How to Recognize When It's Time For
Psychiatric Help:
When You Have Already Been Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder and are currently being treated by a psychiatrist to recognize the possible need for psychiatric help the earliest sign:
Not being able to sleep or not feeling the need for sleep.
If you experience any of the "Supposed To's" aka symptoms of mania or depression that is a sign that it is time for help.
People often don't get help for Bipolar Disorder until it hurts bad enough. For too many people it takes:
- Losing their job, friends, education opportunities, and financial debt or ruin due to their behavior.
- Hurting the people they love the most: destroy families, ruin friendships and romantic relationships, destroy marriages, diminish the ability to parent.
These times require hospitalization:
- Causing physical and emotional abuse, child neglect and violence.
- Causing harm to self and others.
- Suicide impulses, plans, or attempts.
How To Recognize When It's Time For Therapy
If you are being treated for bipolar disorder by a psychiatrist, you may come to realize that medication just is not enough.
Medication does not heal the pain and loss caused by bipolar disorder. It doesn't strengthen self-esteem and self-awareness. Medication is not invested in developing your strengths and helping you to take action in your life to be the person you prefer to be. It gives you a cushion to fall on and some stability, but it can't make you stand.
This is why there is never a wrong time for therapy because there is never a wrong time to begin living the life you want.
