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Living with bipolar disorder can mean navigating cycles of emotional highs and lows that affect daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. At SustainMD, we recognize that bipolar disorder also intersects with physical and metabolic health — influencing sleep, energy levels, appetite, and sometimes the effects of medications.
Our role is not to replace a psychiatrist or mental health specialist. Instead, we provide obesity medicine and primary care that take your condition into account, ensuring your physical health is supported in the context of your mental health journey.
Through membership-based, virtual care, Dr. Allison Pope Barbee, MD, partners with you to provide consistent, stigma-free support that adapts to your needs. This means having a physician who understands your story, monitors your overall health, and helps you manage the daily challenges of living well with bipolar disorder.
Type of Care: Virtual, telemedicine-based memberships
Serving Patients In: California, Florida, Maine, North Carolina
Ideal For: Adults managing bipolar disorder while seeking comprehensive primary and obesity care
First Step: Initial telehealth consultation with Dr. Allison Barbee
Bipolar disorder — sometimes called manic depression — causes shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. These changes can affect sleep, appetite, motivation, and weight regulation. Medications used to manage bipolar disorder may also contribute to changes in metabolism, weight, or energy balance.
At SustainMD, our focus is on helping you navigate these challenges by integrating obesity medicine and primary care with an understanding of how bipolar disorder affects your overall health.
Recognizing symptoms is an important step in building a care plan that works for you.
Manic or Hypomanic Episodes
Increased energy, activity, or restlessness
Feeling unusually euphoric or irritable
Rapid speech or racing thoughts
Decreased need for sleep
Impulsive or risky behaviors
Depressive Episodes
Persistent sadness or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Fatigue or lack of energy
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
While these experiences can feel overwhelming, ongoing, personalized care helps bring balance and stability.
At SustainMD, we don’t offer one-time visits for complex conditions. Instead, our memberships provide continuous, whole-person care tailored to your health journey.
Obesity medicine and primary care that adapt to your needs
Monitoring and management of metabolic changes linked to medications
Coordination with mental health specialists when therapy or psychiatric support is needed
Guidance for sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies that promote stability
Direct messaging and follow-up visits with Dr. Barbee for continuity of care
Unlike one-time visits or short-term programs, SustainMD’s virtual stress care plan is part of an ongoing membership that offers continuous care, flexibility, and a strong patient-doctor relationship.
Comprehensive evaluation of stress symptoms and related health factors
Evidence-based stress management therapy online referrals when appropriate
Personalized relaxation techniques for stress that fit your lifestyle
Guidance to improve sleep quality and manage fatigue
Nutrition, movement, and self-care strategies to improve resilience
Ongoing adjustments and direct communication with Dr. Barbee
This approach allows you to work on your stress consistently, building habits and strategies that last.
01.
Review our Membership Plans & Pricing
02.
Select the plan that best fits your needs
03.
Complete your secure online intake form
04.
Schedule your initial telehealth visit with Dr. Allison Barbee
05.
Begin your personalized care plan
Allison Pope Barbee, MD is a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with more than 20 years of experience providing patient-centered care. She works closely with adults to build health strategies that respect their experiences and needs. Her role is to ensure your obesity and primary care are tailored with an understanding of how bipolar disorder impacts overall health.
She is also a proud member of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), advocating for accessible, respectful care for all patients.
We provide virtual care for adults living with bipolar disorder in the context of primary and obesity medicine across:
Patient12
Dr. Barbee listens to your concerns, is empathetic and knowledgable. Not once has she made me feel ashamed or less than. She gives practical, reasonable and most importantly, doable recommendations. She uses lifestyle interventions instead of immediately jumping to medications, but will also use medications if you and she believe
Patient11
Dr. Barbee has been a remarkable weight loss physician for me. She distinguished herself by customizing her approach to suit my individual needs. Throughout our sessions, she was incredibly attentive, understanding my specific health concerns and weight loss goals. Dr. Barbee excelled in explaining the details of the medications she
Patient10
Dr. Barbee is an extremely knowledgeable physician who I rely on with all my medical needs. Her bedside manner is impeccable and very friendly. She listens to all of my issues and gets to the bottom of any problem you may have. I honestly cannot say enough good things about
Patient9
Dr Barbee actually listened to me and was able to diagnose my symptoms and actually treat and control the issue. I can not thank her enough! She was super patient and kind. Something you don’t really see now a days.
A.M.
Dr. Barbee understands that health is not one-size-fits-all. She takes the time to listen, remembers details, and works collaboratively with me as things evolve. The most meaningful part of working with her is feeling truly heard and supported, not just during appointments but overall in my care.
Andrea
The best! I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee’s for years! She has guided and treated me in my worst and best days. Her professionalism is top notch, along with her knowledge of health. You cannot ask for any better care than Dr. Barbee!
Suzanne Layser
Truly a compassionate Doctor- I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Barbee. I felt truly cared for. Dr. Barbee was incredibly compassionate, took the time to really listen, and never made me feel rushed. She asked thoughtful questions and genuinely wanted to understand what I was experiencing. What impressed
Patient8
Dr. Barbee is an extremely knowledgeable physician who I rely on with all my medical needs. Her bedside manner is impeccable and very friendly. She listens to all of my issues and gets to the bottom of any problem you may have. I honestly cannot say enough good things about
Patient7
Great doctor- Dr. Barbee is a kind and caring doctor. She is the type of person you can talk to and really will listen. She understands your problems and will work with you to solve them. She is very thorough and make sure everything is looked at does not miss
Patient6
Thoughtful, caring and truly helpful-I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee for many years. I have always found her honest and helpful. She works hard to look at root causes, which can take a while to figure out. She is persistent, yet kind. As we age, our bodies change.
