What is the best way to cope with bipolar disorder?

Answer 1

Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, it can be effectively treated with a combination of medications and counseling. It is important to take your medications exactly as prescribed, even when you feel well. Your doctor may have to try different combinations of medications to find what's right for you.

Initial treatment
The first treatment for bipolar disorder often happens in the "acute" phase, when a person may have his or her first manic episode. In the acute phase, you may be suicidal, psychotic, or using such poor judgment that you are in danger of harming yourself. Your doctor may decide you should be hospitalized for your own safety, especially if he or she believes you are suicidal. Medications that may be used for initial treatment include:

Mood stabilizers, such as lithium carbonate (Eskalith, Lithane, and Lithobid). Experts believe lithium may affect certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that cause mood changes, but how the medication works is not completely understood. Anticonvulsants, such as valproate sodium (Depakene Syrup), divalproex (Depakote), and carbamazepine (Tegretol) are also mood stabilizers. Valproate and divalproex are used to treat manic episodes. The anticonvulsant lamotrigine was recently approved for the long-term maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder and may be helpful for depression. Anticonvulsants can be helpful in hard-to-treat bipolar episodes. A mood stabilizer and an antipsychotic are often used as the first medications for acute manic episodes.
Atypical antipsychotics, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), and quetiapine (Seroquel). Antipsychotics quickly improve manic episodes. Olanzapine may be used in combination with mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants.
Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), which may be used instead of antipsychotics or as an additional medication during a manic phase.
Managing a manic episode.
Ongoing treatment
Ongoing treatment for bipolar disorder includes counseling and adjusting medications with the goal of preventing manic and depressive episodes. It may take months for your symptoms to go away and for you to be able to function normally.

Mood stabilizers are generally used long-term, and other medications are prescribed for episodes of mania or depression that happen even though you are taking the mood stabilizers. If you've had three or more manic episodes, you may benefit by taking medications for the rest of your life. Counseling may help you deal with troubled relationships and enable you to function at work.

Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), are used very carefully to treat depression because they can trigger a manic episode. Experts now recommend that antidepressants only be used for short periods of time during severe episodes of depression, and that they be combined with mood stabilizers. 8

Managing a manic episode.
Treatment if condition gets worse
In some cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an option. In this procedure, brief electrical stimulation to the brain is given through electrodes placed on the head. The stimulation produces a short seizure that is thought to balance brain chemicals.

If you also have anxiety symptoms, such as worrying and not sleeping, panic attacks, or symptoms of psychosis, you may need additional medications.

Managing a manic episode.
What To Think About
When you and your doctor are discussing your medications, think about whether your lifestyle allows you to take medications on time every day. A medication you only take once a day may work best for you if you have a hard time remembering to take your medications.

The side effects of the medications should also be considered. You may be able to tolerate some side effects better than others. Discuss the side effects of each medication with your doctor as you consider your treatment options.

The use of antidepressants alone has been linked to an increase in manic episodes. 6 Antidepressant treatment needs to be monitored closely and always used in combination with other drugs, such as mood stabilizers or antipsychotics, to avoid causing a manic episode.

Answer 2

If you have already been dx'd with Bipolar, your doctor should be investigating the best course of treatment, which many times is the perscribing of Lithium which corrects the chemical imbalance within the brain that causes BiPolar. Other medications may be perscribed as well depending upon the severity of the condition.

Proper sleep, nutrition and of course monitoring by the doctor, of your medication levels by doing regular blood tests, keeping appt schedules etc, will keep the illness in check if followed faithfully and dosages are monitored correctly by the medical professional.

Depending upon how severe the illness is and how long it has been left unchecked, will determine how lengthy the road back to normal functioning takes.

It is imperative that you remain on your medication once started. Going off meds because of possible side effects, you don't want to take them, etc., isn't an option with BiPolar patients unless the severity of the condition doesn't bother you or those around you. Bipolar tends to decrease our functioning and increase in severity however, the longer it is left untreated.

Why choose to be depressed, hyper and a possible danger to yourself or others etc if you can be regulated and happy with yourself and life. We have to give something up to get something in return and as a Bipolar sufferer, our give up is having to take medication.

Good luck and try not to fight the situation, there is absolutely nothing wrong with needing to take meds. Diabetics, heart patients, cancer patients, asthmatics, arthritics, migraine sufferers...all take meds to alleviate or stabalize their conditions. Bipolar sufferers are no different. One of the main problems with Bipolar is the number of people who don't understand it or who believe it is something it is not. Do the best for you.

