Bipolar disorder is an extremely complex mental illness, as it not only impacts many areas of an individual’s life, but also the people around her. Symptoms of this disorder include extreme euphoria, deep depression, intense mood swings, pressured speech, loss of interests and impulsivity. These symptoms can create many problems that often require professional help to address.
Benefits of Talk Therapy
Many forms of treatment help those with bipolar disorder, but psychotherapy (or “talk therapy”) is a highly effective treatment for this illness. People with bipolar disorder often benefit from talk therapy in the following ways:
- Clear comprehension – Living with this disorder is quite complicated if patients do not understand it. By working with a therapist in a controlled setting, people can learn about their mental illness, which will help them understand their symptoms and their treatment needs.
- Recognizing triggers – Those with bipolar disorder have certain issues that are triggered by various problems. Therefore, addressing these issues can help patients recognize their own unique triggers, as well as what they can do to prevent themselves from responding to these triggers. With the help of a therapist, patients can learn invaluable coping skills that encourage positivity.
- Developing self-esteem – Bipolar disorder can take a toll on an individual’s self-esteem and confidence, as the depressive aspect of the disorder can bring about feelings of sadness, despair and worthlessness. By talking about these feelings out loud, patients can take heed from a therapist to begin participating in activities that promote a healthy self-esteem.
In addition to understanding bipolar disorder, recognizing triggers and developing good self-esteem, people with this illness can begin repairing their broken relationships, practice mindfulness, develop structure and learn to stick with a medication regiment that will improve the disorder.
Additional Forms of Treatment
While talk therapy is an impactful form of therapy, people with bipolar disorder also benefit from additional therapies. For example, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy can address the many stressors that result from bipolar disorder, while Cognitive Behavior Therapy helps patients understand their disorder and apply meaningful action towards improving it.
In addition, interpersonal therapy focuses on rebuilding relationships that have suffered as a result of bipolar disorder, and social rhythm therapy can reestablish a productive daily flow for any patient. As all of these therapies (including talk therapy) are beneficial, it is important that each individual chooses the right kind of therapy to address her unique needs.