Living Well With Bipolar Disorder: The Approaches Required to Achieve Long-Term Stability.

Abstract

Introduction and aim: Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition where many individuals experience difficulty getting well and staying well with ongoing symptoms and frequent relapses reflecting the limitation of current treatment approaches. Living with bipolar disorder touches every aspect of the individual's life and access to more effective treatments is necessary. The aim of this paper is to describe the impact of receiving a bipolar specific psychological intervention, Interpersonal and Social Rhythm therapy.

Methods: This paper is a first-person narrative that reflects my experience of bipolar disorder including the different treatment approaches and their impact.

Findings: This Lived Experience Narrative reflects the significant limitations of medication focused and crisis short-term driven treatment which created an imbalanced approach limiting my ability to achieve significant periods of wellness. Having access to Interpersonal and Social Rhythm therapy fundamentally changed the approach to managing bipolar disorder. Over time this led to me having an increased sense of control, where bipolar disorder was something to work with rather than an external force controlling life and decisions, resulting in greater periods of wellness and stability.

Discussion: This narrative highlights the critical importance of having access to bipolar disorder specific interventions that go beyond medication and acute treatment approaches. Interpersonal and Social Rhythm therapy provides an understanding and approach that enables the individual with bipolar disorder to implement strategies and tools to more effectively manage their condition and to navigate a meaningful future.