Bipolar Disorder

Psychiatric Mental Health Clinics & Mental Health Clinic located in Springdale, AR

Stretches of boundless energy followed by weeks you can barely get out of bed point to something more than ordinary mood changes. Board-certified psychiatric nurse Tammie Smith, CNS-BC, PMHNP-BC, APRN, at Mindful Mental Health in Springdale, Arkansas, diagnoses bipolar disorder and manages it long-term through in-office and telehealth visits. Set up your first appointment today by phone or through the online scheduler.

Bipolar Disorder Q&A

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mood condition that swings you between elevated periods and depressive ones. Episodes stretch across days or weeks at a time, and while one lasts, it reshapes your sleep, how quickly your mind moves, and what you decide to do.

Three diagnoses fall under this category:

Bipolar I

This type involves full manic episodes, meaning stretches of extreme energy, racing thoughts, and impaired judgment that last at least a week. Mania can become severe enough to land someone in the hospital.

Bipolar II

This type pairs hypomania, a milder version of mania, with depressive episodes that generally occupy much more of the year.

Cyclothymia

Mood shifts cycle repeatedly without ever meeting the criteria for full mania or major depression.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

Manic and depressive episodes look almost like opposite conditions. During an elevated phase, you might notice:

Needing very little sleep yet feeling energized
Talking faster than people can follow
Taking on far more than you can finish
Spending, driving, or risk-taking that you later regret
Feeling invincible or unusually important

Depressive episodes bring the reverse, with heavy fatigue, loss of interest, trouble concentrating, and sleeping too much or too little. Many patients spend more total time in depression, which is why bipolar disorder often gets diagnosed as depression first.

How do you diagnose bipolar disorder?

Tammie asks about your mood history across years rather than weeks, including periods when you felt unusually good, since those episodes rarely bring people in for treatment.

Input from a family member or partner also helps pinpoint an accurate diagnosis. Depression is hard to miss from the inside, while an elevated period often registers as a good stretch rather than a symptom.

How is bipolar disorder treated?

Medication is a long-term commitment for nearly everyone with this diagnosis, and treatment typically begins with a mood stabilizer. Which one Tammie prescribes depends on whether mania or depression causes you more trouble. Some of these medications require periodic blood tests, and she orders those as part of your follow-up care.

Therapy addresses what medication can’t. You learn to recognize the early signs of an episode, keep your sleep schedule steady, and understand why stopping your medication during a good stretch tends to backfire.

With steady treatment, most patients manage bipolar disorder well for decades. Contact Mindful Mental Health today to book a telehealth or in-person visit.