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Bipolar disorder is a serious, lifelong condition. It is biological and must be treated by a qualified physician. Medication is the first line of treatment.
Someone with bipolar disorder needs a psychiatrist, preferably one who is board certified. Other doctors rarely receive much training in the use of psychiatric medications. If your child has bipolar disorder, look for a pediatric psychiatrist with experience in childhood mood disorders.
If you have a bipolar family member, encourage him to find a qualified specialist. Help him to make and keep appointments. Support treatment by educating friends and family. -
Many drugs are available to help bipolar people. Finding the best medication for each patient is trial and error. If you have a bad reaction or side effect, your doctor will try the next most likely medication. Be patient.
Watch your weight. Many mood stabilizers can cause weight gain. Just because one mood stabilizer has this side effect for you doesn't mean the next one will. If you have rapid weight gain or other serious side effects, don't wait for your next appointment. Call your doctor.
If you have a family member with bipolar disorder, help watch for potential bad reactions to a new medication. If she starts talking about hurting herself, gets unusually irritable or shows other signs of worsening, encourage her to call her doctor. -
Find a good therapist. NIMH recommends family focused therapy as one option. By including family members, it helps family coping strategies, problem solving and communication.
Keep a regular sleep schedule. A study from University Hospital, San Raffaele, in Milan, Italy, and case reports from the National Institutes of Health suggest being exposed to light during night hours can contribute to setting off a manic episode. "Dark therapy" attempts to stabilize sleep schedules by maintaining uninterrupted darkness during sleeping hours.
If you have a bipolar family member, support his dark sleep time by avoiding night lights or light from hallways and bathrooms.
Eat a nutritious diet. Omega-3 fats are important. Most commercially purchased fish contain mercury; fish oil supplements are a mercury-free way to get your Omega-3s. Anti-depressants may cause calcium bone loss. If you are taking anti-depressants, make sure you take your calcium. Sunlight and regular exercise can help fend off depressive symptoms.
See your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Tell your psychiatrist about all nutritional supplements or herbs you take.
