Bipolar Disorder Treatment & Evaluation in Austin and Surrounding Areas
Living with bipolar disorder can feel like being trapped on a rollercoaster you didn’t choose—highs where everything feels urgent, unstoppable, and invincible, followed by crushing lows that drain every ounce of motivation. Many people think bipolar disorder is simply “mood swings” or “being moody,” but in reality, it’s a neurobiological condition that shifts your brain’s energy, sleep, and thinking patterns. With the right evaluation and a treatment plan tailored to your unique patterns, you can stabilize mood, protect relationships, and live with clarity and balance.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Plain-English definition: Bipolar disorder is a brain-based condition that causes cycles of elevated mood (mania or hypomania) and depression. These shifts aren’t just emotional—they affect your sleep, energy, focus, and decision-making.
Adults vs. stereotypes: Many imagine only extreme mania—reckless spending, grandiose ideas—but for adults, it can also appear as subtle bursts of productivity, rapid speech, irritability, or feeling “wired” with little sleep. Lows can resemble major depression but often have a distinct, lingering mental fatigue.
Common presentations:
Bipolar I: Manic episodes lasting at least 7 days (or requiring hospitalization), often with longer depressive episodes.
Bipolar II: Hypomania (less intense than mania) with recurring depression—often mistaken for “just depression.”
Cyclothymia: Chronic low-grade mood fluctuations that don’t meet full criteria for mania or depression but still disrupt life.
Why it’s missed: Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as unipolar depression, ADHD, or anxiety—especially when hypomania feels productive rather than disruptive.
My Diagnostic Process
Comprehensive intake — your personal history, sleep patterns, mood tracking, and triggers.
Evidence-based assessments — structured tools like the MDQ and symptom timelines.
Differential diagnosis — ruling out thyroid issues, ADHD, substance effects, and other mood disorders.
Personalized plan — not just “bipolar” as a label, but a strategy to reduce episodes and strengthen stability.
Treatment Tailored to You
Medication options: Mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and targeted adjuncts to address both mood poles while minimizing side effects.
Therapy approaches: Psychoeducation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for mood regulation, and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) to stabilize daily patterns.
Lifestyle strategies: Consistent sleep/wake times, nutrition planning, exercise that supports stability, and early-warning sign tracking.
Adapting over time: We regularly reassess as your life changes—adjusting for stress, seasons, and personal goals.
Why My Practice is Different
Most bipolar disorder resources are either so clinical they’re overwhelming or so generic they skip the nuance. I give you clear, practical steps you can start using now so you:
Recognize your early warning signs
Understand what each treatment option actually does
Learn how to protect stability without sacrificing ambition
Actionable self-check you can try today:
Think about your last 3 “up” periods. Write down what was happening in your sleep, caffeine/alcohol use, and schedule before the shift. Patterns often reveal themselves before mood changes fully set in—and noticing them early is one of the most powerful tools in prevention.
Bipolar Disorder Often Comes with Company
Bipolar disorder frequently overlaps with anxiety, ADHD, substance use concerns, and sleep disorders. Treating bipolar disorder effectively means addressing the full picture, not just one part.
Serving Austin and Beyond
I provide bipolar disorder treatment for clients in:
Austin, Barton Creek, Bastrop, Bee Cave, Bertram, Blanco, Briarcliff, Brushy Creek, Buda, Burnet, Cedar Park, Circle C, Creedmoor, Dripping Springs, Elgin, Florence, Georgetown, Granger, Great Hills, Hays, Hutto, Jarrell, Johnson City, Jonestown, Jollyville, Kyle, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Leander, Liberty Hill, Lockhart, Luling, Manor, Marble Falls, Martindale, Meadowlakes, Mountain City, Mustang Ridge, New Braunfels, Niederwald, Pflugerville, Point Venture, River Place, Rollingwood, Round Rock, San Marcos, Smithville, Steiner Ranch, Sunset Valley, Taylor, The Domain, The Hills, Thrall, Volente, Webberville, Weir, West Lake Hills, Wimberley, Woodcreek, Zilker, and throughout all of Texas!