Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that can cause significant changes in mood, activity levels, thoughts, and ability to function. Everyone experiences changes in these things sometimes, but if you have bipolar disorder, the highs are higher and the lows are lower. These highs and lows, called manic and depressive episodes, can be especially challenging and distressing, but bipolar disorder is treatable if you get the personalized and situation-specific care you need at Heritage Wellness. There are three main types of bipolar disorder:

Bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder includes manic episodes. Most people with bipolar I disorder have both manic and depressive episodes. For this diagnosis, manic episodes must last seven days minimum, or alternatively must be severe enough to require hospitalization.

Bipolar II disorder
Bipolar II disorder includes depressive episodes along with hypomanic episodes (manic symptoms but less severe).

Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder includes unstable mood states (hypomanic symptoms along with depressive symptoms) for two years or longer. This type of bipolar disorder features symptoms consistent with mania and depression but lacks the full-blown manic and depressive episodes required for a bipolar I or II diagnosis. Heritage Wellness specializes in patient-driven holistic psychiatric care for all types of bipolar disorder. The team of compassionate mental health specialists feels strongly about destigmatizing mental health problems, especially often-misunderstood disorders like bipolar disorder.