TREATMENT & MEDICATIONS
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder is possible through
medication, psychotherapy, education, lifestyle management and support.
2. Communicate with your doctors/therapists as to your reactions to medications. Notify them of severe mood changes. Your doctors/therapists may help with developing habits that will allow you to cope better with daily living and stress
3. Educate yourself on your disorder. Learn as much as you possibly can. Be your own advocate and ask as many questions as you can get answers to. It is also useful to pass along information to your family and loved ones so they may be better equipped to accept and support.
4. Learn to rely on your support structure. Do not isolate yourself. It is important to talk about your feelings and thoughts no matter how bizarre you think they may sound. Sometimes talking about them relieves anxiety. Ask for help when you need it. Realize that your family and friends are there to support you so lean on them when you need to.
Without treatment, the symptoms of bipolar disorder tend to worsen. Over time, a person may suffer more frequent and more severe manic and depressive episodes than those experienced when their illness first appeared. To reduce the chance of relapse, it is important for individuals to adhere to the treatment plan prescribed by their physician. However, both doctor and patient should closely monitor progress and recognize when changes to the treatment plan may be needed.
(Bipolar Disorder National Institute of Mental Health. NIH Publication No. 02-3679; Printed 2001, Reprinted September 2002. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm, accessed June 7, 2006.)
| It’s very important to take any thoughts or talk of suicide seriously. If you or someone you care about is suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. IN A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911. |
