- How the treatment is done
- 1. Drug treatment
- 2. Psychotherapy
- 3. Phototherapy
- 4. Natural methods
- How to prevent crises
Treatment for bipolar disorder consists of the use of drugs prescribed by the psychiatrist, which help to keep the person without symptoms, avoiding bouts of depression or mania. This disease has no cure, however, it is possible to maintain a normal life if the treatment is done correctly.
This mental disorder, which can be popularly known as bipolar affective disorder or bipolar mood disorder, happens when the person undergoes drastic mood changes ranging from feelings of great joy to extreme sadness. See more about this disease.
How the treatment is done
Normally, people with bipolar disorder need to take medications to control the disease, however, there are natural methods that can help control symptoms, such as exercising or having a relaxing massage, for example, which are good options to complement the drug treatment.
1. Drug treatment
For the successful treatment of bipolar disorder, the medicines and doses must be guided by the psychiatrist and the doses must be strictly followed, as failure to take can compromise the treatment:
- Mood stabilizers, which will control manic episodes, such as lithium, valprotic acid or carbamazepine; Antipsychotics, such as olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine or aripiprazole, which are used if symptoms of depression and mania persist; Antidepressants, to help control depression, such as fluoxetine, which should be combined with an antipsychotic to prevent episodes of mania; Anxiolytics, which help reduce anxiety and improve sleep, such as benzodiazepines.
Taking medications can be associated with psychotherapy sessions, which makes treatment more effective.
2. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is very important in the treatment of bipolar disorder and can be done individually, in families or in groups.
There are several types, such as interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, which consists of establishing a daily routine for sleeping, eating and exercising, in order to reduce mood swings, or psychodynamic therapy, which seeks the meaning and symbolic function of behaviors characteristic of the disease, so that they become aware and can be prevented.
Another example of psychotherapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps to identify and replace negative feelings and behaviors that are not healthy, with positive ones and learn strategies that help reduce stress and deal with unpleasant situations. In addition, encouraging the family to learn about bipolar disorder can help them cope better with the situation, as well as identify problems or prevent episodes.
3. Phototherapy
Another less common way to treat manic episodes is through phototherapy, which is a special therapy that uses different colored lights to change the mood of the individual. This is especially indicated for cases of mild depression.
4. Natural methods
Natural treatment for bipolar disorder complements it, but does not replace clinical treatment, and aims to avoid stress and anxiety, making the person feel more balanced, preventing crises.
Thus, people with bipolar disorder should practice regular exercise like yoga, pilates or take a relaxing walk, have a leisure activity, like watching movies, reading, painting or taking care of the garden, or have a healthy diet, avoiding consuming industrialized products.
In addition, it can also help to consume drinks with calming properties, such as St. John's wort and passion flower, chamomile or lemon balm, for example, or to have relaxing massages frequently to reduce tension.
How to prevent crises
For the person with bipolar disorder to live normally, controlling his illness without showing symptoms, he must regularly take the medication at the time and dose prescribed by the doctor, avoid consuming alcoholic beverages and not taking drugs.
Complications of bipolar disorder arise when treatment is not done properly and include deep depression, which can result in a suicide attempt, or excessive joy, which can lead to bankruptcy, for example. In these cases, hospitalization of the patient may be necessary to stabilize mood attacks and better control the disease.
