Conditions We Treat
Bipolar Disorder Treatment in California
Board-certified telepsychiatry anywhere in California, in English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Spanish.
We treat bipolar disorder by telehealth anywhere in California. Your provider is board certified and speaks English, Punjabi, Hindi and Spanish.
At a Glance
- Secure video visits anywhere in California
- Care in English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Spanish
- Initial evaluation $250, follow-up visits $199
- HSA and FSA cards accepted, superbills on request
Bipolar disorder causes strong shifts in mood and energy. Highs can feel lifted, bold or irritable. Lows can be crushing. It is often mistaken for depression alone, which can lead to years of treatment that never quite works.
Mindful Sewa Psychiatry provides careful bipolar disorder diagnosis and treatment by telehealth anywhere in California. Care includes mood stabilizer management and long-term relapse prevention.
Bipolar disorder affects how a person sleeps, thinks, spends energy and makes choices, not only how they feel. Between episodes, many people feel steady and do well at work and home. That can make it easy to believe the problem is gone. Long-term treatment is what keeps the steady times longer and the episodes milder.
Harpal Singh, PMHNP-BC, provides bipolar disorder care by telehealth anywhere in California. Visits cover diagnosis, medicine, lab review and plans to prevent relapse. Care is offered in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Spanish. That helps when family members want to take part in their own language.
Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
- Times of unusually high energy, confidence or irritability
- Racing thoughts and fast speech
- Needing much less sleep without feeling tired
- Impulsive spending, driving or choices during highs
- Deep low periods between highs
- Mood episodes that last days to weeks
- Antidepressants that made you feel worse or "wired"
- A family history of bipolar disorder
How We Treat Bipolar Disorder by Telehealth
An accurate diagnosis comes first. We carefully map your mood history to tell apart bipolar I, bipolar II and depression alone, because the treatments differ. Care centers on mood stabilizers and other proven medicines. It also includes regular checks and sleep protection. An early warning plan helps catch episodes before they build.
Bipolar disorder is a long-term condition. Steady follow-up is what keeps people well. Telehealth makes that regular care realistic, even in a busy week.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I means at least one manic episode. It lasts a week or more, or any length of time if a hospital stay was needed. Most people with bipolar I also have depressive episodes. Bipolar II means hypomania, a shorter and milder high, plus at least one major depressive episode.
Cyclothymia means many ups and downs over at least two years that never reach full episodes. Some people also have mixed features, where high energy and low mood happen at the same time. Mixed states can feel restless and painful. They need careful treatment.
How Bipolar Disorder Is Diagnosed
There is no blood test or brain scan for bipolar disorder. Diagnosis comes from a careful history of your moods, sleep and energy over time. Screening forms can help, but they do not replace a full conversation.
Hypomania can feel good, so many people do not think to mention it. We ask about times you needed less sleep but felt full of energy, took on many projects at once or spent money in ways unlike you. A partner or parent may remember these times more clearly than you do.
We also rule out other causes. Thyroid problems, steroid medicines, stimulants and substance use can cause mood swings that look like bipolar disorder. ADHD, trauma and some personality patterns can overlap too. Getting this right is why a thorough psychiatric evaluation matters so much.
Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder
Medicine is the base of care for most people. Common choices include lithium. Some seizure medicines, such as lamotrigine and valproate, also work as mood stabilizers. So do some newer antipsychotics, such as quetiapine, lurasidone and aripiprazole. Each works differently for highs, lows or prevention. Your prescriber decides which fits your pattern, health and goals.
Many of these medicines need regular lab work, plus checks of weight, blood sugar, or kidney and thyroid function. Some are not safe in pregnancy, so tell your prescriber if you are pregnant or planning to be. Never stop a mood stabilizer on your own. Stopping suddenly can bring on a new episode.
Therapy adds real protection. Research supports learning about the illness, CBT and a therapy that builds steady daily rhythms. These help you spot early warning signs, keep a steady daily schedule and repair relationships hurt by past episodes. Mindful Sewa offers supportive psychotherapy alongside medication care.
Living Well and Supporting a Loved One
Daily rhythm is one of your strongest tools. Late nights, jet lag and night shifts can trigger episodes. A steady bedtime, limited alcohol and no recreational drugs all help keep mood stable. Regular meals, movement and daylight support the same goal.
Family members can help by learning the signs of an episode and staying calm and specific when they see changes. Arguing with someone who is manic rarely works. It is better to agree ahead of time, while things are steady, on what support looks like. If mania brings danger, call 911. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first evaluation is a detailed video appointment. It covers your full mood history, sleep patterns, family history and how past medicines worked for you. When it fits, and with your permission, input from family members can sharpen the picture.
Ready to start? Book a comprehensive evaluation, review our transparent fees, or take the symptoms quiz first.
Services for Bipolar Disorder
Medication Guides Related to Bipolar Disorder
These plain-language guides cover medicines used for bipolar disorder. They are background reading, not advice. Your prescriber decides what fits you at your evaluation.
- Aripiprazole (Abilify), atypical antipsychotic
- Brexpiprazole (Rexulti), atypical antipsychotic
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol), mood stabilizer / anticonvulsant
- Cariprazine (Vraylar), atypical antipsychotic
- Clozapine (Clozaril), atypical antipsychotic
- Divalproex sodium (Depakote), mood stabilizer / anticonvulsant
- Fluoxetine (Prozac), SSRI antidepressant
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal), mood stabilizer / anticonvulsant
- Lithium (Lithobid), mood stabilizer
- Lurasidone (Latuda), atypical antipsychotic
Related Reading
Articles from our provider on bipolar disorder and related topics.
FAQ
Common Questions About Bipolar Disorder
What is the difference between bipolar I and bipolar II?
Bipolar I involves full manic episodes. Bipolar II involves hypomania, a milder high, plus major depression. Bipolar II is often missed because people seek help only when they are depressed.
Do mood stabilizers need lab monitoring?
Some do. Lithium and certain other medicines need regular blood tests. Your prescriber can order them at a lab near you and review the results with you by video.
Can bipolar disorder be managed by telehealth?
Yes, and it works well. Frequent, easy video check-ins are the kind of steady monitoring bipolar care needs. A crisis, however, always calls for 911 or 988.
Why did antidepressants make me feel worse?
In people with bipolar disorder, an antidepressant alone can trigger agitation, irritability or hypomania. That reaction is an important clue for diagnosis. It is one reason a careful evaluation matters.
Can bipolar disorder go away on its own?
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, but it can be managed very well. Many people go long stretches between episodes with steady treatment. Symptoms that seem to disappear often return if treatment stops.
Is bipolar disorder genetic?
Genes play a strong role, and having a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder raises your risk. Still, most relatives of people with bipolar disorder never develop it. Stress, sleep loss and substances can also affect when symptoms appear.
Can I keep working if I have bipolar disorder?
Yes. Many people with bipolar disorder work, study and raise families. Steady treatment and a regular sleep schedule make this easier. Clinical letters for workplace accommodations are available when clinically appropriate.
Can children or teens have bipolar disorder?
Yes, though it is less common in children. It can be hard to tell apart from ADHD, anxiety or trauma, so diagnosis takes extra care and input from parents. Harpal treats children, teens, adults and seniors.
What should I do if I think I am becoming manic?
Contact your prescriber as soon as you notice early signs, such as sleeping much less or racing thoughts. Messages are returned within one business day. If you feel unsafe or out of control, call 911 or 988 right away.
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