Bipolar disorder involves cycles of elevated mood — mania or hypomania — and depression, with steadier periods in between. It is a real, lifelong but manageable condition: with the right combination of psychiatric care and psychological support, many people live full, stable lives. It is also frequently mistaken for ordinary depression and missed for years — which is why an accurate assessment matters so much.
Bipolar disorder is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions — both over-used as a casual word for moodiness, and, in genuine cases, under-recognised for years. It is not simply “ups and downs.” It is a real cycling between mood states that can be profoundly disruptive to work, relationships, and daily life — and it responds to informed, specialised support. Dr. Prerna Kohli has worked with individuals living with bipolar disorder, and with their families, for over 30 years in Gurgaon.
Understanding the highs and lows
Bipolar disorder exists in several forms, but at its core is an alternation between two kinds of episode:
- Elevated states (mania or hypomania): unusually high energy, a reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, rapid speech, impulsive or risky decisions, inflated confidence, or marked irritability
- Depressive states: persistent low mood, exhaustion, loss of interest and pleasure, hopelessness, and real difficulty functioning
Between episodes, many people feel relatively stable — which is part of why the pattern can be so hard to see from the inside, and why it is so often named only after years.
India’s National Mental Health Survey put the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder at around 0.5% of adults. Crucially, it is often misdiagnosed as depression and missed for years — because people usually reach out during the low phases, not the highs, so the manic side of the picture never comes up. A careful, full assessment is what prevents this (NMHS, 2015–16).
How bipolar disorder is managed
Bipolar disorder is best managed with a combination of medical and psychological care working together. A psychiatrist oversees the medical side and may prescribe medication to help stabilise mood. Alongside that — and this is where Dr. Kohli works — psychological support does a great deal of the day-to-day heavy lifting: helping you and your family genuinely understand the condition, learning to recognise the earliest warning signs of an episode before it takes hold, building the sleep, structure, and lifestyle habits that protect stability, and working through the depression, relationship strain, and questions of identity that living with bipolar involves. Medication and psychological work each do something the other cannot; together they give the best chance of lasting stability.
Living well with bipolar disorder
With the condition understood and the right supports in place, the periods of stability can become longer and the episodes fewer and less severe. Many people go on to build steady careers, relationships, and lives. The turning point is almost always the same: an accurate diagnosis, followed by consistent, informed care.
When to reach out
If you or someone close to you experiences distinct periods of unusually elevated mood and energy alongside episodes of depression, an assessment is worthwhile — the earlier, the better. Bipolar disorder is genuinely manageable, and getting the right help in place changes the whole trajectory.
If bipolar disorder is affecting you or someone you love, informed psychological support — alongside psychiatric care — can help you build lasting stability.
About Dr. Prerna Kohli
Dr. Prerna Kohli is a clinical psychologist with more than three decades of experience in private practice in Gurgaon. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and was honoured with the 100 Women Achievers of India award (2016) by the President of India. Consultations are available in-clinic in DLF Phase 3, Gurgaon, and online worldwide.