Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that is characterized by severe high and low moods and significant changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behaviour. People suffering from bipolar disorder may go through times where they feel excessively happy and thrilled and other periods of feeling very hopeless, down, and depressed. In between those periods, they usually feel normal.

Treatment is usually a combination of medication and psychotherapy. The main and primary treatment of bipolar disorder is drug treatment but continuous psychotherapy can really help people suffering from the disorder to cope better with their condition.

Medication is most probably needed if you have bipolar disorder and the reality is that this medication may need to be taken for the rest of your life. The type of medication and dose depends on your symptoms but typically mood stabilising medication is given.

Psychotherapy is an important part of treatment as it gives a person the opportunity to talk about their feelings, thoughts, and behaviours that may have caused problems. Some common feelings, thoughts, and behaviours experienced by people with bipolar disorder include depression, irritability, rapid speech, trouble at work, not being able to complete tasks, sleep problems, erratic behaviour, great mood, and flight of ideas. These can all be discussed in psychotherapy.

 

– joshua@willingness.com.mt