Bipolar Disorder Specialist

Dr. Messina & Associates
Clinical Psychologists & Psychiatrists located in Southlake, TX & Flower Mound, TX
Bipolar disorder often appears in a person's teens and early 20s, but it can occur at any age. No matter when your bipolar symptoms develop, it’s a lifelong disorder that needs ongoing management. Clinical psychologists work with many patients who have bipolar disorder, effectively improving their symptoms and their quality of life with medication and psychotherapy at Dr. Messina & Associates in Southlake, Texas, and Flower Mound, Texas. To schedule an appointment, use online booking or call the office today.
Bipolar Disorder Q & A
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder was formerly known as manic-depressive disorder because mania and depression are the two key symptoms. There are different types of bipolar disorder, however, with varying degrees of mania and depression.
The types of symptoms cause changes in mood, activity level, and energy. Most patients cycle between them with periods of normal mood between bipolar episodes.
The three main types of bipolar disorder are:
Bipolar I disorder
Patients with bipolar I disorder have had at least one major episode of mania that was severe enough to interfere with daily activities. They may also experience major depression or have mixed features, which means having mania and depression at the same time.
Bipolar II disorder
This type of bipolar disorder is defined as having at least one episode of major depression and at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomania causes the same symptoms as full-blown mania, but they’re less severe and usually don’t affect daily life.
Cyclothymic disorder
If you have cyclothymic disorder, you frequently and constantly swing between hypomania and depression. Although you may have more episodes than the other types of bipolar disorder, your symptoms are milder.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
In many cases, patients experience depression before they have their first manic episode. The symptoms of both include:
Depressive episodes
- Feeling sad, down, or hopeless
- Having little to no energy
- Decreasing activity levels
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Increasingly worried or anxious
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Eating too much or too little
- Thinking about death or suicide
Manic episodes
- Feeling up with an exaggerated sense of self-esteem
- Having excessive energy
- Increasing activity levels
- Finding it hard to sleep
- Talking too fast (pressured speech)
- Feeling agitated or irritable
- Experiencing racing thoughts
- Engaging in risky behaviors (spending too much money, reckless sex)
While mania is noticeable for its extreme energy levels and excessive behaviors, hypomania is hard to recognize. In many cases, the increased energy of hypomania may seem good because it makes you more productive, yet it’s not so extreme that it leads to problems.
How is bipolar disorder treated?
Dr. Messina & Associates offers a variety of treatments for bipolar disorder, which usually includes medications to balance your moods, as well as psychotherapy.
Our psychiatrists work closely with each patient, prescribing the best medications for their symptoms, and monitoring their ongoing health.
If you have questions about your behavior and whether it could be bipolar disorder, call the office of Dr. Messina & Associates or book an appointment online.
Services
Flowermound, TX
1011 Surrey Lane, Building 200, Suite 16, Flower Mound, TX 75022Hours:
Monday 8 AM - 8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM - 8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM - 8 PM
Thursday 8 AM - 8 PM
Friday 8 AM - 8 PM
Saturday 8 AM - 2 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Call or Text: 817-677-0449
Fax: 817-382-3749
Email: info@drmessina.comSouthlake, TX
1500 Corporate Circle, Suite 7, Southlake, TX 76092Hours:
Monday 8 AM - 8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM - 8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM - 8 PM
Thursday 8 AM - 8 PM
Friday 8 AM - 8 PM
Saturday 8 AM - 2 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Call or Text: 817-677-0449
Fax: 817-382-3749
Email: info@drmessina.comSouthlake, TX
1207 S White Chapel Blvd., Suite 140, Southlake, TX 76092Hours:
Monday 8 AM - 8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM - 8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM - 8 PM
Thursday 8 AM - 8 PM
Friday 8 AM - 8 PM
Saturday 8 AM - 2 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Call or Text: 817-677-0449
Fax: 817-382-3749
Email: info@drmessina.com