Bipolar Support Groups: Medicine Is Not The Only Answer

Bipolar support groups come in various shapes and sizes, in different times and frequencies. Some are available online, others are just around the street corner. Whichever support group a bipolar disorder patient chooses, whether alone or in combination, just remeber that every little thing helps.

Medicine is not the Only Answer

While prescription drugs and medications are there to address the symptoms of bipolar disorder, pharmacologic treatment is not the only way out for someone with the disorder. A combination of medication and therapy may be in order.

Studies have shown how big a role psychological factors play in bipolar disorder. These studies also reveal that psychotherapy acts as a special key to uncovering the underlying problems that caused the disorder, alleviating most if not all of the symptoms of the disorder, identifying what caused the manic or depressive episodes, reducing the impact or psychological effects of any manic or depressive episode, and recognizing other potentially harmful symptoms brewing.

Medication combined with psychotherapy had been proven to work over time in bipolar disorder treatment. Psychotherapy may vary and can be through social therapy such as those provided by peer groups or other support groups, family focused therapy involving the patient’s immediate family members, psycho-education, and cognitive therapy.

The role of the support groups in these therapy types is crucial.

Online Support Groups

Online bipolar support groups are available to help those afflicted with the disorder. These support groups feature websites that provide the bipolar disorder patient with as much information that he can need and use in addressing his particular behavior and mood problems. These support groups feature chat rooms and sites for sharing experiences, answering questions, giving answers, and other services for the patient.

Online bipolar support groups usually consist of professionals, volunteers, patients themselves, or family or friends of persons afflicted with the disorder. There are community coordinators and chat hosts, community leaders and volunteers, chat room guides and assistants, site coordinators, the works. The idea is to make the site and chats as accessible and knowledgeable as possible for the bipolar disorder patient.

Chat rooms are designed and structured to promote discipline and camaraderie. Regular topics for bipolar disorder information are given well in advance so you can prepare yourself for an upcoming chat conference on a specific bipolar disorder topic. Online forums provide a wider avenue and participation.

Topics may range from coping with the disorder to complications that may arise. Communication is a regular and favorite; crisis and anger management are also available. Some support groups even provide suicide crisis information and resource assistance. Others have weight control assistance and support (and why not, as there is a tendency for medication, even bipolar medication, to produce unwanted weight gain). Other online bipolar support groups maintain regular newsletters that you can subscribe to for a regular feed on latest updates and resources about bipolar disorder.

Offline Support Groups

There are also offline support groups that are more personal and acessible. Most are community or peer initiated, others started by individuals, families, friends of those afflicted with bipolar disorder. There are local support groups, foundations, non-government organizations, social and people organizations or associations that can help someone with bipolar disorder.

You only need to check around your community for these support groups’ presence and availability of assistance. There are government agencies that provide special assistance, too.

But of course the best offline bipolar support groups that you can find are just there beside you – your family, your friends, your classmates, your co-employees, your co-parishioners, even your neighbors. Who will better understand your plight than these people who have known you all your life and are ready to support you all the way?

While it may be awkward for you to start telling your friends that you have bipolar disorder, it may be better if they knew so that they will be more understanding of your mood swings. While your mom or dad may not always be there for you before, having them know of your disorder may even make them realize that they should start giving you more attention now.

Your siblings can help in the understanding and healing process, too. Your neighbors who used to look at you differently will now be in a position to understand you better and can also provide the moral boost and support you need in being able to reintegrate yourself into the social circle despite your disorder.

Bipolar support groups abound; find one that understands you the most, and stick to it.