Bipolar Therapy Brisbane Northside

Bipolar disorder is a life-long mental condition that affects 2.9% of Australians aged 16 and above, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Many people in Brisbane are seeking therapy for bipolar disorder to help them cope and function properly in their daily lives. Living with mental illness is now manageable for Brisbane Northside residents thanks to access to mental health care such as at Ubuntu Medical Centre.

Unpredictable mood swings are the hallmark of living with bipolar disorder. This is way different from someone having a good day gone bad. Bipolar disorder runs an unpredictable course of ups and downs, shooting one’s mood level from 1 to 100 (or vice versa). One moment a patient can experience a manic episode and become hyperactive and irresponsible, and another a depressive episode and become withdrawn and shut down. It can create tensions in relationships and career, prevent one from functioning normally in society, and worst, lead to self-harm or commit suicide.

It could be difficult for someone to live with a bipolar disorder that is why it is important to seek treatment from a mental health professional. Treatment could be a combination of therapy, medication, self-education, having a strong support system, and leading a healthier lifestyle. Working with a therapist has been proven to help manage mood swings and overcome bipolar disorder.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Studies show that bipolar mood swings are influenced by thoughts. This form of therapy teaches the patient to identify thought and behavior patterns and challenge the thoughts that distort reality. This also encourages them to respond to situations with calmer thoughts and see things in a newer perspective. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is believed to result in patients having better, longer-lasting recovery from bipolar disorder.

Interpersonal Therapy

This form of therapy involves a relationship-oriented approach that helps reduce stress, a known trigger for bipolar disorder. It focuses on current relationship issues and teaches how to improve relations with the important people in one’s life.

Social Rhythm Therapy

This rehabilitation technique focuses on the stabilization of daily rhythms like sleeping, exercising, and eating. When these biological rhythms are stable, the mood remains stable, too.

Family-Focused Therapy

Overcoming bipolar disorder is easier in the presence of a strong support group, like family. But the lack of awareness and education could affect one’s familial relations and push things 10 steps backward. This kind of therapy involves addressing personal issues within the family and educating the members about the mental illness. They are taught how to cope with the symptoms and improve communication.

Light and Dark Therapy

A person with bipolar disorder is known to have a sensitive biological clock. If this clock is disrupted, it throws off sleep-wake cycles that can trigger mania and depression symptoms. Thus, light and dark therapy creates an environment of regular darkness by reducing artificial light for ten hours every night. It regulates biological rhythms and reduces mood cycling.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Also called electroshock therapy, ECT is used on extreme cases of bipolar disorder –particularly when symptoms involve serious suicidal or psychotic symptoms, or when medicines seem unhelpful. The patient is given anesthesia, and electrodes are placed on their scalp where an electric current passes through to cause a brief seizure in the brain. ECT is said to be one of the safest treatments for severe mood disorders and fastest ways to relieve symptoms.

 

At Ubuntu Medical, we also do mental health care plans.