“What therapy is best for bipolar disorder?”
My son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I want to help him. What therapy is best for bipolar disorder?
6 Answers
Working with your medical provider to see what treatments are best for your son. This could mean medication and daily alternative practices. Bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive illness) is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. spiritual/energy healers have come to realize that certain mental disorders are greatly misunderstood. They may have a soul-based component that is often not recognized by the therapists or those affected by the conditions. There are lots of individuals that have more than one soul/aspect in their physical form. But only one of them is the primary soul, the “driver” that animates the body/vehicle.
How old is your son? If adolescent then I would suggest DBT and ACT
It depends on the therapist and client. I use Humanistic therapy but other practitioner's use different types but i would suggest play therapy of client focused therapy that is more one to one approach
Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Thank you for your question. Three types of therapy are especially helpful in the treatment of bipolar disorder:
*Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*- In CBT, you examine how your thoughts
affect your emotions. You also learn how to change negative thinking
patterns and behaviors into more positive ways of responding. For
bipolar disorder, the focus is on managing symptoms, avoiding triggers for relapse, and
problem-solving.
*Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy*- IPSRT focuses on current
relationship issues and helps you improve the way you relate to the
important people in your life. By addressing and solving interpersonal
problems, this type of therapy reduces stress in your life. Since stress is
a trigger for bipolar disorder, this relationship-oriented approach can
help reduce mood cycling. Interpersonal therapy is often combined with
social rhythm therapy for the treatment of bipolar disorder. People with
bipolar disorder are believed to have overly sensitive biological clocks,
the internal timekeepers that regulate circadian rhythms. This clock is
easily thrown off by disruptions in your daily pattern of activity, also
known as your “social rhythms.” Social rhythm therapy focuses on
stabilizing social rhythms such as sleeping, eating, and exercising. When
these rhythms are stable, the biological rhythms that regulate mood remain
stable too.
*Family Focused Therapy*- Living with a person who has bipolar disorder can
be difficult, causing strain in family and marital relationships.
Family-focused therapy addresses these issues and works to restore a
healthy and supportive home environment. Educating family members about the
disease and how to cope with its symptoms is a major component of
treatment. Working through problems in the home and improving communication
is also a focus of treatment.
Other therapies may be helpful as well:
*Electroconvulsive Therapy*- ECT is a brain stimulation procedure that can
help people get relief from severe symptoms of bipolar disorder. In
ECT, electrical currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief
seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can reverse
symptoms of certain mental illnesses. With modern ECT, a person usually
goes through a series of treatment sessions over several weeks. ECT is
delivered under general anesthesia and is safe. It can be effective in
treating severe depressive and manic episodes, which occur most often when
medication and psychotherapy are not effective or are not safe for a
particular patient. ECT can also be effective when a rapid response is
needed, as in the case of suicide risk or catatonia (a state of
unresponsiveness). ECT may be an option for bipolar treatment if you don't
get better with medications, can't take antidepressants for health reasons
such as pregnancy, or are at high risk of suicide.
*Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*- TMS is a newer approach to brain
stimulation that uses magnetic waves. It is delivered to an awake patient
most days for 1 month. Research shows that TMS is helpful for many people
with various subtypes of depression, but its role in the treatment of
bipolar disorder is still under study.
*Light and Dark Therapy*- Like social rhythm therapy, light and dark
therapy focuses on the sensitive biological clock in people with
bipolar disorder. This easily disrupted clock throws off sleep-wake cycles, a disturbance
that can trigger symptoms of mania and depression. Light and dark therapy
regulates these biological rhythms—and thus reduces mood cycling— by
carefully managing your exposure to light. The major component of this
therapy involves creating an environment of regular darkness by restricting
artificial light for ten hours every night.
*Mindfulness Meditation*- Research has shown that mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy and meditation help fight and prevent depression, anger,
agitation, and anxiety. The mindfulness approach uses meditation, yoga, and
breathing exercises to focus awareness on the present moment and break
negative thinking patterns.
*Acupuncture*- Some researchers believe that acupuncture may help people
with bipolar disorder by modulating their stress response. Studies on
acupuncture for depression have shown a reduction in symptoms, and there is
increasing evidence that acupuncture may relieve symptoms of mania also.
*Medications* may include mood stabilizers, anticonvulsants, 2nd generation
"atypical" antipsychotics, and antidepressants including SSRIs.
Other things you can do to help relieve symptoms of Bipolar Disorder:
*Regular Exercise: *Regular aerobic exercise, such as jogging, brisk
walking, swimming, or bicycling, helps with depression and anxiety,
promotes better sleep, and is healthy for your heart and brain. There is
also, some evidence that anaerobic exercises such as weightlifting, yoga, and
Pilates can be helpful. Check with your health care provider before you
start a new exercise regimen.
*Keeping a Life Chart:* Even with proper treatment, mood changes can occur.
Treatment is more effective when a patient and health care provider work
together and talk openly about concerns and choices. Keeping a life chart
that records daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life
events can help patients and health care providers track and treat
bipolar disorder over time. Patients can easily share data collected via smartphone apps –
including self-reports, self-ratings, and activity data – with their
health care providers and therapists.
Coping with Bipolar Disorder
Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, but there are ways to help
make it easier:
- Get treatment and stick with it—recovery takes time and it’s not easy.
But treatment is the best way to start feeling better.
- Keep medical and therapy appointments and talk with the provider about
treatment options.
- Take all medicines as directed.
- Structure activities: keep a routine for eating and sleeping and make
sure to get enough sleep and exercise.
- Learn to recognize your mood swings and warning signs, such as
decreased sleep.
