I Was Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder: Here’s What You Need to Know

Have you been losing sleep, not eating well, and have elevated mood for a week followed by severe depression? You finally consulted a psychiatrist, and it turns out you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

There is a lot of stigma and misconceptions associated with having been diagnosed with a mental disorder. At Alquimedez Mental Health Counseling, we will help you overcome challenges related to the disorder and provide you with the best suitable treatment plan.

Furthermore, this post will help you understand the disorder better, and here’s what you should do to cope with it.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

It’s a mental disorder sometimes referred to as manic-depressive disorder, which can cause a person to have fluctuating moods involving having both highs (mania) and lows (depression). A person diagnosed can also have mixed states of feeling or have hypomania, which is a less severe form of mania.

There are mainly two types of this disorder – Bipolar I and Bipolar II.

Bipolar I is the classical form of disorder in which individuals experience severe depression or extreme high (mania). Symptoms include visual or auditory hallucinations, feeling of grandiose, or trouble sleeping.

Bipolar II includes individuals experiencing hypomania, mild high followed by severe depression. They don’t experience hallucinations or delusions, but hypomania makes them feel more energetic and productive.

There is no known cause for this disorder, but research suggests multiple factors can lead up to it, such as genes and hereditary factors.

How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?

There is no complete cure for this disorder, but the following factors can help you manage your symptoms and daily life activities.

1. Medication

Not every medication will work the same way for each person; you will have to go over courses of medicine or find the right combination that will work for you. Such medications can help you control your symptoms and stabilize your mood.

Alquimedez Mental Health Counselling can provide you with a good psychiatrist referral and provide you with a compatible treatment plan. Talk with your doctor to assess the pros and cons of each medicine, and never start or stop the intake of medication without consulting your doctor.

2. Psychotherapy

Having weekly therapy sessions with your therapist can help you identify your triggers, cognitions, and coping mechanisms. A therapist can support you emotionally and counsel you on how to manage your symptoms. In addition, it can help you integrate healthy patterns into your life.

Alquimedez Mental Health Counselling can help you provide the best psychotherapy catered to treating bipolarity and other mental disorders such as anxiety, personality disorders, schizophrenia, PTSD, etc.

3. Healthy Lifestyle

Set a routine with the habit of sleeping and waking up early, maintain a healthy diet integrating fruits and vegetables, and exercise daily for a minimum of 15-30 minutes. With the release of endorphins, mood swings can be stabilized and would help you feel emotionally good.

The Takeaway

Dealing with such a disorder would take strong will, but the services offered by Alquimedez Mental Health Counselling can assist you on your journey towards mental and physical well-being. Every journey begins with small steps; take a step towards a better lifestyle by availing of our services.