By definition, bipolar disorder includes extreme mood shifts that bounce from one pole to the other — between high-energy mania and low-energy depression.
Getting a correct diagnosis is critical to ensure proper treatment: Treating bipolar disorder is unique due to the extreme shifts in mood. It requires mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, as opposed to standard antidepressant drugs. Learn more about these treatments here.
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2017). Bipolar disorder.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Brain stimulation therapies.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Mental health medications.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Psychotherapies.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.