While high-functioning bipolar disorder is not a clinical diagnosis or a medical term, the topic is well-studied and refers to individuals who are living with bipolar disorder without it causing great disruption to their daily lives. High-functioning bipolar disorder isn’t specified as a classification in the Diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders. However, the DSM-5 does point out that the severity of bipolar disorder varies depending upon the individual, the type of bipolar disorder (bipolar I disorder vs. bipolar II disorder), and genetic predispositions. High-functioning bipolar disorder doesn’t necessarily mean that an individual’s symptoms–their manic episodes or depressive episodes–are any less impactful or severe, but rather that a person can walk through his or her daily life with less disruption.
An individual with high-functioning bipolar disorder will still experience manic episodes, hypomanic episodes, and/or depressive episodes, but with effective treatment, they can execute upon daily tasks and manage their energy levels. If you or a loved one are currently struggling with bipolar I or bipolar II, a comprehensive treatment plan, psychotherapy with a mental health professional, and psychiatry may help you unlock a higher quality of life, and can help temper your mood swings to achieve higher functioning.
AMFM Mental Health Treatment has over a decade of experience treating mental health disorders, mood disorders, and specifically bipolar disorder. Contact us today if you’re interested in mental healthcare and a personalized treatment plan to manage your bipolar symptoms.
Though an individual may seem high-functioning, he or she will still exhibit signs of bipolar disorder. These signs and symptoms may look like mood changes, periods of mania characterized by impulsive behavior and elevated mood, and/or mixed episodes, or they may be engaging in self-harm behaviors. In the cases of severe symptoms, hospitalization may be encouraged, but in a high-functioning individual, these symptoms of bipolar disorder will not seem so drastic, but rather smaller and only slightly out of character for you or your loved one.
Hypomania refers to a shorter duration of manic symptoms, with generally milder symptoms. In order to be diagnosed with bipolar II, an individual must experience at least one episode of hypomania, in addition to an episode of depression (manic depression). According to the DSM-5, hypomanic episodes are common in bipolar I disorder as well, but are not required for the diagnosis of bipolar I.
In order to be diagnosed with bipolar II, an individual must experience both a hypomanic and a depressive episode. Depressive episodes are characterized by low moods, suicidal thoughts, or other common symptoms of depression like loss of interest, low self-esteem, fatigue, or changes in appetite. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal ideation and need immediate medical assistance, please call 911 for emergency medical attention, or 988, the National Suicide and Crisis hotline, which is available 24/7, free of cost.
Therapy for bipolar disorder is a key piece of effective treatment for a greater quality of life and emotional regulation with this lifelong condition, and may help you or your loved one with executive functioning throughout the day. Seeking care from a mental health professional can help regulate extreme mood episodes for a long-term lifestyle change. AMFM Mental Health Treatment offers a combination of holistic mental health services and evidence-based therapies to provide treatment options that meet your individual needs:
Individual therapy takes place in a one on one setting with a licensed professional, usually consisting of a combination of dialectical and cognitive behavioral therapies, in which a person can talk through his or her individual struggles. Individual therapy and mental health care is one of the most crucial steps for those facing mental health challenges.
Group therapy sessions can be used to help provide structured times to help you understand that you are not alone in your struggles, that your peers are also walking through these challenges, while also providing guidance, suggestions and communications from psychologists with specialized backgrounds. These groups can span a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to art therapy, somatic therapy, and narrative therapy.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that’s focused on restructuring and reprogramming maladaptive and negative thought processes. Psychologists are trained to help you change your cognitive and emotional processes in order to outgrow coping mechanisms that may no longer be serving you.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is most commonly referred to as “talk therapy,” and is designed to help process emotions. Qualified professionals offer psychological therapy to move forward with healthy ways of engaging in interpersonal relationships and alleviating physical and emotional distress.
EMDR Therapy is a renowned method of reprocessing most often used in trauma therapy. By activating the prefrontal cortex through a series of bilateral stimulation, qualified professionals can lead you through traumatic experiences, helping you to alleviate the distress symptomized by trauma.
A crisis is defined by the National Library of Medicine “as an overwhelming event, which can include divorce, violence, the passing of a loved one, or the discovery of a serious illness.” The goal of crisis intervention is to provide safety and reduce any potential harm to an individual undergoing a crisis.
TMS Therapy is a type of therapy that uses magnetic pulses to treat depression by stimulating neurotransmitters in the brain. This is a noninvasive method of treatment that some mental health programs offer for treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
AMFM Mental Health Treatment provides comprehensive psychiatric care, along with traditional therapeutic modalities. Our on-staff clinicians are equipped to design personalized treatment plans for your continued success. In combination with psychotherapy, psychiatric care is handled safely, to help you or your loved one overcome mental health challenges.
Family therapy may be used when a loved one’s mental health symptoms are affecting others. This can increase a family members’ understanding of anxiety and talk about how to support each other. Family-focused therapy sessions and support groups can improve communication patterns, focus on problem-solving, address unresolved conflicts, and increase the sense of understanding among one another.
AMFM Mental Health Treatment has extensive experience treating a variety of mental health disorders through evidence-based therapies, including but not limited to the following:
Recovery can feel isolating; mental health programming can provide cohesive treatment plans to help you or your loved one as you move forward.
What to Expect
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Contact From Admission Representative:
Expect a call within an hour from an admissions representative to discuss treatment options.
American Psychological Association. (n.d.-a). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/bipolar-disorder.
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Mental Health Services Administration. DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 12, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Bipolar I Disorder Comparison. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t8/.
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