Is Bipolar Disorder Treatment Lifelong?

After receiving a bipolar disorder diagnosis, many people wonder whether the condition will ever completely disappear. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that requires lifelong treatment, but you can learn how to regulate the depressive and manic phases. The most important part of treatment is finding the optimal mix of drugs and therapy and staying consistent for as long as possible. Making healthy lifestyle adjustments and forming good habits, such as seeking help from others and avoiding self-medication, are also crucial for controlling emotions and symptoms.

Understanding bipolar disorder

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for bipolar illness. Many mental diseases have complex origins and contributing variables that researchers still do not fully understand. Fortunately, this illness can be effectively treated, and for people who suffer from it, a long-term treatment plan supplied by mental health specialists can be quite beneficial. With proper treatment, patients can have a better quality of life and less erratic mood swings.

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder where patients experience extreme mood fluctuations between despair and mania. For two weeks or even longer, patients might struggle with depressive episodes that seem like major depression, resulting in a poor mood, feelings of worthlessness, exhaustion, a lack of interest in formerly pleasurable activities, and functional impairment.

During a manic episode, a person is in a state of exhilaration and great energy. The signs include anxiety, irritability, and a lack of sleep. In other cases, hypomania, a milder form of bipolar disease mania, occurs instead. Individuals with bipolar illness can have a wide range of symptoms and degrees of severity.

Managing bipolar disorder

Treatment for bipolar illness can be successful with active participation and commitment over the long term. This approach is one of the best ways to live with and manage bipolar illness, provided that the treatment plan is tailored to the patient's unique requirements and incorporates evidence-based therapy practices. Treatment for bipolar illness consists of two basic components: medication and psychotherapy.

Medication: In most cases, patients may have to try a few different medications before finding one that works best. In addition to traditional antidepressants and mood stabilizers, there are newer classes of antipsychotics, anxiety medications, and antidepressant-antipsychotic combinations.

Therapy: Bipolar disorder treatment requires more than just medication. Patients generally experience optimal outcomes when they also undergo therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help patients take tangible measures to modify harmful ideas and behaviors and build stronger relationships. Therapy may also include rhythm treatments, which involve routines to help regulate the rhythms of everyday life to better control and maintain emotions.

Lifestyle changes: Making lifestyle adjustments is crucial for controlling bipolar disorder. With this condition, patients need to pay attention to their mood swings and triggers. Patients must practice the strategies daily, which is something that a good treatment program will help them do. A mood diary or a list of red flags that signal a shift in mood might be helpful. The more aware that patients are, the more prepared they are to deal with an impending episode and seek help from their psychiatrist.

In conclusion

If you are experiencing manic or depressive episodes, the first step is to seek treatment and get a proper diagnosis. Visit the psychiatrist to get a correct diagnosis, one-on-one counseling, support, and a treatment plan.

Request an appointment here: https://www.evolvepsychiatry.com or call Evolve Psychiatry at (631) 773-1096 for an appointment in our Massapequa office.

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