Bipolar disorder involves clear shifts in mood, energy and activity that last for days or longer. These are more than ordinary ups and downs. A high period may feel elated, irritable or both, with more energy than usual. A milder high is called hypomania. A low period can look much like depression. Telling the two apart matters, because the care plan may differ. Dr. Ijeoma Mbionwu, DNP, PMHNP-BC, listens before any plan is discussed.
You may feel unusually high, confident or irritable, in a way other people can notice.
Activity may speed up. You may start many tasks and feel able to keep going.
You may sleep only a few hours and still feel rested. That is different from insomnia.
Thoughts may jump quickly from one idea to the next. Talking may speed up with them.
A low period can bring sadness, low energy and loss of interest that lasts for days.
Spending, big decisions or risky choices may feel reasonable in the moment and costly later.
A high period may lead to overcommitting. A low period may make deadlines feel impossible.
Fast talk, irritability or withdrawal can confuse people who knew you at a steadier pace.
You may take on more plans than usual or pull away when your energy drops.
Confidence may swing from feeling unstoppable one week to feeling unsure of your next step.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known. It often runs in families, though genes are only part of the picture. Stress, sleep loss and major life changes can also set off an episode. Episodes usually last several days, not a few hours. A low period can look like depression. The difference matters for the care plan. A mixed period can include both high and low symptoms. That mix can feel confusing. An evaluation helps sort which pattern fits before a plan is discussed.
Bipolar care looks at the whole person: sleep, stress, relationships, physical health, other conditions and goals. Your plan is personalized and evidence-based, from a board-certified PMHNP, in Orlando or by telehealth across Florida.
A full visit reviews mood highs, lows, sleep, health and how daily life has changed.
Medicine may be discussed when it fits. Side effects and how you feel are reviewed over time.
Talking through sleep, routines and relationship strain may support care alongside other treatment.
Later visits leave room for mood changes, sleep shifts, side effects and questions about the plan.
The visit starts with your full story: mood shifts, sleep, health, medicines and goals.
From there, you and your provider discuss options that fit your needs and daily responsibilities.
Follow-up visits leave room for questions, side effects and changes in how the week is going.
Mood highs and lows can be talked through. Schedule Your Appointment or Call 407-616-1691. Visits are available in Orlando or by telehealth across Florida. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.
Getting started with StarMaris is simple. Please complete the forms below before your first appointment to help us provide timely, personalized psychiatric care. Referring providers can submit patient referrals securely online. For questions, call us at 407-616-1691.