Bipolar Disorder Treatment Options

Key takeaways

• Experts at Montage Health offer outpatient treatment for bipolar disorder in Monterey County, including evaluation, therapy, medication management and support for co-occurring conditions
• Understanding the differences between bipolar 1, bipolar 2, and cyclothymia can clarify your symptoms and guide the right treatment plan
• When symptoms become severe or unsafe, we can connect you to inpatient treatment for bipolar disorder at Garden Pavilion

Summary

Bipolar disorder can cause intense shifts in mood, energy, sleep, and judgment. The right diagnosis and care can help you feel more stable. Experts at Montage Health provide personalized treatment with therapy, medication management, and access to inpatient support when symptoms become severe.

Bipolar disorder can be disorienting. You feel energized, confident, and driven, then quickly fall into depression, exhaustion, or hopelessness. It’s natural to question what’s happening. Is it stress? Depression? Impulsivity? Something that deserves a closer look?

At Montage Health, our experts listen without judgment. We’ll help you make sense of your symptoms, clarify your diagnosis, and build a plan to manage your emotions and support your well-being.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder involves mood swings that go beyond typical ups and downs. Episodes can include mania, hypomania, depression, or a combination of these.

Mania is more intense. You may feel unusually energized or irritable, which can cause you to lose touch with reality and make risky choices. Hypomania can look similar, but it’s usually less extreme. You may feel more productive, more social, or like your brain won’t slow down. Depression causes a deep drop in mood or energy.

Other signs of bipolar disorder may include:

• Extreme changes in energy or mood
• Feeling down, empty, slowed down, or hopeless
• Impulsive decision-making
• Loss of interest in activities, people, or responsibilities
• Needing very little sleep or sleeping far more than usual
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Bipolar 1 vs. bipolar 2 vs. cyclothymia: What’s the difference?

We use the word “bipolar” broadly, but there are distinct types. Getting a careful diagnosis can guide the right level of support and treatment.

Bipolar 1 disorder involves at least one manic episode. Mania can affect your safety, sleep and judgment. It can also impact one’s sense of reality, sometimes called psychosis. Hypomanic or depressive episodes may happen too.

Bipolar 2 disorder involves at least one depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode. For many people, depression is the most challenging part of bipolar 2 disorder.

Cyclothymia involves ongoing mood shifts over a long period of time, typically two years or more. The highs and lows may be less extreme than bipolar 1 or 2, but the pattern can still be exhausting and affect everyday life.

Help for bipolar disorder with co-occurring conditions

It’s common for bipolar disorder to overlap with other mental health concerns. You might notice symptoms that don’t neatly fit into one category. Or you may have received treatment for anxiety or depression before your provider considered bipolar disorder. When conditions overlap, it can make mood swings feel more intense, harder to predict, or harder to manage on your own.

Our experts care for your full mental health. We take time to understand the whole story, not just one set of symptoms. This way, your treatment plan aligns with your day-to-day experiences. Co-occurring concerns we commonly treat include anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and substance use.

How is bipolar disorder treated?

Most people are able to receive bipolar disorder treatment without hospitalization. Care begins with a thoughtful evaluation, which includes a discussion about your current symptoms, past episodes, health history, medications, and any co-occurring conditions. You may need to keep a daily record of your mood and sleep patterns.

After diagnosis, we’ll make sure you have early support, consistent follow-ups, and a plan for what to do if symptoms start to shift. Outpatient bipolar treatment may include:

• A partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP), which offers close daily support when symptoms become difficult to manage
• Care for co-occurring conditions, including ADHD, trauma, depression, or substance use
• Medication to regulate mood
• Sleep and lifestyle support
• Therapy to understand triggers and build healthy coping skills

Inpatient treatment for bipolar disorder

Sometimes bipolar symptoms become too severe to manage at home. When that happens, hospitalization may be the safest option. We recommend it when someone:

• Can’t sleep for days
• Has severe mania or depression
• Is at risk of harming themselves or others
• Is experiencing psychosis (losing touch with reality)
• Is unable to care for basic needs

At Montage Health, inpatient care is available at Garden Pavilion, located within Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. We offer 24-hour mental health care for adults in crisis. You’ll receive close monitoring and support to regain stability and prepare for the transition back home.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency department.

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