Changes in mood, energy, and sleep can make it difficult to feel steady from one week to the next. We provide in-person evaluation and ongoing care for adults with bipolar disorder in West Hartford, with a plan built around your history and current needs.
Rapidly escalating activity, little or no sleep, hallucinations or unsafe behavior may need urgent assessment. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.
Treatment starts with understanding your experience and choosing a plan together.
Medication is often central to bipolar disorder care. Your prescriber considers past episodes, previous responses, side effects and physical health. Some medicines require laboratory monitoring. The specific plan and monitoring are explained before treatment begins.
Therapy can support understanding of mood patterns, coping skills and relationships. Consistent routines and attention to sleep can be useful parts of a broader plan. Treatment also includes learning which early changes should prompt a call to your clinician.
Follow-up is based on your current symptoms and the treatment being used. We review benefits and side effects and plan for changes in mood. Severe episodes may need urgent assessment or a higher level of care than routine outpatient appointments.
A conversation about what has been happening and what you would like to change.
Bring a medication list and any records of previous mood episodes or hospital care. We ask about sleep, energy, depression, family history and substance use. With your permission, information from someone who knows you well may help. The evaluation may take more than one visit, especially when earlier episodes are difficult to recall.
We explain the options, answer your questions and discuss follow-up based on your needs. You can ask about benefits, possible risks and other approaches before making a decision.
All visits are in person at 10 Princeton St, Ste N, West Hartford, CT 06110. We do not offer telehealth.
An evaluation considers the full picture, including other concerns that may overlap.
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression and mania or hypomania. These episodes affect energy, activity, sleep and behavior as well as mood. During an elevated or irritable episode, someone may sleep very little without feeling tired, talk more quickly or make unusually risky decisions.
Mania is more severe than hypomania and may involve major impairment, psychosis or the need for hospital care. Depressive and activated symptoms can also overlap. A careful history helps distinguish bipolar disorder from other conditions and choose an appropriate treatment plan.
These examples can help you describe what you are experiencing. They are not a self-diagnosis.
If symptoms are affecting daily life, relationships or your ability to look after yourself, it is reasonable to ask for support. You do not need to be certain about a diagnosis before contacting us.
Notes about when symptoms happen, what makes them better or worse, and what you have already tried can help start the conversation.
Request an appointmentPractical answers to help you decide on your next step.
No. Many experiences can affect mood. Bipolar diagnosis depends on the pattern, duration and severity of episodes and their effect on functioning.
A history of mania or hypomania changes treatment recommendations. It is important to discuss those periods even if you did not experience them as a problem at the time.
Many people benefit from continuing treatment to reduce the risk of future episodes. Your clinician reviews the plan with you over time. Do not stop or change medication without discussing it with your prescriber.
Seek urgent assessment for rapidly escalating behavior, very little sleep with increasing energy, hallucinations or thoughts of suicide. Call 911 if there is immediate danger. Routine appointment requests are not an emergency service.
All appointments are in person at our West Hartford office for adults 18 and over. We do not offer telehealth.
You can request an appointment directly. Insurance requirements vary, so the office can help check whether your plan requires a referral or authorization and discuss expected costs. Contact us about coverage or self-pay before scheduling.
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Sources: NIMH: Bipolar disorder. This page provides general information. Your clinician can help determine what applies to you.
Contact our West Hartford office to request an in-person visit. You can tell us what has been difficult and ask about the next step.
