Living with bipolar disorder can potentially be easier with the proper treatment. This can include medication, therapy, and changes in one’s lifestyle. Everyone has a specific combination that works for them. Whichever methods work for you, it is important to stick to them. Breaking routine or stopping medication all together can lead to relapse and worse episodes of mania and depression. Here are some tips to help you with your bipolar disorder treatment:

• Watch out for triggers: It is important to be wary of situations than can trigger depression or mania. Try to stay in balance by avoiding sleep deprivation, social isolation and stress. Major changes in your life that deviate from your daily routine such as getting a new job or moving, can lead to triggers. On the other hand, you should be cautious even when not going through a major life change because unexpected problems can also serve as triggers to episodes.

• Take your medication: Keeping on track with medication is easier said than done. It is not always as easy as taking daily pills. For example, lithium is a drug for bipolar disorder that requires careful monitoring with blood tests that ensure the correct dosage is being used to avoid toxicity from higher levels. Side effect of drugs also cause people to skip doses but this can lead to a relapse. Instead, you should find ways to cope with side effects when they occur.

• Therapy: Therapy is essential. Regular therapy, rather than a visit to the psychiatrist once a month, will be more helpful. Specifically, cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you understand your thoughts and events, is effective. Interpersonal therapy can also be helpful as it can help you maintain healthy relationships with friends and family as well as help with overall interaction with people.

• Get enough sleep: Many people with bipolar disorder have difficulties with sleep. Some oversleep by sleeping too much at night or taking extensive naps during the day. Some have insomnia, struggling to sleep on the daily basis. These irregular sleeping patterns can lead to depressive or manic episodes.

• Never give up: In order to find the right treatment for you, your doctor will have you try different combinations of medications, doses, and therapies. This will lead to side effects that may become burdensome. When that occurs, talk to your doctor instead of just stopping the medication all together. This is probably a sign that you need to try something else. Don’t be afraid to question your treatments. Ask questions. Learn about the side affects you should be expecting.

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Source: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20475967,00.html