There’s good reason to get serious about Bipolar Disorder Treatment. Bipolar disorder is a widely misunderstood illness that affects about 45 million people worldwide. Living with bipolar disorder can make it challenging to maintain friendly and professional relationships and the illness often confuses friends and family of a person with the illness, but if you care for someone with bipolar disorder, it is time to get serious about bipolar disorder treatment.
Bipolar disorder is more than typical mood swings.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme changes in mood, energy and activity levels. These changes in the brain affect the person’s ability to carry out daily tasks. These intense mood episodes can switch from mania (a heightened or irritable mood, over-activity, rapid speech, overblown self-esteem and a reduced need for sleep) to depression (deep sadness or hopelessness). Sometimes they can experience a mixed state, a confusing mood episode of both mania and depression. People who experience manic episodes but no depressive episodes are also classified as having bipolar disorder. It is important to understand that these mood episodes are more than typical mood swings. Bipolar mood episodes are extreme, exhausting, confusing, and sometimes even dangerous to the person experiencing them. You can learn more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder here: What is Bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder should be considered a serious chronic health condition.
Bipolar disorder is a severe chronic health condition that could be fatal. It is a complex disorder that is difficult to manage and should be treated by a psychiatrist and other mental health professionals.
If more people understood this, they would not dismiss bipolar disorder as something to be fixed by a simple change of attitude or lifestyle.
When left untreated, the symptoms will often increase in severity and may even be harmful. The life expectancy of people with bipolar disorder is nine to twenty years shorter than people without the illness, with suicide being a significant reason for concern. Furthermore, bipolar disorder can result in serious problems that affect every area of your life, such as
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Legal or financial issues
- Suicide or suicide attempts
Bipolar disorder is something you have to manage for the rest of your life.
Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that requires continuous monitoring and treatment. It is commonly treated with a combination of medication, psychotherapy and admission to a mental health facility when necessary. It is crucial to continue with maintenance treatment even during a stable mood. Without ongoing treatment, a minor mood change may spiral into a full-blown manic or depressive episode. The ultimate goal of professional medical treatment is to reduce the number of mood episodes, giving the patient a chance to live a more stable and productive life. In many cases, people with bipolar disorder who follow a long-term treatment plan, including medication, therapy, and a healthy lifestyle, manage to live well-balanced, successful lives. Having a solid support system to rely on is invaluable for people with bipolar disorder.
Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder No blood or imaging test can determine if a person has bipolar disorder. The diagnosis is based upon a comprehensive medical and psychological history and a physical examination. Bipolar disorder may be confused with several other medical and psychiatric conditions, in which case you may need laboratory testing to rule out other diagnoses. Reach out to a mental health professional if you or a loved one needs help with a mental health issue. Whatsapp or phone the 24/7 Helpline on 072 7900 506
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