regular tasks.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary from person to person, but they typically include periods of mania (or hypomania) and depression.
If you’re having a manic episode, you may experience:
Hypomania is a milder kind of mania. You may feel very happy and energetic, and like you can get a lot done. You may feel you’re doing quite well, but your friends and family may notice your mood has changed.
During a depressive episode, you may experience:
There are a few factors that can increase your risk for developing bipolar disorder. They include:
Genetics: Bipolar can run in families, though you won’t necessarily get it just because someone in your family has it.
Brain differences: Scientists have found that people with bipolar have some differences in their brains. However, brain scans are not used to diagnose bipolar at this time.
Environmental factors: Things like trauma and stressful life events can trigger a manic or depressive episode.
Our coordinated care includes therapy and psychiatry to help you manage mental health symptoms, navigate life challenges, and build resilience.
Therapy can be helpful in treating bipolar disorder. A Brave therapist will help you identify, understand, and change troubling thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and help you develop coping strategies.
At Brave, our psychiatrists work with you to see if medication is the right fit. You may need to try different medications before finding the right one for you. Medications are proven to ease symptoms, helping you feel more balanced and supported.
At Brave Health, you don’t have to go through life’s challenges alone. We offer over 40 therapist-led groups, including specialized options for LGBTQ+ individuals, men, women, teens, and parents. We’ll help you find the group that’s right for you.
Brave Health believes that everyone should have access to high-quality mental health care.
Our providers are in-network with a wide variety of insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Commercial insurance. Many Medicaid plans waive a co-payment for services. Contact your insurance plan to find out the total cost of care.
We also accept private patients who do not have insurance. See our fee schedule.
Brave Health’s team of clinicians includes licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists, and counselors. Each of our team members has received specialized training in mental health care.
At Brave Health, therapists typically meet with patients for 50-minute video sessions on our secure telehealth platform. The frequency of sessions can vary based on the individual's needs and goals.
You will need a computer, smartphone, or tablet with a camera and microphone, as well as a reliable internet connection.
You will receive a text reminder 24 hours before your appointment, and another text and email reminder 15 minutes prior to the appointment with a link to the telehealth session. At that time, prepare to move to a private space and click the link to join a private waiting room where the clinician will arrive.
During the first 60-minute video appointment, the mental health clinician will ask questions, evaluate needs, and present treatment options.
