While symptoms come and go, bipolar disorder usually requires lifelong treatment and doesn't go away on its own. Bipolar disorder can be a major factor in suicide, job loss, and family discord, but proper treatment leads to better outcomes. When a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, one of the first questions they often ask is: “Can bipolar disorder go away? Unfortunately, the answer is almost always no. While you can significantly mitigate the effects and intensity of manic and depressive episodes with treatment, asking if you can make bipolar disorder go away is like asking if it can make your thoughts go away.
Bipolar disorder is generally a lifelong diagnosis and, therefore, many people see the greatest success with a bipolar treatment plan focused on managing episodes. For most people, some combination of lifestyle changes, therapy, medications, and support is helpful in treating bipolar disorder. Psychotherapy, also called “psychotherapy,” can be an effective part of the treatment plan for people with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes unusual changes in mood, ranging from extreme highs (mania) to lows (depression).
Because bipolar disorder is not purely physiological or isolated exclusively from the mind, a wider range of treatment modalities and medications may need to be employed to obtain the most beneficial treatment plan. People with bipolar disorder can use alcohol or street drugs to feel better (self-medicate) or to escape their problems. Bipolar disorder is considered one of the most inherited psychiatric conditions; more than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close biological relative with the condition. Although bipolar disorder affects people assigned as female at birth (AFAB) and people assigned as male at birth (AMAB) in equal numbers, the condition tends to affect them differently.
Unfortunately, many people postpone treatment for their entire lives because the downs of bipolar disorder come and go, while the ups and downs convince them that they are “better” and don't need help. People with bipolar disorder experience extreme changes in energy, activity, and sleep that aren't typical for them. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder have no change in mood, but some people may have persistent symptoms. An accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made using the tools (or psychiatric laboratory tests) of a medical and psychiatric history, self-reported symptoms, observable behavior, comments from friends and family, family medical history, and specific psychiatric rating scales.
However, just because you have a biological relative with bipolar disorder doesn't necessarily mean you're going to develop one as well. Antidepressants are never used as the only medication to treat bipolar disorder because just taking an antidepressant medication can trigger a manic episode. A specific cause for bipolar disorder has not been identified, but experts believe it occurs due to a combination of biological factors, genetic makeup and environmental context. Scientists are currently conducting research to determine the relationship these factors have in bipolar disorder, how they can help prevent its occurrence, and what role they can play in its treatment.
That's why it's essential to seek medical attention and maintain commitment to treatment for bipolar disorder. Many people with bipolar disorder who receive the right treatment can lead full and productive lives. If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you will need to see your health care team regularly throughout your life to make sure your treatment is working well for you. .