Answer 3

The obvious answer that everybody go to right away is medication.. this is tricky.. everybody reacts to different ones in different way.. and it often takes several tries at several different ones to find what works.. don't get discouraged.. Lamictal and Seroquel work very well for me..
the one that wasn't mentioned is knowledge. knowing what you are up against is VERY empowering. it is very good to know that you are not alone in your feelings and emotions and what it means to be bipolar.. I have spent so much time researching this affliction.. it has helped me to put an end to all of the denial aspect of it all. I know I did not choose this. I am powerless to avoid the ups and downs.. with medication they are still there.. but FAR from the extremes of before I was diagnosed and treated..
lead all of those around you to different websites so that they can have a partial understanding of whatever it is that the bipolar person in their life is struggling with..
And like you are doing here and now.. find other people in similar situations to reinforce positive things into your mind that are sometimes hard to find on your own. Know that you are not alone..
Music has been very good therapy for me.. there are a lot of musically inclined bipolar artists out there.. I can name several.. BlueOctober.. ModestMouse.. Ani DiFranco .. K's Choice.. Throwing Muses/Kristin Hersh .. they are great in their own ways.. If you would like my list of websites that I find endless amonts of inspiration in reading blogs and personal experiences of what it is like to be bipolar feel free to email or leave a message when you pick a best answer .. I will forward my lists.. there are several.
Best of Luck :)

Answer 4

Welp...this is not just hearsay...but straight from the horses mouth because I was diagnosed bi-polar in my early 20's.
I've tried many different medications. Lithium being one that I didn't like. I'm now on Trileptol 300 mg. tablets. Directions say to take 2 1/2 tabs. though I usually take 2. And only at night before I go to bed because they do make you a little tired. Besides for that...I have no side effects like some of the other meds. that are out there. These inable me to stay more focused. Without them I'm all over the place...and not getting anything done at all. I don't enjoy being hospitalized....so it's important that I take them.
Get my blood checked ever so often to make sure the meds aren't killin' my insides and I'm good to go.
If you need to talk about anything Mark OL..feel free to contact me.

Take Care
P.S. I also try to watch my stress but that's hard sometimes!
SmileyCat : )

Answer 5

Medication and cognitive behavioural therapy together have been proven to be more effective than medication alone in treating bipolar disorder.

You can also join a support group with others in your community who also have bipolar disorder. There are also many online communities for bipolar disorder as well, if anonymity is an issue.

Answer 6

OMG, thank you so much for asking this question, im so happy i stumbled upon this. My Dad has BP Disorder. Parents are divorced now.

Just STAY ON YOUR MEDICINE, even when u feel u dont need it
Never Lie to you doctor or psychiatrist
And see a psychiatrist as much as you can, like once a week is healthy,

I wish you the best of luck, even though i dont think you will need Luck, you have taken the right steps so far. Good for you. You are going to life a long healthy life!

Answer 7

By accepting that its an illness like diabetes, heart condition or anything else you care to name. It is manageable with medication or though you may need to try a few to find one that suits your system. You haven't failed and you are not worthless because you have it. Having said that, for me I manage it best by taking my medication, allowing myself time out from others be it to read, sleep or watch TV. Be kind to yourself when you recognize that you are spiraling down make efforts to support yourself. Take brisk walks. For me I don't tell people I will admit that adds an exhausting element to my life but I told a previous boss that I suffered from depression and she used it as a power play to victimize me...bullying in the workplace is awful and adds much more stress to your life than keeping quiet. If you are teary a migraine is always a good ploy until you can get home. Its not easy being bipolar, take your meds find someone who is supportive away from work and hopefully family AND most importantly be kind to yourself.

Answer 8

i am bipolar and have tried many things. medication changes my personality so much that i wonder who i am. i took the summer to make some lifestyle changes. i am getting physically healthy and simplifying my life. i have to accept i can not do everything i want or i will become too stressed. i quit sugar and caffeine. it sucks, but if you sure you are bipolar start with a mild medication. also get a second opinion. you may want to ask if it is possible you are in a major depression. those last about 18 months. it is very common to be mis-diagnosed. also apply for disability, you are in for a long ride until you can learn to function with it.

Answer 9

When I was first told that I was bi-polar the powers that be said that I would have to be on lithium for the rest of my life to keep me at a level state. I hated it . Plus, it really messed with my monthly cycle,so I did the wrong thing and just quit taking them . I get a hell of a lot done when I am manic and when I become depressed have to tell myself that feelings are not facts and that this to shall pass. That and I have a great support system in place that knows me well and is there to help me through the bad times. Good luck with it I'm pulling for you.

Answer 10

find a good psychiatrist. I am not being flippant bipolar disorder is very hard to treat correctly and requires medication to treat successfully. The thing is the best medicationss to treat it require frequent monitoring by a skilled clinician! the good news is if you take care of it you can live a happy and STABLE life. Dont be afraid of taking medication, be more afraid not to in this particular case. Good Luck!

Answer 11

Medication when you are high or low, but only if you really need it. At some point ask your doctors if you can come off the medication to give the psychotherapy a good chance without your feelings being dulled by medication. Try really hard at your therapy and the mood swings will hopefully get better gradually. This takes years.