What is Bipolar Disorder Therapy?
Bipolar Disorder is a condition in which the person experiences extreme mood swings. They experience emotional highs, known as mania or hypomania, and lows, known as depression. These extreme shifts also affect behavior. These episodes can vary in duration and severity, but they have a significant impact on the person.
Bipolar Disorder Therapy helps people manage the symptoms better, stabilize mood, prevent relapse, and learn coping strategies. Therapy also supports individuals in adhering to their bipolar disorder treatment in UAE.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Symptoms of bipolar disorder include episodes of elevated mood, mania or hypomania, and a low mood or depression.
Signs of Mania and Hypomania
- Increased confidence
- Aggression or irritability
- Excitement
- Happiness
- High energy levels
- Impulsiveness
- Concentration issues due to racing thoughts
- Hallucinations
- Talking too fast
- Increased libido
- Reckless attitude
- Sudden mood changes
Signs of Depression
- Changes in appetite
- Hopelessness
- Low energy levels
- Lack of interest in activities that were once a source of joy
- Low self-worth
- Sleep issues
- Isolating socially
- Suicide ideation
- Thoughts about self-harm
- Difficulty concentration
- Crying
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Some types of bipolar disorder include:
- Bipolar 1: It is defined by at least one episode of mania lasting a week. Some might also have had depressive symptoms.
- Bipolar 2: It is characterized by at least one depressive episode and a hypomanic episode, but not a manic episode.
- Cyclothymia: It involves mood fluctuations between hypomanic and depressive symptoms over two years.
- Others: Some other bipolar disorder types include unspecified bipolar and bipolar with seasonal patterns.
Bipolar disorder treatment in Dubai
Bipolar disorder treatment in Dubai works to manage the symptoms, as the condition itself cannot be cured. The exact treatment plan is contingent on the condition of the patient, the severity of the symptoms, and their health. However, generally, it is composed of medication and therapy.
Medication
There are different medicines prescribed to manage bipolar disorder. The main purpose of medication is to stabilize the mood. While some medication is taken regularly, others are needed when symptoms worsen. Commonly prescribed medicines include:
- Mood stabilizers
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
- Antianxiety
Therapy
Some of the commonly used psychotherapy techniques include:
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
CBT helps address negative thought patterns, thereby altering subsequent behaviors. It is beneficial in reducing the severity and frequency of the episodes, stabilizing mood, managing co-occurring conditions like anxiety, and preventing relapse.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy for bipolar disorder aims to improve an individual’s relationships with others since social contact and connections have a significant impact on mood. Other benefits of IPT include improved emotional awareness, stabilized relationships, and reduced risk of relapse.
Family-focused Therapy
As family also gets affected by the condition, hence, involving them is important for a holistic treatment plan. FFT facilitates the individual and their family by working on communication, reducing conflict, providing a stable environment, and identifying and mitigating the risks.
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation provides individuals with essential knowledge about the condition. The person learns how to manage the condition, identify the triggers and risks, make lifestyle changes, and prevent relapse. These can be done either in group settings or individually.
Other Interventions
Other interventions can help improve the symptoms. These include:
- Self-management: Bipolar people need to learn more about their condition and their symptoms to manage the condition better.
- Lifestyle changes: To improve mental and physical health, it is recommended to make healthy lifestyle choices. These include eating a balanced diet, cutting down on processed sugar, exercising, practicing mindfulness, and spending quality time with friends and family.
- Support: Joining support groups helps people connect with others in similar situations, thereby providing them with a safe space to talk and learn. It is also beneficial to seek support from loved ones and counselors to help manage the condition. Support from loved ones can also play a crucial role in managing symptoms.
- Other treatments: In case the person does not respond well to medication, or the symptoms are debilitating, the healthcare professional might opt for other, more aggressive treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Bipolar Disorder Therapy Treatment in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
According to a study of 961 people, 20.8% had bipolar disorder, thereby highlighting the prevalence of the disorder in the UAE. Hence, anybody exhibiting the symptoms of the condition should get a diagnosis at the earliest so they can start the Bipolar Disorder Treatment in UAE. Living with the condition is hard, but treatment and support can help individuals lead fulfilling lives.
