Bipolar disorder - also known as manic-depressive illness - can be a frightening, confusing condition for both the sufferer and their loved ones. Although there is no cure, bipolar disorder can be effectively treated with a combination of psychotherapy and mood stabilizing drugs, and the sufferer can go on to lead a happy, normal life. For more information on how to treat bipolar disorder in adults, start with Step 1 below.
Treating Bipolar with Therapy and Education
1Sign up for psychoeducation to help you understand bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder can be a very frightening and confusing condition for both the sufferer and their family, and this fear and lack of understanding can actually make the condition worse. As a result, experts recommend that bipolar patients (and their families) attend psychoeducation classes to learn more about the condition — its symptoms and its consequences.
- Psychoeducation helps you to understand how the disorder is affecting your life and will help you to strengthen your coping mechanisms. This is achieved through various educational activities and role-playing games.
- Psychoeducation can be done either in groups or one-on-one sessions with a health education specialist. During the sessions, the specialist will explain how bipolar disorder works and why you might be experiencing certain thoughts or feelings.
- However, don’t picture a lecture where the professor talks and you sit quietly, taking notes. On the contrary – you are very involved in the entire process and will be invited to share your own experiences, fears and thoughts.
- Psychoeducation is an invaluable asset in dealing with bipolar disorder as it helps you to understand the condition and allows for a more objective view on the disorder.
2Try cognitive behavioral therapy to help you solve problems that exacerbate your disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of individual therapy which is essential in the treatment of bipolar disorder. The goal of CBT is to help you identify the negative feelings and thought processes that lead you to behave in a certain way and the consequences of these behaviors. Once you have recognized the existence of these negative thoughts and feelings, your therapist will help you to change them.
- To understand what CBT does, imagine the following situation – you are constantly having thoughts such as “Why does this always happen to me?” This kind of attitude often results in negative experiences and behaviors, such as falling victim to depression. What CBT does is help you transform negative thoughts (like this one) into something more positive, like “Yes, this situation isn't the easiest one, but instead of feeling defeated, what can I do to feel happy?”
- This approach is very effective, especially when it comes to avoiding bipolar depressive episodes, as CBT teaches you how to think rationally and search for solutions to your problems rather than despairing and giving up. As a result, your depressive episodes will become rarer and easier to deal with.
- CBT does not treat bipolar disorder overnight — you will usually require 10 to 16 sessions with your therapist before you notice a significant improvement in your condition. Also, it's imperative that you and your therapist have an open, trusting relationship for CBT to work.
3Go to group therapy sessions where you can learn from others. Group therapy involves attending meetings where sufferers of bipolar disorder can discuss their individual experiences and share their coping mechanisms with one another. This can help bipolar patients to feel less alone and has been shown to have a positive influence on recovery and on preventing future manic/depressive episodes.
- In group therapy, everyone has the opportunity to speak about their experiences with bipolar disorder — how it has influenced their thoughts and emotions and how it has affected their family and work life. Everyone also has the opportunity to share any wisdom or advice they might have for coping with the disorder and preventing manic or depressive episodes.
- For people who don't like the idea of speaking in front of a large group, writing therapy also exists. Writing is a great way to relieve stress and provides an excellent opportunity for self-expression. It can be an effective, creative way to cope with episodes of mania and depression. People are invited to share their writing with each other during the class, but there is no obligation to do so, which makes it an excellent option for shy people.
4Use family therapy to create a more understanding atmosphere in the home. Often, it can be difficult for family members to understand what is happening to their loved one and how to deal with it, which results in feelings of frustration and distress for both the bipolar sufferer and everyone else in the family.
- Family therapy can be incredibly useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder, as it helps to strengthen the connections between family members, and improve coping mechanisms and communication. This is important because a calm family atmosphere can result in fewer and less severe manic or depressive episodes, as the bipolar sufferer will feel better understood and more relaxed at home.
- To begin family therapy, all members of the bipolar sufferer's immediate family (or those living together) will go to the therapist’s office together and discuss their concerns with the therapist and with one another. This allows the therapist to observe the family dynamic and to identify areas that need work.
- Afterwards the therapist will set up a separate session with each family member individually – this allows each family member to discuss their thoughts and feelings in a safe, private environment
- After the initial therapy sessions, the therapist will give everyone “homework” to do – small tasks that will help to improve communication and understanding within the family. Even though many people feel skeptical about family therapy at first, it helps to bring the family closer together and can improve the effectiveness of other therapies that the bipolar sufferer has to undergo.
