Bipolar disorder is able to seriously disrupt a person's life. This is why treatment is so important, especially if you want to live a normal life. Otherwise you will find every area of your life being affected.
Treating Bipolar Disorder With Medication
Fortunately, there are several different types of medications available to treat bipolar disorder. They are mood stabilizers, anti-seizure, and antidepressants. This is good because whenever one doesn't help, you can either have the dose adjusted or try something else. Of course, you will also find that medications and treatment will vary from person to person.
The most commonly used medication is a mood stabilizer. This medication will help to stabilize and regulate your mood so that you won't experience bipolar episodes that range from mania to depression. Anti-seizure medications are also used to prevent mood swings in someone who has bipolar disorder. They are most commonly prescribed to those who have Bipolar II or another type of bipolar disorder that is rapid-cycling.
While antidepressants are sometimes prescribed as well, they are not all that effective whenever it comes to treating bipolar disorder. In the past it was more commonly prescribed than it is today. In fact, they are actually controversial now as some doctors feel that they may actually trigger manic episodes.
Some anti-psychotic medications may also be beneficial. This is especially true of Quetiapine, which is more commonly known as Seroquel. It is known to treat both manic and depressive episodes, thus the FDA has approved it for this very purposed.
Keep in mind that regardless of which medication is used there are going to be some side effects. This is why it is important to provide your doctor with a complete list of all of the medications that you are taking, as well as any preexisting conditions that you may have. Also, females who want to become pregnant should share this information with their doctor so that any risks to the unborn baby can be minimized.
Treating Bipolar Disorder With Therapy
Therapy should also be used in conjunction with medication. There are several types of therapy including:
Cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches how to manage stress and triggers by replacing them with positive, healthy behavior.
Family therapy will reduce triggers within the family by improving communication therein.
Group therapy will allow you to listen to others who are also suffering from bipolar disorder.
In conclusion to treating someone with bipolar, you should remember this. There is no one treatment that will work for everyone!
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