Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (manic-depression) is a chronic illness that is characterized by severe mood swings. Many individuals refrain from seeking treatment because of the high energy and elevated mood experienced during the manic phase of the illness. Yet, the manic phase is as dangerous as the depressive stage, since during mania many individuals “throw caution to the wind” resulting in reckless and life-threatening behaviors.

However, even the most severe forms of bipolar disorder can be effectively managed with proper professional treatment. Modern therapies bring balance and stability to otherwise volatile and unpredictable lives. Health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric social workers can assist victims of bipolar disorder in combining medication and psychosocial treatment to manage the illness over the long-term.

Medications

Mood stabilizing medications such as lithium are usually prescribed to help control bipolar disorder. Anticonvulsants also are sometimes used to treat severe episodes of the illness. In addition, those with bipolar disorder, especially those with rapid cycling, often develop thyroid disorders. Some medications also may cause low thyroid levels, resulting in the need for thyroid medications such as Synthroid.

Psycho-social treatments

Generally, treatment for bipolar disorder includes some type of long-term psychotherapy under the guidance of a psychiatric professional. As well as psychotherapy, a number of companion therapies are helpful in managing the illness by providing support, education, and guidance to both individuals with bipolar disorder and their families. The most common types of these therapies include:

Cognitive behavior therapy — helps people to recognize and change inappropriate behaviors and thoughts.
Psycho-education — dispels the myths about bipolar disorder and teaches individuals and their families facts about symptoms, different forms of treatment, and the prognosis of the illness.
Family therapy — provides coping strategies for families and loved-ones of bipolar patients.
Interpersonal therapy — helps those with bipolar disorder to improve interpersonal relationships
Rhythm therapy — helps individuals normalize daily routines and sleep schedules.

Group therapy also is often used to help both the bipolar individual and his or her loved-ones understand and cope with the illness.

Helping Yourself

It’s a good idea to keep a journal or chart of your daily moods, treatments, sleep patterns, and day-to-events. It will not only help you and your family better understand your illness and its cycles but also help your therapist plan your treatment more effectively.

In addition to keeping a day-to-chart, ask your therapist to help you develop a plan for those times when you experience a relapse. You may want to do this along with a close relative or supportive friend who can contact your doctor and take control of keys and finances if the need should arise.

Family & Friends

Family and friends are an integral part of any effective treatment plan. One of the most important things they can do is to learn about bipolar disorder so that they are able to offer appropriate emotional support. Controlling bipolar disorder is a life-long battle for most afflicted individuals. The “highs” experienced during the manic stage are an ever-present temptation to abandon treatment. Knowing and recognizing the characteristics of bipolar disorder helps those close to an individual provide the necessary support that encourages the individual to stay in treatment.

Bipolar patients almost invariably experience a relapse from time to time. Never ignore remarks about suicide. Do not promise confidentiality. Report any talk of suicide immediately to the individual’s therapist. If you think an individual is in imminent danger due to either depression or the reckless behaviors associated with severe mania, contact their psychiatric professional or dial 911 immediately!

Support Groups

The need for on-going encouragement and support continues throughout treatment of bipolar disorder. The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (NDMDA), the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), and the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) are three organizations that sponsor support groups. In addition to the bipolar individual, families and friends can also benefit from the programs offered by these organizations.