The quest for the right bipolar medication is complex, often requiring patience through trial and error, yet it’s a crucial step toward stabilizing symptoms and enhancing overall well-being. Getty Images Many people with bipolar disorder have a love-hate relationship with their meds. They can work great to stabilize symptoms (which is why one of the first things your doctor will do after you’re diagnosed is to prescribe medication), but they can also, in some cases, cause intolerable side effects. That’s why finding that magic mood-stabilizing cocktail can take a lot of trial and error. And f ..read more

An antipsychotic approved by the FDA in 2009 to treat schizophrenia has now been greenlighted for use in bipolar 1 disorder. Getty Images The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved iloperidone (Fanapt) for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar 1 disorder in adults. Initially approved by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of schizophrenia, iloperidone is an atypical second-generation antipsychotic. The most recent approval came after a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in Janu ..read more

Hypersexuality is a completely normal symptom of hypomania and mania in bipolar disorder. Here’s how to keep it from devastating your treasured relationships. Getty Images 1. Know What It Is The compulsion and obsession of hypersexuality can feel much the same as what’s felt by drug and alcohol abuser. This compulsion can be one of the more destructive aspects of bipolar because of the marriages ruined. Both people in a relationship suffer when infidelity occurs, especially when the spouse with bipolar is distraught with guilt at having hurt the other, but also incapable of controlling the com ..read more

Firsthand accounts from those with bipolar trace the brain-based disorder’s presence through generations in their families. Getty Images For some families, bipolar disorder runs through the generations as invariably as freckles or cleft chins appear in other family trees. Even so, looking for your family’s source of bipolar disorder can be a little like searching for the headwaters of the Nile. You start backtracking through the generations and suddenly realize that the “quirky” behavior you once brushed aside as your grandmother’s eccentricity was really a signpost. If only you had recognize ..read more

When my bipolar depression returned, I mistakenly began to wean off a medication, not considering how it helped ease my other bipolar symptoms. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model) People seem to have misconceptions about me and how I handle my bipolar disorder. Some think that my bipolar can’t be too severe and that I manage it without medication. Another misconception is that I don’t make mistakes because I’m an “expert.” Of course, nothing could be further from the truth! I deal with mood swings constantly, and I do take medications. And, certainly, I have made many mistakes, includin ..read more

Positive affirmations and practicing mindfulness can improve your perspective and your mood. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model) You’ve heard the expressions “mind your money” and “mind your manners.” Well, it pays to mind your mindset too! Mindfulness is doing what you can to battle bipolar presently, purposefully, positively, and practically to the fullest extent possible. It’s acting with awareness and control, and in anticipation of regaining a full and meaningful life. Being mindful matters in every facet of recovery — from overcoming obstacles to seeking support to maintaining mot ..read more

Recovery isn’t about never getting sick again — it’s about bouncing back from a relapse in your symptom management. Building resilience is a valuable part of living with bipolar disorder. Klaus Vedfelt/Getty ImagesHow Developing Resiliency Helped My Depression I often feel as if I’ve stepped back in time when I get really sick. I think, How could this happen again? I’ve worked so hard to get where I am! I once made this comment to my therapist after I had trouble at work and went into a depression. She replied, “Julie, you always  ..read more

Sometimes, bipolar depression makes us feel as if we are chained to the bed. Here’s what I do to break the links and keep going. Getty ImagesDepression, the Beast of Bipolar When I was heading back to work from my lunch break, I walked by an ad agency I used to work at years ago when I first experienced depression. I stopped dead in my tracks — I couldn’t believe how far I have come from that state of mind. I remembered it like it was yesterday. They brought me in as a freelancer, paid me a lot, I produced, and all was good. Until the anxiety attacks, mania, hallucinations, and depression kick ..read more

Guilt can be a healthy motivator, but it shouldn’t overpower you. In living with bipolar, releasing regret helps refocus on positive action. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model) Effectively managing bipolar symptoms, recognizing triggers, rebuilding relationships, and redressing any personal grievances after a bipolar episode requires taking time to reflect on what happened before and during the mood swing. Because depression, hypomania, and mania influence your thinking, decision-making, actions, and abilities, looking back at what happened can give rise to powerful emotions and leave yo ..read more

People with bipolar may experience mood episodes that don’t reflect their true selves — often burdened by guilt. Here’s how to release it. Getty Images Ann R. knows that, even on her best days, it can be difficult to deal with the noise and chaos that comes with having a six-year-old and four-year-old twins. When she’s pulled down by bipolar depression, though, she finds it almost impossible to be the mother she wants to be. Then the guilt latches on — and won’t let go. She recalls a mood episode that left her full of remorse. She’d arranged to take time off work to be with her children, but ..read more