Traditional Treatments for Bipolar Disorder--Psychotherapy

This is the third in a series of several posts regarding different types of treatment for bipolar disorder.

As mentioned in my previous posts, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV!  This blog is simply a point of information and support for you as a fellow sufferer of the symptoms of bipolar disorder.  It should never be construed as a substitute for a carefully constructed course of treatment by a doctor for this disease.  You cannot treat this illness on your own and you should not try to.  You need a doctor to oversee your treatments and to prescribe the care that is appropriate for your needs and situation.
 

 

There are many different types of psychotherapy that are used along with medication in treating bipolar disorder.  For an explanation of the types of medications used in treating bipolar disorder, please refer to my previous post.  In this post, I will be discussing those types of psychotherapy that are used in the treatment of this illness.  The principal aim of any type of therapy is to assist you in becoming more able to cope with difficult or uncomfortable feelings.  Therapy will also help you in repairing relationships, managing stress, and regulating your mood. 

One of the most effective is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT.  The focus of CBT is identifying unhealthy negative beliefs and behaviors and replacing them with healthy, positive ones.  It can help identify what triggers your bipolar episodes.  Through CBT, you also learn effective strategies to manage stress and to cope with upsetting situations.  This type of treatment can be done on an individual basis or in a group setting.

Psychoeducation is another type of counseling that helps you to learn about bipolar disorder so that you and your loved ones can understand it better.  Knowing what is going on can help you to get the best support and treatment and helps you and your family to recognize warning signs.  This is vital. As I have become more aware of what triggers my episodes and my general behavior and responses to different situations, I have become much better equipped to understand my illness and to manage it.  The more able you and your family are to understand bipolar disorder, the better you will be able to avoid problems and handle setbacks.
 

Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the stabilization of daily rhythms, such as sleep, wake and meal times.  A consistent routine allows for better mood management.  People with bipolar disorder may benefit from establishing a daily routine for sleep, diet and exercise and this type of therapy can help you to do just that.  Keeping  a "Life Chart" is another facet of this type of therapy.  This kind of chart allows you to record daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns and life events.  Having access to this information allows patients a better understanding of their own mood cycles and allows doctors to track and treat the disease most effectively.  By carefully regulating your lifestyle, you can keep symptoms and mood episodes to a minimum.

 

The focus of most of these therapies is to help you to become more proactive towards your illness.  To that end, there are a number of things you can do for yourself that will alleviate symptoms.  One of these is to maintain a calm environment. This is especially important for someone in a manic phase.  Avoid excessive stimulation.  Parties, animated conversation, and long periods of watching television can exacerbate manic episodes.  Alcohol or drug use can cause or worsen mood symptoms and reduce the effectiveness of prescription medications.  Even caffeine can increase symptoms, so it should be used in moderation, as well. 

 

Having some type of support system is also extremely helpful to someone with bipolar disorder.  It can make all the difference in your outlook and motivation.  You may participate in a bipolar support group to give you the opportunity to share your experiences and to learn from others who know what you are going through.  The support of family and friends is invaluable.  We often don't recognize our mood fluctuations as readily as someone else may.  A family member or trusted friend may recognize behavioral changes more quickly than we see them in ourselves.  Especially in a manic episode, we just think we feel good for once and may not seek assistance until it is too late.  Because we feel great, we may simply refuse treatment, even though prompt intervention is urgent to prevent further problems and the need for hospitalization.    Always remember that reaching out to people you love won't mean you are a burden to others.  In fact, it can show them that you are actively trying to take responsibility for your illness and to do everything in your power to better your situation.

 

Once again, these are merely suggestions for potential courses of treatment that your doctor may undertake with you.  They should be used in conjunction with medication and not as a substitute for it.  I have been involved in my own treatment for this disease for over 20 years.  It has only been through a carefully monitored combination of medications and psychotherapy that I have been able to cope with this disease and live a basically normal life as a functioning member of our society.  Even if you are unable to keep a regular job due to difficulty dealing with the symptoms of the illness, you can still have a more or less normal life, as long as you dedicate yourself to working long and hard to manage those symptoms.  I will never tell you it is easy, but like anything in life worth having, the long-term effort is always worth it.  The disease may ultimately dictate HOW we live our lives, but it doesn't have to define who we are as individuals.  We do this for ourselves and finding effective management of the illness is simply a means to that end.

 

Please contact me below or email me at angelasblogemail@gmail.com with any questions you may have or to share your own experiences with bipolar disorder and its treatment with me.

Peace and Love Always,

 

Sources:  WebMD.com;  MayoClinic.org

Photo Credits:  Psychiatrist and Patient:  Photo credit: Mecklenburg County via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC;  Crying Woman Statue (2nd photo from end of blog):  Photo credit: Niecieden via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA;  All other statue photos:  Photo credit: x1klima via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-ND