- Ask for help when trying to stick with your treatment.
- Be patient; improvement takes time. Social support helps.
- Avoid misuse of alcohol and drugs.
I hope this has been helpful!
Best,
*Jenna Torres, PsyD*
Pasadena Clinic Director
Licensed Psychologist
New Day Psychotherapy Group
(626) 808-4600 x109
*Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*- In CBT, you examine how your thoughts
affect your emotions. You also learn how to change negative thinking
patterns and behaviors into more positive ways of responding. For
bipolar disorder, the focus is on managing symptoms, avoiding triggers for relapse, and
problem-solving.
*Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy*- IPSRT focuses on current
relationship issues and helps you improve the way you relate to the
important people in your life. By addressing and solving interpersonal
problems, this type of therapy reduces stress in your life. Since stress is
a trigger for bipolar disorder, this relationship-oriented approach can
help reduce mood cycling. Interpersonal therapy is often combined with
social rhythm therapy for the treatment of bipolar disorder. People with
bipolar disorder are believed to have overly sensitive biological clocks,
the internal timekeepers that regulate circadian rhythms. This clock is
easily thrown off by disruptions in your daily pattern of activity, also
known as your “social rhythms.” Social rhythm therapy focuses on
stabilizing social rhythms such as sleeping, eating, and exercising. When
these rhythms are stable, the biological rhythms that regulate mood remain
stable too.
*Family Focused Therapy*- Living with a person who has bipolar disorder can
be difficult, causing strain in family and marital relationships.
Family-focused therapy addresses these issues and works to restore a
healthy and supportive home environment. Educating family members about the
disease and how to cope with its symptoms is a major component of
treatment. Working through problems in the home and improving communication
is also a focus of treatment.
Other therapies may be helpful as well:
*Electroconvulsive Therapy*- ECT is a brain stimulation procedure that can
help people get relief from severe symptoms of bipolar disorder. In
ECT, electrical currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief
seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can reverse
symptoms of certain mental illnesses. With modern ECT, a person usually
goes through a series of treatment sessions over several weeks. ECT is
delivered under general anesthesia and is safe. It can be effective in
treating severe depressive and manic episodes, which occur most often when
medication and psychotherapy are not effective or are not safe for a
particular patient. ECT can also be effective when a rapid response is
needed, as in the case of suicide risk or catatonia (a state of
unresponsiveness). ECT may be an option for bipolar treatment if you don't
get better with medications, can't take antidepressants for health reasons
such as pregnancy, or are at high risk of suicide.
*Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*- TMS is a newer approach to brain
stimulation that uses magnetic waves. It is delivered to an awake patient
most days for 1 month. Research shows that TMS is helpful for many people
with various subtypes of depression, but its role in the treatment of
bipolar disorder is still under study.
*Light and Dark Therapy*- Like social rhythm therapy, light and dark
therapy focuses on the sensitive biological clock in people with
bipolar disorder. This easily disrupted clock throws off sleep-wake cycles, a disturbance
that can trigger symptoms of mania and depression. Light and dark therapy
regulates these biological rhythms—and thus reduces mood cycling— by
carefully managing your exposure to light. The major component of this
therapy involves creating an environment of regular darkness by restricting
artificial light for ten hours every night.
*Mindfulness Meditation*- Research has shown that mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy and meditation help fight and prevent depression, anger,
agitation, and anxiety. The mindfulness approach uses meditation, yoga, and
breathing exercises to focus awareness on the present moment and break
negative thinking patterns.
*Acupuncture*- Some researchers believe that acupuncture may help people
with bipolar disorder by modulating their stress response. Studies on
acupuncture for depression have shown a reduction in symptoms, and there is
increasing evidence that acupuncture may relieve symptoms of mania also.
*Medications* may include mood stabilizers, anticonvulsants, 2nd generation
"atypical" antipsychotics, and antidepressants including SSRIs.
Other things you can do to help relieve symptoms of Bipolar Disorder:
*Regular Exercise: *Regular aerobic exercise, such as jogging, brisk
walking, swimming, or bicycling, helps with depression and anxiety,
promotes better sleep, and is healthy for your heart and brain. There is
also, some evidence that anaerobic exercises such as weightlifting, yoga, and
Pilates can be helpful. Check with your health care provider before you
start a new exercise regimen.
*Keeping a Life Chart:* Even with proper treatment, mood changes can occur.
Treatment is more effective when a patient and health care provider work
together and talk openly about concerns and choices. Keeping a life chart
that records daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life
events can help patients and health care providers track and treat
bipolar disorder over time. Patients can easily share data collected via smartphone apps –
including self-reports, self-ratings, and activity data – with their
health care providers and therapists.
Coping with Bipolar Disorder
Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, but there are ways to help
make it easier:
- Get treatment and stick with it—recovery takes time and it’s not easy.
But treatment is the best way to start feeling better.
- Keep medical and therapy appointments and talk with the provider about
treatment options.
- Take all medicines as directed.
- Structure activities: keep a routine for eating and sleeping and make
sure to get enough sleep and exercise.
- Learn to recognize your mood swings and warning signs, such as
decreased sleep.
- Ask for help when trying to stick with your treatment.
- Be patient; improvement takes time. Social support helps.
- Avoid misuse of alcohol and drugs.
I hope this has been helpful!
Best,
*Jenna Torres, PsyD*
Pasadena Clinic Director
Licensed Psychologist
New Day Psychotherapy Group
(626) 808-4600 x109
See this link for some help in dealing with your Q...
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2019/Different-Types-of-Therapy-for-Bipolar-Disorder
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2019/Different-Types-of-Therapy-for-Bipolar-Disorder
