🌗 Finding Balance: Understanding and Living With Bipolar Disorder
🌅 When Moods Feel Like a Pendulum
Some days, energy and ideas feel limitless — you can take on the world. Other days, even getting out of bed feels impossible. The shifts can be confusing, exhausting, and sometimes isolating. These highs and lows are more than ordinary mood changes — they may be signs of a bipolar spectrum disorder.
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we believe that bipolar disorder doesn’t define you — it’s simply part of your story. With the right support, understanding, and treatment, it’s possible to find stability, fulfillment, and a renewed sense of control.
💭 Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and thinking. People with bipolar disorder experience high and low moods — known as mania and depression — which differ from the typical ups and downs everyone experiences.
The average age of onset is around 25, though symptoms can begin in the teen years or, less commonly, in childhood. The condition affects men and women equally, with about 2.8% of the U.S. population diagnosed — and nearly 83% of cases classified as severe.
Without treatment, bipolar disorder often worsens over time. However, with a comprehensive plan that includes therapy, medication, healthy lifestyle choices, and early identification of symptoms, many people live full, meaningful, and stable lives.
🌓 Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder exists on a spectrum, and symptoms can vary in intensity and frequency. Mental health professionals use diagnostic criteria to determine which type a person may be experiencing:
Bipolar I Disorder: Involves at least one full manic episode, which may be accompanied by depressive episodes. Manic episodes often last at least seven days and may require hospitalization.
Bipolar II Disorder: Involves recurring depressive episodes and periods of hypomania (a milder form of mania that does not include psychosis).
Cyclothymic Disorder (Cyclothymia): A chronic mood instability involving milder ups and downs that persist for at least two years.
Other Specified/Unspecified Bipolar Disorders: Cases that don’t fit the above categories but still involve significant mood elevation and depression.
⚖️ Recognizing the Symptoms
Symptoms and their severity can vary widely from person to person. Some individuals experience distinct manic and depressive states, while others may cycle more rapidly or experience both at once.
Manic or Hypomanic Episodes:
Elevated or irritable mood
Rapid speech or racing thoughts
Increased energy or activity
Decreased need for sleep
Impulsivity or risky behavior
Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
Possible psychotic symptoms (delusions or hallucinations) in severe cases
Depressive Episodes:
Deep sadness or emptiness
Fatigue and loss of motivation
Changes in sleep or appetite
Hopelessness, guilt, or self-blame
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Withdrawal from social life
Thoughts of death or suicide
Periods of stability are common between episodes, and learning to recognize early signs of change is key to maintaining long-term balance.
🌱 Causes and Contributing Factors
There’s no single cause of bipolar disorder — it’s influenced by a combination of biological, genetic, and environmental factors.
Genetics: A family history of bipolar disorder or other mood disorders increases risk, though not everyone with a genetic link will develop it.
Stress: Major life events such as loss, illness, or financial strain can trigger an episode.
Brain Structure and Function: Research shows subtle differences in brain activity and structure among people with bipolar disorder.
Medical and Hormonal Factors: Thyroid issues and other endocrine imbalances can contribute to mood instability.
Substance Use: Drug or alcohol misuse can worsen symptoms or trigger episodes.
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we take these factors into account to design care plans that are holistic, responsive, and individualized.
🌿 How Therapy Helps
Therapy offers tools to navigate the challenges of bipolar disorder and create structure for stability. Our therapists help clients:
Identify triggers and early warning signs
Create consistent routines and self-care strategies
Strengthen communication and relationships
Process emotions safely and reduce impulsivity
Develop insight, acceptance, and self-compassion
We use evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, and solution-focused therapy to promote self-awareness, stability, and balance. For clients whose experiences of bipolar disorder overlap with past trauma, we also offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help process and release distressing memories safely.
💊 Collaborative Prescriber Support
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we believe in integrated, whole-person care for clients living with bipolar disorder. Because medication management is often a key part of treatment, we’re proud to offer support through our in-house prescriber, who works closely with our therapists to ensure consistent, coordinated care.
This collaboration allows your treatment team to:
Conduct comprehensive evaluations and ongoing medication management
Coordinate therapy goals with medical treatment
Track your response to medication and mood patterns over time
Provide education and reassurance about medication safety and side effects
Support informed, comfortable decision-making around your care
Our integrated model ensures your care is cohesive, responsive, and compassionate — giving you a team that communicates, adjusts, and advocates for your stability at every step.
💬 Our Therapeutic Approach
Our diverse, culturally responsive team understands that bipolar disorder can look and feel different for everyone. We honor your unique story and work collaboratively to help you find steadiness that feels authentic and sustainable.
Your care at Mara’s Lighthouse is designed to support the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — through understanding, trust, and genuine partnership.
🕯️ Living Well With Bipolar Disorder
Managing bipolar disorder is a lifelong process, but with awareness and support, stability and joy are absolutely possible. Here are a few key ways to care for yourself and stay balanced between sessions:
1️⃣ Keep a Consistent Routine
Regular sleep, meals, and daily structure help regulate your body’s internal rhythm and reduce mood fluctuations. Try to wake up, eat, and go to bed at similar times each day.
2️⃣ Track Your Mood and Triggers
Journaling or using a mood-tracking app can help you identify early signs of change — such as disrupted sleep, racing thoughts, or bursts of energy — so you can take proactive steps before symptoms escalate.
3️⃣ Prioritize Rest and Recovery
During high-energy phases, it’s easy to overlook rest. Give yourself permission to pause, breathe, and take breaks. Balance productivity with calm.
4️⃣ Build a Support System
Reach out to trusted friends, family, or your therapist when you notice changes in mood or energy. Sharing how you’re feeling early can help prevent isolation and reduce relapse risk.
5️⃣ Limit Alcohol and Substance Use
Substances can intensify mood swings and interfere with medication. Protect your stability by avoiding triggers that make emotional regulation harder.
6️⃣ Celebrate Small Victories
Healing isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. Recognize moments of calm, focus, or connection as signs of your growth.
7️⃣ Stay Connected to Care
Continue regular sessions with your therapist and prescriber, even when you’re feeling stable. Preventive care helps maintain balance and keeps you grounded through life’s transitions.
💙 At Mara’s Lighthouse, we’re here to help you understand your patterns, strengthen your tools, and find a rhythm that supports long-term wellness and peace.
🌗 Finding Your Steady Light
Living with bipolar disorder can feel unpredictable — but stability is possible. With the right combination of therapy, medication, and supportive relationships, you can move from chaos to clarity, from survival to thriving.
Click below to schedule your session and begin your journey toward balance and renewal.