Treating Bipolar with Drugs
1Get a prescription for mood stabilizers. Bipolar disorder cannot be treated with therapy alone; medications will also be required. The primary type of medications used to treat bipolar disorder are mood stabilizers which help to treat and prevent manic and depressive episodes. People with long-term bipolar will often need to stay on mood stabilizing medication for many years after their last manic or depressive episode to live a healthy life. This is known as maintenance therapy. The most common mood stabilizers prescribed for people with bipolar disorder include:
- Valproate and quetiapine These are both anticonvulsant medications which are often prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy. In bipolar sufferers, these medications help to prevent the excessive brain activity that causes manic or depressive episodes.
- Lithium: Lithium is one of the oldest and most effective drugs used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Lithium works as an antipsychotic, preventing the manic phase of bipolar disorder by stabilizing the mood. Lithium has also been found to reduce the rate of suicide sixfold.
2Use specific medications during manic episodes. To correctly treat and prevent the manic phase of bipolar disorder, mood stabilizing drugs may be combined with neuroleptics (antipsychotic drugs), over a short-term or long-term period. These drugs may include a combination of the following:
- Quetiapine: This drug is used in the phase of mania when a person feels that they do not need to sleep, is hyperactive and overly talkative and prone to unrealistic ideas.
- Olanzapine: This is a fast-acting drug that helps to stop " racing thoughts".
- Risperidone: This drug is used to treat bipolar symptoms specifically related to mania, including irritability, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, along with other psychotic symptoms.
- Lamotrigine: This drug is used for the long-term medical treatment of bipolar disorder. Its exact action is not known, but its effectiveness is linked to the way in which it blocks sodium channels in the brain.
3Talk to your doctor about taking antidepressants during depressive episodes. In some cases, you will be prescribed antidepressant medication in addition to mood stabilizers, for a short period.
- However, in 10 to 20% of cases, antidepressants can cause a shift from a depressive to a manic or hypomanic state. Therefore your condition will need to be monitored closely while you are taking the medication.
- Medications that are commonly prescribed for the treatment of bipolar depression include Prozac (fluoxetine), Wellbutrin (bupropion), and Zoloft (sertraline). However, Seroquel and Symbyax are the only antidepressant drugs that are FDA approved for the treatment of acute depression in bipolar sufferers.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
1Understand that there are varying degrees of bipolar disorder. The exact symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from person to person. For some people, depression causes the most problems, while for other people manic symptoms are the main concern. Despite this variation, sufferers of bipolar disorder can be categorized into one of three groups, depending on the severity of their symptoms.
- Bipolar Disorder I: This is the most extreme form of bipolar. Mood swings which cause significant difficulties in work, school and in relationships with other people. Manic episodes which can be severe and dangerous.
- Bipolar Disorder II: Bipolar II is less severe than bipolar I. It presents with an elevated mood and frequent irritability. It may affect work and home life to an extent, but generally, sufferers can carry on with normal daily duties. Instead of a complete mania, you have hypomania - less severe form of mania. Periods of depression typically last longer than periods of hypomania.
- Cyclothymia: Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder. Hypomania and depression can be devastating, but the ups and downs are not as fierce as in other types of bipolar disorder.
2Learn to identify the symptoms of manic or hypomanic mood phases. The signs and symptoms of a manic or hypomanic mood phase of bipolar disorder may include a combination of the following:
- Euphoria, exaggerated self-confidence and extreme optimism
- Rapid speech and racing thoughts
- Aggressive behavior, agitation or irritation
- Increased physical activity and decreased need for sleep.
- Engaging in risky behavior
- Increased drive to perform or achieve goals
- Increased sex drive
- Inability to concentrate
- Frequent absences from work or school
3Learn to recognize the symptoms of depressive mood phases. Signs and symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder may include:
- Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- Increased anxiety and irritability
- Feelings of guilt
- Sleep Problems
- Loss of appetite or increased appetite
- Loss of interest in daily activities and problems with concentration
- Chronic pain with no known cause
- Frequent absences from work or school
- Poor performance at work or school
4Learn how you can lead a normal life with bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, bipolar disorder cannot be cured. With the right treatment and medications, however, it is still possible to live a normal, fulfilling life. Therefore, it is important to seek treatment for bipolar disorder as soon as possible so that you can get the condition under control.
- Symptoms of depression and symptoms of mania or hypomania also can occur together. This is known as a mixed episode.
Sources and Citations
- ↑ https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/bipolar-disorder-treatment-psychotherapy-and-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-maintenance-treatment
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/medications-bipolar-disorder?page=2
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515925/