Do you think people with Bipolar need a therapist??? Or just medications??? PLEASE?

Question

I have been Bipolar for 10 years and in therapy for many. I am just tired of it.....

Answer 1

They need both!

Answer 2

I guess some people could just use meds. I personally have to use both, or I would end up in a lot of trouble, because regardless of meds, I stay hypomanic rather than at a closer to "normal" level, and I still have a major issue controlling my anger (I should add that the anger management classes didn't help and my mediator in those classes pretty much gave up on me after med adjustments didn't work for me). So my shrink insists that I have counseling/therapy as well. That way I can work out the other issues I have going on in my life or the things I've lived through in the past and try to get control of the anger and the ups and downs with the bi-polar (I probably should also add it's been almost three years since I've actually had a true depressive episode), a few little mini bouts of depression, but no real cycles. Plus, sometimes it helps to just talk about the day to day stresses you have to go through in life, and the repeativness of it all. My doc and my therapist also recommend that in between visits I write things down when all the thoughts are racing through my head, that way when I come in to talk to either of them, if there is something specific I want to discuss, I will be able to focus on that one thing instead of bouncing around. I think it could be good for a person to have both, it makes me feel a lot better. I know that the meds make me fuction better in so called "normal" society (although I still want to know who it is that has determined what is "normal") but when I am finished with a therapy session, I always feel refreshed and rested and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because someone else is now sharing in my problems and issues and knows what else I am dealing with besides me. If you are toying with the idea of trying it out, I would say give it a shot, it couldn't hurt to go once or twice to at least see if it makes you feel any better. Good luck.

Answer 3

I've met and worked with quite a few bipolar people, and medication does the most good. Therapy can only help in a limited way in teaching coping mechanisms and changing worldview to keep from getting triggered into depression so easily.

Answer 4

I'm bipolar and I would have to say that you definately need a therapist to talk to. Talking helps. I would probably say that the talking is more important than the medication.

Answer 5

I'm Bipolar. Medication can help, as also can talking to a therapist. But also, with me, the therapist brought up stuff that triggered me into a episode, so, really, you don't neccisarily NEED a therapist.

Answer 6

Person needs therapist first to get understanding of a problem, then medication for help to survive and live with it

Answer 7

What do you think?
If this is a question you are asking abut yourself then you can probably find the answer rather simply.. do you need more help?
Medication alone can deal with the chemical aspects of disorders but there is more to disorders then the chemical side of it. Our lives are generaly in shambles when we finaly get a diagnoses and there are things we need help dealing with, so do you need more help?

Answer 8

It depends on the case really. Some need both, some only need one or the other. It really depends on the person. Which is more obtrusive to your life, the depression or the mania?

Answer 9

I believe you need meds and therapy.

Answer 10

Whatever suits. Stephen Fry is looking into this and is very interesting.