Living with Bipolar Type 1: Understanding the Highs, the Lows, and the Path to Stability

Bipolar Type 1 is more than just having "good days and bad days." It’s a serious mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and functions—and it’s also treatable with the right care. At BrainBody Wellness Counseling, we work with individuals and families impacted by bipolar disorders to build stability, self-awareness, and hope.

If you’ve been searching phrases like bipolar symptoms, bipolar personality, or mental health counseling near me, you’re already taking a powerful first step: seeking clarity and connection.

What Is Bipolar Type 1?

Bipolar Type 1 is characterized by the presence of at least one manic episode—a period of elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, and impulsive behavior that can last a week or longer. It often alternates with depressive episodes, which include feelings of sadness, fatigue, hopelessness, or disconnection.

Common bipolar symptoms in Type 1 include:

• Racing thoughts or pressured speech

• Decreased need for sleep

• Overconfidence or grandiosity

• Risky decisions or impulsivity

• Withdrawal, low motivation, or feelings of worthlessness (during depressive phases)

These shifts can feel confusing or overwhelming for both the individual and their loved ones. Sometimes, bipolar disorders are misdiagnosed as BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) due to emotional intensity—but they are distinct conditions, each requiring tailored treatment.

Healing Is Possible—And You’re Not Alone

At BrainBody Wellness AZ, our licensed therapists use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, and trauma-informed care to support clients with bipolar personality patterns. We also collaborate with prescribers when medication is part of a treatment plan.

Our work often includes helping clients:

• Recognize early signs of mood shifts

• Create grounding routines that support nervous system regulation

• Navigate relationships affected by emotional ups and downs

• Address co-occurring challenges like anxiety, trauma, or BPD disorder symptoms when present

  
  

Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with bipolar type 1 for years, know this: healing doesn’t mean never struggling again—it means building the tools and support to stay grounded, even when life feels

unsteady.

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📍 In-person therapy in Scottsdale, AZ💻 Online counseling available across Arizona.

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“You are not your diagnosis. You are a whole person worthy of care, clarity, and peace.”

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References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR).

• Judd, L. L., et al. (2003). The long-term natural history of the weekly symptomatic status of bipolar I disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(3), 261–269.

• Miklowitz, D. J. (2011). The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know. Guilford Press.