Treatment

Bipolar
Disorder
• Medications. Often, you'll
need
to start taking medications to
balance Alexandrea Bellissimo

your moods right away.

• Day treatment programs. Your

doctor may recommend a day
treatment

program. These programs provide

the support and counseling you
need while you get symptoms under
control.

• Substance abuse treatment. If

you have problems with alcohol or
drugs, you'll also need substance
abuse treatment. Otherwise, it can
be very difficult to manage bipolar
disorder.


• Hospitalization. Your doctor

may recommend hospitalization if
you're behaving dangerously, you
feel suicidal or you become
detached from reality (psychotic).
Getting psychiatric treatment at a
hospital can help keep you calm
and safe and stabilize your mood,
whether you're having a manic or
major depressive episode.
Diagnoses
• Physical exam. Your doctor may do
physical exam and lab tests to identify
any medical problems that could be
causing your symptoms.
• Psychiatric assessment. Your
doctor may refer you to a
psychiatrist,
who will talk to you about
your thoughts, feelings and behavior
patterns. You may also fill out a
psychological self-assessment or
questionnaire. With your permission,
family members or close friends may
be asked to provide information about
your symptoms.
• Mood charting. You may be asked
to keep a daily record of your moods,
sleep patterns or other factors that
could help with diagnosis and finding
the right treatment.
Bipolar Disorder – Is a mental
disorder marked by alternating
periods of elevation and
depression
Manic vs Depressive
Common Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is a serious brain
• Activity levels 

disorder in which a person experiences
extreme variants in thinking, mood, • Sleep patterns 

and behavior. Bipolar disorder is
• Behavioral changes 

sometimes called manic- depressive
illness or manic depression. People • Low energy levels or fatigue 

who have bipolar disorder commonly
• Problems with concentration,
go through periods of depression or
decision- making, or
mania. They may also experience forgetfulness 

frequent mood swings. The condition is
• Speaking very quickly 

not the same for every person who has
it. Some people may experience • Agitation 

mostly depressed states. Other people
may have mostly manic phases. It can • Insomnia 

even be possible to have both
depressed and manic symptoms • Extreme appetite changes 

simultaneously.
• Suicidal ideation