What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterised by significant shifts in mood, energy and activity levels. These changes can range from periods of low mood and depression to episodes of elevated mood, known as mania or hypomania.
While everyone experiences ups and downs, the intensity and duration of mood changes in bipolar disorder can be much greater, often affecting work, relationships and daily life.
Common experiences include:
- Episodes of depression with feelings of hopelessness, fatigue or loss of interest
- Periods of mania or hypomania with increased energy, racing thoughts, reduced need for sleep or impulsive behaviour
- Rapid changes in mood that feel difficult to predict or manage
- Disruption to routines, relationships or responsibilities
- Feelings of shame, guilt or confusion about mood episodes
- Anxiety, stress or difficulty trusting yourself after past experiences
Bipolar disorder affects everyone differently. Some people experience long periods of stability between episodes, while others may find mood changes occur more frequently.
How Can Therapy Help?
Medication is often an important part of treatment for bipolar disorder, but at Seven Lion Yard we do not prescribe or manage medication. Instead, our role is to provide psychological therapy and adjustment work that helps you live well alongside the condition and reduce its impact on your daily life.
Therapy can help you:
- Understand your personal triggers and early warning signs of mood changes
- Develop strategies to manage stress, sleep and routines
- Build tools for coping with both high and low mood states
- Work through the emotional impact of living with bipolar disorder
- Strengthen relationships and communication with others
- Explore identity, self-esteem and self-acceptance
- Create a sense of stability, balance and meaning in daily life
Is Therapy Right for You?
Therapy may be helpful if you are:
- Living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or suspect you may have it
- Struggling to recognise or manage mood changes
- Wanting to reduce the impact of bipolar disorder on work, study or relationships
- Finding it difficult to rebuild confidence after past episodes
- Experiencing stress, anxiety or low self-esteem alongside mood shifts
- Looking for compassionate, non-judgmental support in managing your wellbeing
At Seven Lion Yard, we provide thoughtful, evidence-based therapy that respects your lived experience and supports you in creating stability and resilience. While we do not offer medical treatment, we work alongside you (and where appropriate, with your wider care team) to help you navigate mood changes with greater understanding, confidence and balance.
