Most people with bipolar disorder, even those with the most severe forms are able to achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related symptoms with proper treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, long-term preventive treatment is strongly recommended and almost always indicated. A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is optimal for managing the disorder over time.

In most cases, bipolar disorder is much better controlled if treatment is continuous than if it is on and off. But even when there are no breaks in treatment, mood changes can occur and should be reported immediately to your doctor. The doctor may be able to prevent a full-blown episode by making adjustments to the treatment plan. Working closely with the doctor and communicating openly about treatment concerns and options can make a difference in treatment effectiveness.

In addition, keeping a chart of daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events may help people with bipolar disorder and their families to better understand the illness. This chart also can help the doctor track and treat the illness most effectively.

What about Relationships

We all need people we feel close to and with whom we can share both the good and bad things in our lives. Without them it can be difficult to feel good about ourselves or to be happy. However, episodes of depression or mania can cause strain on friends and family. It’s important that you have at least one person that you can rely on and confide in. When you are well you should explain the illness to people who are important to you, so that they know what to expect and understand it.

It is vital to balance your life between work, leisure and relationships with your family and friends. A lot of people with manic depression tend to get too busy when they feel well - it’s important not to do this. Make sure that you have enough time to relax and unwind.

Controlling a Manic Mood Swing

If you are experiencing a manic mood swing, treatment will usually be started with anti-psychotic drugs. These are sometimes called major tranquillisers because the older anti-psychotics (Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol) have this effect. They can have other unpleasant side-effects such as stiffness, shakiness, dizziness and dry mouth. Many of the newer drugs have far fewer side effects and are very effective.

Once the treatment has started the symptoms should improve within a few days, but may take a few weeks to have their full effect. You should check with your GP if you wish to drive while still taking this sort of medication.

It may be tempting to stop taking the tablets before your doctor recommends, either because of the side effects or because you don’t seem to need them any more. This is unwise, bearing in mind how catastrophic the consequences can be of a manic episode. One way of feeling better about going on with the treatment is to discuss this with your doctor and your family when you are well. You can decide in advance how you want to be treated when you are ill.

How can you help yourself

If you do suffer from this disorder, the most important thing is to be able to recognise the warning signs. This means that you can get help before you are feeling so good that you do not realise that there is a problem. This is not easy at first, but is possible with practice and gives you more control over your life. It can also make it less likely that you will need to be admitted to hospital.

Friends, relatives or a trusted professional may be able to help as they may recognise the warning signs before you do. In fact you will probably feel very well and may resent people saying that they are worried about you. At this point it can be very difficult to listen to people who care for you and want you to stay well. Admission to hospital can be needed, usually for your own protection, but is less likely to happen if you can catch the episode early. Find out as much as you can about your illness and how you can be helped.

Stress

Avoid stressful situations because it is known that such circumstances can trigger off a manic or depressive episode. We can’t avoid all stress in our life, so it’s also helpful to learn how to handle stress better. You can do relaxation training yourself with audio cassette tapes, join a relaxation group or seek advice from a clinical psychologist. Your GP will be able to help you find what you need locally.