Bipolar disorder can be an extremely difficult disorder to live with. There are several different types, along with different symptoms for each of the phases a person experiences when they have bipolar. Although bipolar can be difficult and frustrating for a person to deal with, there are a lot of treatment options that a person can get in order to get their bipolar symptoms under control. Bipolar is a lifelong disease, so it is important to stick with a doctor for a long time to in order to find out what your long-term treatment will be, once you have initially established a treatment to balance your moods. Depending on the severity of your bipolar symptoms, your mental heath care professional will usually make your treatment include both medication and therapy. The combination of the two can be extremely beneficial to a person with bipolar, as it will help them learn how to live their day to day life without the symptoms of bipolar completely taking over.

There are a lot of different medications that people can take in order to treat their bipolar symptoms. The most common type of medication that a person will take is called a mood stabilizer. Mood stabilizers treat and prevent the highs of a manic or hypomanic episode, as well as the lows of depressive episodes. When a person has bipolar disorder, it can be difficult to function at work, school or in social situations. This type of medication helps minimize the negative effects of bipolar disorder in those situations. Some of these medications include: Depakene, Tegretol, Lamictal, and Lithobid.

Antipsychotics, which are also used in the treatment of schizophrenia, are also sometimes used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. These medications can help with the mania you feel from the high and the elated phase of bipolar, along with the severe depression you can feel. Sometimes these medications are used alone or alongside mood stabilizing medication. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe it alone, or with specific mood stabilizers, so make sure to take your medication correctly if you receive both medications. Some of these medications include: Abilify, Loxitane, Saphris, Geodon, or Symbyax. 

Antidepressants are another type of medication that is used to treat bipolar disorder, but it is controversial. Antidepressants are aimed at helping the symptoms of the depression phase of bipolar, but there are risks that come along with the usage of them. These medications can trigger a manic episode, so usually antidepressants are not prescribed by themselves. They are usually prescribed with a mood stabilizer or an antipsychotic medication.

Along with these medications that your doctor will prescribe, it is also important to get therapy. Having these wide range of emotions can be incredibly difficult to live with, so it is important to learn how to cope with this disorder. There are many different types of therapy. One of these types is called cognitive behavioral therapy, which is common in the treatment of anxiety. This type of therapy will identify the negative beliefs and behaviors that come along with the disorder, and it will help replace them with healthy and positive ones. It can also help identify your specific triggers. Another type of therapy is called interpersonal therapy, which involves your relationships, and aims to reduce the strains that bipolar may place upon them.

Usually, people who have bipolar disorder will have a team to help with treatment. Since bipolar will affect people for their whole life, it is important to have a lot of people who know about your specific symptoms in order to give you the proper treatment. You can have your primary care doctor, your psychologist, as well as the loved ones around in order to help battle the symptoms. With a good team backing you up, you can control the symptoms of bipolar disorder with a combination of medications, as well as therapy.