Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that about 40 million people, or 0.53 per cent of the world’s population, have bipolar disorder. This mental illness mainly affects working-age individuals, but it is also seen in young people. The rates of bipolar disorder are similar for men and women, but research statistics indicate that women tend to be diagnosed more frequently.

People with bipolar disorder can often feel as though there is no way out. Bipolar disorder can greatly impact a person’s life, making it hard to stick to a routine, hold a job, and keep relationships. The mood swings associated with bipolar disorder can also disrupt sleep and influence decision-making and actions. Fortunately, there is a wide range of interventions available to treat bipolar disorder in various treatment centres like PROMIS.

PROMIS has abundant experience in treating mental health conditions and has helped thousands of people over the years with the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. With a team of experienced and compassionate mental health professionals, PROMIS can help you manage your symptoms through our specialised treatment options.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health condition that can occur in episodes such as mania/hypomania and depression. It leads to significant and often extreme shifts in mood, energy, activity, and focus. This condition was previously called manic-depressive disorder. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop symptoms in late adolescence or early adulthood, though symptoms can occasionally show up in children.

While everyone experiences normal mood swings, bipolar disorder is more intense. Mood changes can be very severe. During manic episodes, you may feel extremely happy, irritable, or overly energetic. In contrast, during depressive episodes, you may feel sad, uninterested, or hopeless, along with a significant drop in energy. Some people experience hypomanic episodes, which are similar to manic episodes but less intense.

Even though symptoms may fluctuate, bipolar disorder usually requires ongoing treatment and does not resolve on its own. It can contribute to serious issues like suicide, job loss, and family problems, but effective treatment can lead to recovery.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms can differ from person to person. However, the hallmark of bipolar disorder include extreme mood swings. You might experience manic episodes, depressive episodes, or mixed episodes. These mood episodes can last from a week to several weeks, and symptoms may be present most of the day.

Manic Episode

A manic episode is a specific period when you are very happy or very irritable and have a lot of energy. This unusual mood is present almost every day for at least a week.

Symptoms of mania show up when you experience inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, distractibility, increase in goal-directed activities, decreased need for sleep, psychomotor agitation, and excessive involvement in activities that have negative consequences such as shopping sprees, reckless driving, and engaging in unsafe intercourse.

In addition, the mood changes and symptoms become serious enough to affect social or work life. In some cases, people may also experience psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.

Hypomanic Episode

Similar to a manic episode, hypomania is a period where you feel energised and irritable. However, it only lasts for four days and is not severe enough to disrupt major areas of life, and it does not require hospitalisation.

Depressive Episode

A depressive episode is a period when you feel intense sadness, or you lose interest in most activities you used to enjoy. These feelings persist for almost every day for two weeks.

During this depressive episode, you may also experience significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation and retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt, indecisiveness, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.

We offer a wide range of mental health programmes to suit everyone’s needs. This includes counselling for depression or anxiety, a 24-hour telephone helpline, and a range of workshops.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder has three main types, and each of them is marked by noticeable shifts in mood, energy, and activity. These include the following:

Bipolar I Disorder

Bipolar Disorder I is characterised by manic episodes that last for at least seven days, and the symptoms are present most of the day, nearly every day. In some cases, these symptoms are intense and may require hospitalisation.

In addition to mania, you may also experience depressive episodes for two weeks. It’s also possible to experience mood disturbances with mixed features, where both depressive and manic symptoms occur together.

Bipolar II Disorder

If you have Bipolar II, you may also experience a series of depressive episodes and hypomania. However, it does not include severe manic episodes.

Cyclothymia

The cyclothymic disorder involves many episodes of hypomanic and depressive symptoms over two years, but the person never has a full manic, hypomanic, or depressive episode. These mood changes happen for at least half of the two years, and the person cannot be free of symptoms for more than two months.

When To Get Help

Once you begin to experience symptoms of this mood disorder and it starts taking over your life, it is an indicator that it’s time to seek professional help.

Bipolar disorders are chronic conditions that require immediate and constant medical care. When it is left untreated, the condition may progress and worsen over time.

MEET THE TEAM

Can Bipolar Be Treated?

The quick answer is yes. Bipolar disorders can be treated, and there are various treatment options available to promote long-term recovery and prevent the recurrence of symptoms. Many people with bipolar disorder can live highly functional and meaningful lives with the right treatment. The condition does not go away on its own, so it is essential to seek professional help from a treatment centre like PROMIS.

Treatment For Bipolar Disorder

Medications and therapies remain a gold standard for the treatment of bipolar disorders. Generally, medication can reduce symptoms, while therapy allows you to improve your daily functioning and cope with stressors.

Medication

Medications for bipolar disorder are mainly divided into mood stabilisers and adjunct medications. Adjunct medications are used to address specific symptoms like depression, sleep issues, anxiety, and psychosis. These include antidepressants, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics. They are typically used for a short time until mood stabilisers become effective, but they can also be combined with mood stabilisers for longer treatment.

Mood stabilisers are medications that help control mood swings and prevent manic and depressive episodes. Some medications created to treat epilepsy can also serve as mood stabilisers.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy refers to a type of treatment that involves talking with a therapist. The primary goal of this intervention is to process emotions and relieve distress by sharing and exploring feelings, changing unhelpful attitudes and behaviours, and encouraging healthier coping strategies. One of the most commonly used psychotherapies for people with bipolar disorders is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

CBT is a specific type of therapy that has proven effective for many conditions. It operates on the principle that our core beliefs and thoughts shape our self-perception and worldview, which can affect our mood and actions. A CBT therapist can help you identify and reframe your faulty thoughts that may trigger negative feelings and unhealthy behaviours.

Group Therapy

Someone with bipolar and related disorders may often feel alone, isolated, and disconnected from others. Hence, this particular setting provides you with a safe space where you share similar thoughts with others, discuss your experiences, and find a sense of empathy, support, and reassurance.

Get Your Bipolar Disorder Treated At PROMIS

We understand how difficult it may be to cope daily with the symptoms of bipolar disorder. But know that recovery is possible when you seek guidance and support from professionals.

Here at PROMIS, our personalised and comprehensive treatment can help you manage bipolar disorder symptoms better and improve your daily functioning.

Living with bipolar disorder does not have to be debilitating. If you want to learn more about what we can offer, contact us today, and let’s begin a journey toward better mental health.