After Medications, What is the Next Step in Managing the Illness Effectively?

Successfully treating and preventing mood swings also means changing the lifestyle choices and behaviors that affect bipolar disorder negatively.

Gold Standard for Treating Bipolar Disorder (part 11)

The facts are that bipolar disorder is very difficult to treat without medications. It's a complicated illness that requires a comprehensive approach to treatment and medications are the first part of that treatment. Having said this, not everyone responds optimally to medications and must supplement their treatment. After you know your correct diagnosis and have started a medication treatment plan, it's very important that you also make needed changes in your life in order to achieve as much stability as possible.

You Have Many Choices

Participating in your own treatment is often the difference between just getting by and successfully treating and preventing mood swings. One of the main ways you can participate in your treatment of bipolar disorder is to examine and then change the lifestyle choices and behaviors that affect bipolar disorder negatively as well as those that help you live a more productive and stable life. These changes can be very difficult, but the good news is that they can be very effective almost immediately and they are usually free.

next: Lifestyle and Behavior Changes (part 12)