What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Mood Disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric or very happy without any reason, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.
Treatment for Bipolar disorder
Treatment is best guided by a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions (psychiatrist) who is skilled in treating bipolar and related disorders. You may have a treatment team that also includes a psychologist, social worker and psychiatric nurse. Psychoeducation regarding the shifting phases of mood and other symptoms is very important for patient as well as caretakers.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. Treatment is directed at managing symptoms. Depending on your needs, treatment may include: Medications which include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics etc, psychological counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy sessions, Continued management of simultaneous Substance abuse treatment, Hospitalization in severe cases.
