What to Expect When Seeking Help for Bipolar Disorder in Los Angeles, CA

During your initial appointment, you’ll have an open conversation with one of our experienced mental health providers. We’ll take the time to understand your unique symptoms, personal experiences, and medical history. Expect questions about your mood changes, energy levels, sleep habits, and any recent life events or stressors. We’ll also discuss your family’s mental health history and your own history of medications, alcohol, or substance use.

Holistic Mental Health Assessment

Your first visit includes a comprehensive mental health assessment. We’ll talk with you about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to ensure we understand all aspects of your experience. You may be asked to describe any periods of depression or mania, including how long they lasted and how they impacted your daily life. Our team may also use helpful questionnaires or screening tools to gather more information and provide the most accurate diagnosis.

Attention to Your Overall Health

Your provider may review your overall health, conduct a basic physical exam, or recommend lab work to rule out other conditions that can mimic bipolar symptoms.

Your Questions Matter

We encourage you to share any questions or concerns about your diagnosis or potential treatment options.

At Blue Ocean Mental Health, we understand that receiving a proper diagnosis for bipolar disorder can be a complex and sometimes lengthy journey. Research shows that, on average, it can take between five to ten years from the onset of symptoms for individuals to receive an accurate diagnosis. This is largely due to the wide range of symptoms associated with bipolar disorder, many of which overlap with other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD. Manic episodes may sometimes be overlooked or misinterpreted, especially when depressive symptoms are more noticeable or when elevated mood is mistaken for a personality trait.

Our clinicians are committed to a thorough and compassionate diagnostic process. We take the time to explore your history of mood changes, behavior patterns, and family mental health background. When helpful, we also encourage input from trusted family members or close friends to gain a clearer picture of your experiences. Because bipolar disorder symptoms can fluctuate, we emphasize the importance of regular follow-up appointments, allowing us to observe changes over time and refine our understanding.

Medication, including mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or antidepressants, can play a vital role in managing the biological changes in the brain that cause mood swings. Our experienced psychiatric team at Blue Ocean Mental Health carefully selects and monitors these medications to help reduce the severity and frequency of manic and depressive episodes.

However, we also recognize that medication alone may not address all the challenges associated with bipolar disorder. This is where therapy becomes a crucial part of your care. Our therapists offer evidence-based psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to help you develop healthy coping skills, identify early warning signs of mood changes, and build strategies to manage stress and emotions. Therapy also emphasizes strengthening relationships, expanding your support network, and establishing routines that foster long-term stability.

By combining medication management and therapy, patients at Blue Ocean Mental Health often experience the best outcomes. Medication helps stabilize mood, making it easier to fully engage in therapy, while therapy supports adherence to treatment, teaches you to recognize triggers, and reduces the risk of relapse.

If you are a patient at Blue Ocean Mental Health and notice that your bipolar disorder symptoms are getting worse during treatment, it’s important to take action promptly. Please reach out to your provider or psychiatrist as soon as possible. Let us know exactly how your symptoms have changed—such as more frequent or intense mood swings, increased depression or mania, trouble sleeping, or thoughts of harming yourself or others. Keeping a daily record of your mood, sleep patterns, and any new symptoms can help our team understand what you’re experiencing and guide your care.

Do not stop taking your medications or adjust the dosage on your own, as this could make symptoms worse or cause withdrawal effects. Your mental health provider may need to adjust your medication, recommend therapy changes, or help you explore other factors that might be affecting your condition, such as stress, substance use, or physical health concerns.

If your symptoms worsen to include suicidal thoughts, severe agitation, or loss of touch with reality, please seek emergency help immediately by calling 911 or going to your nearest emergency room.

At Blue Ocean Mental Health, Esder Shin, PMHNP, BC, emphasizes that seeking help for bipolar disorder is a journey that begins with recognizing when support is needed. Often, individuals or their loved ones notice significant changes in mood, energy, and behavior that start to disrupt daily life. The first step is reaching out to a mental health professional, such as our experienced team at Blue Ocean Mental Health, to schedule an initial evaluation.

During your first appointment, Shin will conduct a thorough assessment, discussing your symptoms, medical background, and any relevant family history of mental health conditions. This comprehensive evaluation helps us determine whether your symptoms are consistent with bipolar disorder or another condition. If a bipolar disorder diagnosis is made, Shin collaborates closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. This plan may include medication management to stabilize mood, along with recommendations for therapy or counseling to address emotional and behavioral challenges.

Education is a cornerstone of care at Blue Ocean Mental Health. Shin ensures that patients and their families have a clear understanding of bipolar disorder, what to expect from treatment, and how to identify early warning signs of mood changes. Regular follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor your progress, adjust medications as necessary, and provide continued support.

Throughout your care at Blue Ocean Mental Health, Shin and our team prioritize open communication, trust, and empowering you to take an active role in your mental health journey. With the right support and guidance, individuals living with bipolar disorder can work towards stability and a better quality of life. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 11850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200A, Los Angeles, CA 90025. We serve patients from Los Angeles CA, Pasadena CA, Beverly Hills CA, Glendale CA, Huntington Park CA, East Los Angeles CA, and surrounding areas.