International Bipolar Foundation

That this is a treatable condition and that most people with this illness, if compliant with well prescribed medications and reasonable lifestyle recommendations can live normal lives.

Well treated, it should not prevent you from having an enjoyable and successful life. However, it can take time to get the depression fully controlled and to gain control over any manias which can negatively impact your relationships and work.

Habits and lifestyle are extremely important. Recommendations include obtaining regular sleep and exercise, abstaining from all drugs of abuse, moderating any alcohol consumption, and learning to manage stress well.

Episodes of bipolar disorder can be prevented by the use of mood stabilizer medications and psychotherapy and regulation of stress. Can bipolar disorder be prevented from ever occurring in the first place? We don’t know, but this is an area of increasing interest to researchers. Can you treat ado

As paradoxical as it seems, people can have mania and depression at the same time. A mixed state refers to either the simultaneous occurrence of both states or very rapid fluctuation between them, on the order of hours. It can frequently be very difficult to distinguish depression from a mixed state. In

Make a life chart. Draw a horizontal line representing the decades of your life. Above the line is mania and below it is depression. Try and identify when your first episode of each occurred and what was happening at the time. Do this for other episodes in your life. Had a stressor or change occurred

Yes, bipolar I disorder is serious. Manias can result in hospitalization, psychosis and substantial impairment in function. Depressions can also cause serious suffering and impairment. People with bipolar I disorder almost always require lifelong medication treatment.

Exercise has been shown in many studies to be a very effective antidepressant. It is one of the most important things anyone with bipolar disorder can do to help themselves. It is one of the most effective non-medication treatments we have.