Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is characterized by intense mood swings identified as manic and depressive episodes. People with this disorder experience major issues at work and with friends and family members due to the symptoms. Effective treatment including medication and therapy can help someone with this disorder live a more normal life by reducing the severity of the symptoms.
Basics
When someone starts expressing symptoms of bipolar disorder, she may not understand why the symptoms are occurring and she may not receive a proper diagnosis until the disorder has extremely disrupted her life. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step in getting effective therapy. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental illness that requires long-term treatment. Therapy is most effective when paired with medication.
Types
Looking at therapy options for treating bipolar disorder might cause you to become overwhelmed. There are individual, family and group options, and each of these options includes more specific types of therapy. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common form of individual therapy used in treating bipolar disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy. In cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist would assist the client in understanding how his thoughts affect his emotions and behavior. Throughout the therapy, a cognitive behavioral therapist would also educate the client about the disorder.
To receive successful treatment for this disorder, it's important to include family members. It helps the individual when family members learn about the disorder and how to recognize the symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. Also, in family therapy, family members improve communication techniques and problem-solving skills, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Considerations
When determining a treatment plan, it's important to consider which bipolar disorder the person suffers from, because there are a few, including bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder and cyclothymia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. They each have their own symptoms, and treatment plans should be customized around those symptoms.
Features
With other mental health disorders, such as mild depression and generalized anxiety disorder, individual therapies tend to be short term, ranging from about 12 to 16 sessions. With bipolar disorder, the therapy is similar, but it can last the person's lifetime. The person might receive therapy twice a week when she's first diagnosed and then receive therapy every other week to continue monitoring symptoms long-term. Some main features of therapy for bipolar disorder include teaching the client how to recognize an increase of symptoms, how to cope with stress and how to improve relationships.
Warning
Risk of suicide increases if you suffer from bipolar disorder. Therapists use sessions to check in with their clients to determine if their clients are experiencing suicidal thoughts. If the client is having suicidal ideations, the therapist may recommend a psychiatric hospitalization until the client's mood can be stabilized.
