Bipolar Disorder
If you have Bipolar Disorder, you have come to the right place, because at Ryde/Gladesville we understand this illness very well. We specialise in helping people with bipolar, and over the last 15 years have helped many hundreds of people to learn how to manage it, so that the illness no longer dominates their life.
Bipolar is a mood disorder which has a basis in genetics, but which erupts in a person’s life when they are experiencing significant stressors, such as work losses and rejections, relationship breakups, physical stressors, over-indulging in drinking and drugs, and metabolic stresses such as neglecting to keep healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and activity or exercise.
A person with bipolar may swing between periods of greatly increased energy (elated, irritable, driven, wired, unable to sleep, grandiose) for days, weeks or even months, and at other times sink into a morass of low energy and depression (feeling hopeless, worthless, unable to engage or get motivated, and often suicidal).
Two main types of Bipolar Disorder – Bipolar I and Bipolar II
Actually there are as many different types of bipolar disorder as there are people who have it. However the psychological literature distinguishes two main types. Bipolar I is diagnosed when a person has experienced psychotic symptoms (ie not perceiving reality as they normally would), while Bipolar II tends to be diagnosed when the person remains able to perceive reality relatively normally (even though their family and friends can see quite a difference in them, as they swing from highs to lows).
People with Bipolar II (with the less extreme “highs”) tend to spend more time in depression overall, than those with Bipolar I (whose highs are more acute, and may develop into psychotic thinking).
The good news is that Bipolar Disorder – whether I or II – is a very treatable illness, as long as you are willing to learn how to manage it. Most often management involves medication, information, and counselling (including wellbeing plans, where possible).
How Can Counselling Help?
Our approach is this. When we first meet we want to get to know you and understand how the illness came into your life and what effect it has had on you. When you are ready, we will work together to identify your early warning signs. This information is the key to managing the illness and preventing future episodes from taking hold. We will then help you work out, in collaboration with family or friends (you specify which ones will be most helpful for you), a plan that will aim at keeping you heading in the direction of wellbeing. See Our Team for details on our psychologists.
It is true that people with Bipolar Disorder are often creative, artistic, high achiever types. These attributes can help you work with us to find creative ways that you will find most “doable” for your recovery – so that you can find your way back to a more satisfying life. Let us help you get there.
Call us on 1300 739 531 to make an appointment
- Phones answered Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 8pm, Saturdays 9-4pm
- After-hours appointments available weeknights to 8pm, Saturdays 9am to 4pm.
- Medicare and Private Health rebates can be processed at your session.
- For details on our psychologists, see Our Team
If bipolar swings in energy and mood are sabotaging your life satisfaction and relationships, let us help. Open Sky Psychology serves people in the local areas of Ryde, Gladesville, Putney, Lane Cove, Meadowbank, Hunters Hill, Top Ryde, East Ryde, West Ryde, North Ryde, Denistone, Drummoyne, Eastwood, Epping, Chatswood, and surrounding suburbs.
Victoria Road buses also make our practice accessible for city workers, see Contact Us. But if Our Team’s areas of specialisation make a good match for your particular needs, we welcome people from anywhere.
