Which mental health expert do I need for bipolar disorder?
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If you have bipolar disorder, you should see a psychiatrist. This medical doctor understands the brain and is licensed to treat problems such as bipolar disorder with medications. Other types of mental health providers, such as a psychologist or counselor, generally cannot prescribe medications, but you may want to see one for therapy. These specialist generally have a Master's Degree or Ph.D.If you have bipolar disorder, you should see a psychiatrist. This medical doctor understands the brain and is licensed to treat problems such as bipolar disorder with medications. Other types of mental health providers, such as a psychologist or... More
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Julie A. Fast answered:It’s an extremely important topic, but the basics can be simple.
1. Work with someone who has actual experience with bipolar disorder. It’s a very difficult illness to treat and many traditional treatments from medications to therapy can be used incorrectly if the bipolar disorder is not taken into account.
2. Explore your options: Psychiatrists are great and very needed, but there are other options such as mental health nurse practitioners. PsyD’s and naturopaths with a mental health background.
3. Find a practitioner who is always open to medications: I had to manage this illness without help from medications for ten years. I went through 22 meds at that time. When I finally found a medication that worked (number 23!) my life was much, much easier. I suggest that all the people you work with are open to medications. This is not depression which can often be treated through natural means and therapy. It’s bipolar disorder and very, very complicated to manage without medications.
4. Find a therapist who has an in depth understanding of bipolar disorder symptoms. Believe it or not, many research studies have shown that traditional talk therapy is not very successful when a person has bipolar. Therapy often deals with feelings and how a person can change in order to have a better life, etc. If you see a therapist who doesn’t understand bipolar mood swings, it’s easy to focus on your ‘personal problems’ instead of managing the depression that creates the problems. If you focus on your ‘wildness’ instead of the mania that causes it, the therapy can make both parties pretty unhappy.
But when you get a therapist with an understanding of bipolar disorder, it can change your life. I’ve been with my therapist Robin for over six years. She knows that my excessive crying is probably depression and that cancelling an appointment because things are GREAT!! may be mania, etc.
I suggest seeing a therapist with bipolar disorder experience for all of those affected by bipolar disorder- including families (this means siblings too) and partners!
Recap: Choose the type of mental health practitioner you want and then ask them directly about their bipolar disorder experience. It will save you a lot of trouble and stress and insure that your relationships with your mental health practitioners are successful.
It’s an extremely important topic, but the basics can be simple. 1. Work with someone who has actual experience with bipolar disorder. It’s a very difficult illness to treat and many traditional treatments from medications to... More -
Bennett Adams - NASM Elite Trainer answered:Identifying a solution for finding or identifying an expert for a bipolar disorder is outside my professional fitness expertise as a trainer. However, I will be happy to share my personal experience based on my son and family living with severe Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Seeking a medical professional for a specific disorder is easy and challenging. Why? There are many bipolar disorder experts, but it is discovering the right match to fit the individual and family.
My personal suggestion in seeking out a bipolar disorder expert is three fold. First, recommend consulting the individual's primary care doctor regarding the disorder, because the primary care doctor should be able to provide a list of recommended experts comparable to the individual's need(s). Secondly, I recommend calling the health insurance company, because the health insurance company can provide a list of medical professionals within your insurance coverage and/or based on the need(s). Lastly, don't be afraid to physically visit a notable mental health facility inquiring about their services, educational materials, etc.
Identifying a solution for finding or identifying an expert for a bipolar disorder is outside my professional fitness expertise as a trainer. However, I will be happy to share my personal experience based on my son and family living with severe... More -
Ruben Cervantes - NASM Elite Trainer answered:Usually a person with bipolar disorder should be seeing at the least a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
You also want to make sure that your doing some kind of therapy that involves working out some emotional problems as well. So a therapist; counselor, psychologist, friend, mom. All these people should help deal with the emotional component of bipolar disorder.
The combination of drugs and therapy is just what is necessary for a person with this disorder.
Usually a person with bipolar disorder should be seeing at the least a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication. You also want to make sure that your doing some kind of therapy that involves working out some emotional problems as well.... More -
Cynthia Padilla - NASM Elite Trainer answered:My personal experience is that one needs to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist.My personal experience is that one needs to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist. More -
Ronnie Moore - NASM Elite Trainer answered:If you have a personal doctor he will give you a list of professionals that would be best for you. Your insurance will also give you a list of physicians that are available. This list should help in making the decision with the help of your personal physician.If you have a personal doctor he will give you a list of professionals that would be best for you. Your insurance will also give you a list of physicians that are available. This list should help in making the decision with the help of your personal... More -
Arthur Matthews, LPC, NCC of TherapyLiveCare answered:It's important to understand that the symptoms of bipolar disorder are very similar to other conditions, syndromes and personality expressions. Bipolar Disorder has been misdiagnosed and over-diagnosed frequently in the past. True Bipolar Disorder is a condition that typically requires medication to fully manage the manic and depressive episodes; therefore, I'd recommend starting with a psychiatrist for a diagnostic evaluation, prescription and medication management. You may need a referral from your Primary Care Physician. After you are medically stable, you can work with a psychologist or therapist to learn how to live with your disorder and manage your illness.
It's important to understand that the symptoms of bipolar disorder are very similar to other conditions, syndromes and personality expressions. Bipolar Disorder has been misdiagnosed and over-diagnosed frequently in the past. True Bipolar Disorder... More -
Dr. Joseph R. Calabrese of International Bipolar Foundation answered:People need and benefit from treatment that focuses on both medication management and some process that helps them learn about the symptoms of the illness. Psychiatrists normally prescribe psychiatric medications and psychologists and other mental health professionals typically provide psychotherapy. When it comes to psychotherapy, the familiarity with the illness and its cause is usually more important than the particular mental health professional. What you want is a mental health professional that specializes in bipolar disorder. Psychiatrists usually focus on the use of medications and mood stabilizers as the treatment of choice for bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers are medications that have been shown to prevent highs and lows. Most are usually effective against manias or hypomanias. When it comes to the treatment of the depressed phase of bipolar disorder, there are fewer medications to choose from. As a rule, the traditional antidepressants are not viewed as making depression go away and stay away. Psychotherapy should focus on learning about the symptoms of the illness, and then learning how to manage symptoms of the illness, specifically targeting the symptoms that mood stabilizers do not make go away.People need and benefit from treatment that focuses on both medication management and some process that helps them learn about the symptoms of the illness. Psychiatrists normally prescribe psychiatric medications and psychologists and other mental... More
