More Info About My Practice

Understanding the Bipolar Spectrum and Depression
Could this be me?

There is more than one type of Bipolar disorder. All of the types involve depression.

Bipolar disorder affects more than 5.7 million Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 or older every year. (National Institute of Mental Health) Estimates that include the full range of bipolar disorders are 3-4% of the population.

The median age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25 years (National Institute of Mental Health). Bipolar disorder as the name suggests, indicates fluctuations in mood and energy.

Because of the variety of patterns of fluctuation, bipolar disorder can be challenging to diagnose. Bipolar disorder is what used to be called manic-depressive illness. As is true with depression, the word bipolar can be tossed around loosely, leading to fear and confusion.

I mentioned in the section on depression, that people with depression can feel alone and isolated, afraid and ashamed. These feelings can be intensified if you have sought help and don?t fit neatly into a diagnostic category. It requires courage to persist and find the right help.
Bipolar disorders are not a personal weakness or a personal failure. It is not your personality or your identity. It is an illness that pervades how you feel emotionally, how you behave and your sense of physical well being.

When people are offered education about bipolar disorders they often feel relieved and curious. Could this be me on the spectrum? My intention is to provide information and hope. A place to begin to find your way. Effective treatment and support are available.

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

There are so few places in our culture where we can be kindly witnessed and invited to reflect on who we are and where we are headed. Therapy is one of those places. A place to be seen, to be heard, to be understood.