Psychotherapy and Bipolar Disorder

Although medication a necessary treatment for Bipolar disorder most people can often benefit from a combination of medication and psychotherapy.  Those with Bipolar disorder have to learn to adjust to their illness and find ways to understand it. Psychotherapy can help them the ability to live bipolar and how to distinguish the world of their illness which sometimes is distorted by their mood swings.

The pattern of each symptom varies from individual and recognizing ones own patters in one’s thoughts, moods and behavior. Recognizing the stressors in daily life and how this affects their moods. In this way they can learn how to cope with the challenge of life’s events and how to address issues that come up.  Psychotherapy can assist in exploring issues that are unique to one’s necessity of the medication as part of their wellbeing.  With psychotherapy they can explore and understand the emotions that they experience by living bipolar. 

There are many types of therapy and what works for one individual may not work for someone else. In choosing the type of therapy there are things\ to take in consideration. Those who participate in psychotherapy must be focused in behavior and on their treatment and are stable with medication before therapy begins.The symptoms of severe depression often bring thoughts of such a compelling and intense nature that it is difficult for the person to think objectively.  These thoughts influence one’s mood and physical well being. In order to identify these thoughts and type of thinking cognitive behavior therapy is used to evaluate and challenge the ideas.

Coping skill focuses on altering the way that one responds to negative events.  Loss is a common negative event.  Coping skills therapy is focused on actions enabling the person to respond with alternate ways of responding to bad events.

The many types of therapy should be explored before choosing the one that is right for the person affected.  While there is not cure for Bipolar disorder.  Therapy offers the chance to better a persons life while being Bipolar and living Bipolar.