Bipolar Disorder Treatment From a Psychiatrist

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that is important for a psychiatrist to treat. Two of the most common treatments involve medications and counseling. You might receive these together or separately. These treatments can help you manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Managing bipolar disorder symptoms
The right way to manage bipolar disorder is by managing the symptoms. This is a lifelong condition. A psychiatrist can guide the direction of the treatment. This type of doctor has experience in treating both bipolar and other mental health disorders. A patient may sometimes have a treatment team of a social worker, psychologist and psychiatric nurse.
Treatment may also include medications. These can work right away to help a patient balance the moods. Even when the patient feels better, medications may still be needed. Skipping medications can cause a relapse to occur. It can also turn minor mood swings into full depression or mania.
Day treatments are another option for managing bipolar disorder. A day treatment program can give a patient support and counseling while controlling the symptoms. Some bipolar patients have issues with substance abuse. If needed, a psychiatrist can provide treatment for this disorder.
In some cases, patients with bipolar disorder may behave dangerously or feel suicidal. Others may become psychotic, which means they are detached from reality. In all of these cases, patients may need to be hospitalized for a period of time. Psychiatric treatment at the hospital can help a patient stabilize their mood. While all of these are treatments for the disorder, the primary treatments involve psychological counseling and medications.
Medications
Patients can have a variety of medications to treat this disorder. The psychiatrist will prescribe medications based on each patient’s symptoms. A mood stabilizer may be used to control a hypomanic episode. Some examples include lithium, carbamazepine or lamotrigine.
Sometimes, a patient will still experience symptoms of mania or depression. An antipsychotic drug can help with this problem. A patient may take this medication by itself or with a mood stabilizer. A few common antipsychotic medications include risperidone, lurasidone and asenapine.
Psychotherapy
One important part of bipolar treatment is psychotherapy. This can be given in a family, individual or group setting. One type of therapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy. This focuses on identifying negative and unhealthy beliefs. Patients will replace them with positive beliefs instead. This can also be used to find what triggers the bipolar episodes.
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy can help a patient stabilize their daily habits. This includes waking, sleeping and mealtimes. Having a consistent routine can help patients better manage their moods. People who have bipolar disorder can benefit from having a daily exercise routine.
Visit a psychiatrist today
If you are suffering from bipolar disorder, then a psychiatrist can help. There are therapies and medications that can help you manage your condition. The right combination of medication and therapy can help you live a normal, fulfilling life. With some experimentation, your psychiatrist can help you find the balance.
Get more information about Evolve Psychiatry in Massapequa at https://www.evolvepsychiatry.com.
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