Bipolar Disorder Treatment & Evaluation in Austin and Surrounding Areas
Living with bipolar disorder can feel like your mind is flooring the gas and the brake at the same time. On the “up” days, sleep feels optional, ideas multiply, words tumble out faster than you can catch them, and big plans feel not just possible—but urgent. You might spend freely, take risks that surprise you, or feel irritably wired, like every light in the room is too bright. Then the floor drops. Energy drains, motivation evaporates, small tasks feel like wading through wet cement, and your world narrows to getting through the next hour. Some days are both at once—thoughts racing in a dark mood—exhausted but unable to slow down. It’s jarring for you and confusing for the people who love you.
What most people miss: bipolar disorder isn’t “being moody.” It’s a shift in your brain’s energy, sleep, and rhythm that can distort judgment, strain relationships, and disrupt work—especially when it goes unrecognized. You’re not broken and you’re not making it up. There are early tells (needing less sleep but feeling more energized, ideas stacking, irritability, or that heavy “can’t start” gravity) and patterns we can map—so you’re not blindsided by the next swing. Reach out, and I’ll help you name what’s happening and chart a clear, steady path forward—so your life feels like it belongs to you again.
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 Steps You Can Take Today — Bipolar
If you feel amped/elevated right now (5–10 minutes)
Name it (5 seconds). “This is elevation—my engine’s revving hot.”
Slow the body (2 minutes). Inhale nose / long, slow mouth exhale x10; drop shoulders, unclench jaw.
Cool + dim (2 minutes). Lower lights, step away from screens, splash cool water, open a window.
Park the big moves (1 minute). Write: No major purchases, projects, or promises for 48 hours. Put the note on your wallet/desktop.
Ground with weight (2–4 minutes). Wall sit or hold a plank you can sustain; feel legs and feet heavy.
One safe task (2 minutes). Something small and repetitive (fold two shirts, wipe the counter). Reward slowing, not speed.
If you feel low/flattened right now (5–10 minutes)
Name it. “This is low mood—energy is down, not my worth.”
Micro-activation (5 minutes). Pick one tiny task with a visible end (make the bed, put 5 dishes away).
Light + posture (2 minutes). Open blinds/step outside; sit tall for 90 seconds, slow exhales.
Warm contact (2 minutes). Send one text: “Thinking of you. No reply needed.” Connection without pressure.
Daily stabilizers (the “floor”)
Same wake time every day. Guard this like medication; it anchors rhythms.
3 anchors: out of bed → shower/face wash → first calories/protein within ~60–90 minutes.
Move your body daily (10–20 min). Gentle but consistent beats heroic and sporadic.
Sunlight eyes-open (5–10 min). Early daylight sets sleep/wake timing.
Hydration + steady meals. Don’t let blood sugar crashes masquerade as mood swings.
Sleep guardrails (protect these first)
Wind-down window 60 minutes. Dim lights; no problem-solving, no heavy convos.
Screens off 30–60 minutes before bed. If you must, use audio only.
Bed = sleep only. If awake >20 minutes, low-light, boring page in another room; return when sleepy.
Caffeine cut-off ~8 hours before bed. Notice personal sensitivity and adjust.
Early-warning system (catch shifts sooner)
Make a two-column card: My Rising Signs vs My Dropping Signs.
Rising: sleeping less but not tired, racing ideas, extra social/sexual drive, big plans, impulsive clicks.
Dropping: oversleeping/insomnia combo, heavy limbs, slowed thinking, “what’s the point” thoughts, withdrawal.
Daily 1–10 check-in (mood, energy, sleep hours). Circle any change ≥2 points from your baseline.
When you see a pattern for 2–3 days, tighten guardrails (sleep, spending, stimulation) and tell one trusted person.
Impulse-control kit (especially for elevated days)
Money friction: Freeze credit cards in a bag of water in the freezer; remove shopping apps; set bank alerts > $50.
Commitment friction: “Let me sleep on it” rule; calendar a 24-hour pause before yes/no on big invitations.
Speech brake: Draft the message, wait 10 minutes, then send—or don’t.
Driving/late-night rules: No night driving if revved; no new routes “for fun.”
Low-mood activation (especially for down days)
One-tile rule: Tackle life in tiles (one drawer, one email, one 10-minute walk).
Outside by default: If you can do it outdoors (call, coffee, stretch), do it outdoors.
Pleasure + mastery + connection (PMC). Schedule 1 of each daily:
Pleasure (music, warm shower)
Mastery (finish a tiny task)
Connection (a 5-minute hello)
Social-rhythm habits (keep the clock steady)
Meal times within a 1-hour window.
Daily social touchpoint (same time): a check-in text, shared breakfast, evening walk.
Work start/stop cues (same sound, same seat, same mug). Train your brain to know “on” and “off.”
Stimulation audit (tweak, don’t guess)
Track caffeine, nicotine, energy drinks, and late-night screen intensity for one week alongside mood/energy/sleep.
Adjust one lever at a time for 3–7 days so you can see cause/effect.
Thought skills when the mind surges
Label the state, not the story. “I’m in an elevated state” / “I’m in a low state.”
Middle statement. Replace “This will be incredible/ruined” with “Parts may go well and I can pace/support myself.”
Three facts, one fear. List 3 neutral facts, then name the one fear thought. Keep facts front and center.
Relationships & communication
Pre-agreed signals with your people: a phrase that means “I’m revving” (e.g., “I’m on turbo”) and one that means “I’m sinking.”
Ask for the how, not the fix. “Please help me slow down and stick to my plan,” or “Please nudge me to do one tile.”
Post-storm repair: If you overshared, overspent, or over-promised, use a simple repair script:
“I was in a shifted state, I’m correcting it, here’s my make-right step.”
Digital & environment safeguards
Home screen detox: Move dopamine-spike apps off page 1; grayscale the phone.
Do-first desk: Only the one task in front of you; everything else in a tray out of sight.
Night mode timers on devices at a set hour every day.
Travel & time-zone shifts (common destabilizers)
Anchor the wake time to your home time for the first 2–3 days if possible.
Morning light, evening dim. Expose eyes to daylight early; avoid bright light late.
Keep meals and movement regular even if smaller/shorter.
Substance rules that protect mood
If alcohol or cannabis correlate with swings, test 30 days without and watch your mood/sleep chart.
Be wary of stacking stimulants (caffeine + energy drinks + late-night screens).
One-page personal plan (create once; reuse forever)
My rising signs: [list 5]
My dropping signs: [list 5]
My first responses (elevated): darken room, breathing, money/app friction, call/text [name].
My first responses (low): sunlight, one-tile task, outside walk, text [name].
Keep this printed on your fridge/desk; snap a photo for your phone.
Track one metric for 7 days
Choose just one:
Sleep hours (and consistency of wake time)
Daily mood 1–10
Number of “tiles” completed
Look for trends, not perfection; keep what clearly helps and build from there.
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!