Skip to content
Artful LivingA new chapter

Artful Living Psychiatry & Wellness is now Feel August. Same clinicians, same care.

Why the change
ProvidersConditionsCoverage
Book Now

Psychiatric care for adults in California. The same clinician every visit.

Schedule your first conversation
(213) 715-2100·hello@feelaugust.com
Feel August Psychiatry & Nursing
714 W Olympic Blvd, #703
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 715-2100

Practice

How we practiceAboutOur providersInsurance & pricingWhy Feel AugustFAQRefer a patient

Conditions

AnxietyADHDDepressionAll conditions →

Patients

Book a visitReturning patientsPatient loginCrisis resourcesContact

Company

CareersPrivacyTerms
If you are in crisis, call or text 988(Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).

© 2026 Feel August Health. All rights reserved.

Feel August is a brand licensed by Artful Living Psychiatry & Wellness Nursing and Clinical Care Inc. Telehealth services offered to patients located in California only.

Appearance
Portrait · spring 2026

Meet your clinician

Same person, every visit going forward. Continuity is the practice.
See available times →
← All conditions

Bipolar

Care that follows the full range, not just the bottom.

Bipolar disorder is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed psychiatric conditions, often diagnosed as depression until a hypomanic shift complicates the picture. An accurate evaluation looks at the full mood history, not a snapshot of today.

See available times

Understanding

Understanding bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood condition characterized by episodes of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood (mania or hypomania) alternating with periods of depression. Bipolar I includes full manic episodes; bipolar II includes hypomania (a milder elevated state) and depression. Cyclothymia is a chronic, lower-grade variant.

Bipolar is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed psychiatric conditions. People often present in a depressive episode and are diagnosed with major depression, then experience a hypomanic shift on antidepressant monotherapy that complicates their course. An accurate diagnosis requires a careful history of mood across the lifespan. Not just a snapshot of the present moment.

Signs

Recognizing the signs

  • Distinct periods of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting days or weeks
  • Decreased need for sleep without fatigue during elevated periods
  • Racing thoughts, rapid speech, or feeling "wired"
  • Increased goal-directed activity or risky decisions during elevated periods
  • Episodes of depression. Sometimes severe. Between elevated periods
  • A family history of bipolar disorder
  • Mood symptoms that worsened or shifted unexpectedly on an antidepressant

Treatment

How we treat it

Bipolar treatment at Feel August begins with a thorough evaluation that looks at your full mood history. Not just how you are feeling today. Your clinician asks specifically about hypomanic and manic features, family history, and prior medication responses, because these are the data that distinguish bipolar from unipolar depression.

When bipolar disorder is confirmed, treatment centers on mood stabilizers (lithium, lamotrigine, valproate) and/or atypical antipsychotics with mood-stabilizing properties. Antidepressants are used cautiously and rarely as monotherapy. Lab monitoring is part of the plan when indicated. We track mood with structured charting at each visit and adjust the plan as needed.

First visit

What the first conversation looks like

Your first appointment is sixty minutes. Bring a comprehensive history of your mood across your lifetime. Including periods that felt unusually energized, productive, or sleepless, even if they did not feel like a problem at the time. Family history is also important; bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component.

After the evaluation, your clinician will share their assessment and recommend an approach. If lab work or further history-gathering is needed, that will be the next step. You will leave with a plan and a follow-up appointment.

Frequent questions

Questions about bipolar.

How is bipolar different from depression?

Bipolar disorder includes episodes of elevated mood (mania or hypomania) in addition to depression. Many people only present during a depressive episode and are misdiagnosed with major depression. The treatment approach is meaningfully different. Antidepressant monotherapy can destabilize bipolar mood, so an accurate diagnosis matters.

What medications are used for bipolar disorder?

Mood stabilizers (lithium, lamotrigine, valproate) and atypical antipsychotics with mood-stabilizing properties are the foundation of bipolar treatment. The choice depends on the specific presentation, side-effect tolerability, and other clinical factors. Antidepressants are used cautiously, and rarely as monotherapy.

Do I need lab monitoring?

Some bipolar medications (lithium, valproate, certain antipsychotics) require periodic lab work to monitor levels and metabolic markers. Your clinician will arrange this through a local lab and review results with you at each visit.

Will I be on medication for life?

Bipolar disorder is generally a long-term condition that benefits from ongoing treatment. Many people achieve excellent stability with the right medication regimen and continue treatment indefinitely. The specific plan evolves over time and is revisited regularly.

Can psychiatric care via secure video treat bipolar disorder?

Yes. For ongoing medication management with appropriate lab monitoring. Telehealth is well-suited to the regular follow-up visits bipolar treatment requires. If acute psychiatric stabilization is needed (severe mania, suicidal crisis), in-person or hospital-level care may be necessary first.

Related

Often appears alongside.

DepressionAnxiety

See when you could meet your clinician.

Most patients book within two days.

See available times
If you are in crisis, please call 988 or text HOME to 741741. We are not crisis services.