Has Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helped anyone with Bipolar disorder?
I’m on meds, and I would like to know if CBT or anything like that has helped you or anyone you know…
From http://semanticmemories.net/depression/bipolar-important-treatment-considerations
(Live Wire 2.0)
Bipolar
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is widely used in conjunction with medication to help control the symptoms of bipolar. Part of the therapy is to help the person to overcome the swings of mood, from mania to depression, and to recover from the psychological effects of those mood swings. Usually the symptoms will recur, frequently as the result of some event, sometimes spontaneously. Helping the person to be prepared and to recognize the symptoms is part of the clinician’s task.
Also:
From http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/psychotherapy-and-bipolar-disorder?pp=1
The cognitive therapist begins by helping the patient identify which negative behavior patterns he would like to work on. Together, they identify what kinds of thoughts and feelings precipitate these behaviors.
Next, the therapist helps the patient figure out strategies for replacing thoughts that have negative consequences with new thoughts that have positive consequences. In other words, the cognitive therapist helps you “think yourself well.”
Also:
From http://www.sfbacct.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=73
Cognitive-behavioral model of bipolar disorder
Aaron T. Beck’s cognitive theory proposes that individuals who have a biological vulnerability to bipolar disorder and who hold problematic beliefs about themselves (e.g., the belief that they are worthless) can, when those vulnerabilities and beliefs are activated by life stressors, experience symptoms of bipolar disorder. Symptoms, in the cognitive-behavioral model, are made up of emotions (e.g., depression or elation), thoughts (e.g, "I’m worthless," or "I’m amazingly talented") and behaviors (e.g., passivity or excessive activity).
Cognitive-behavior therapy for bipolar disorder
Cognitive-behavioral interventions typically include helping the person with bipolar disorder to:
•identify and change the thinking (cognitions) and behaviors that accompany depressed and elated emotions, with the notion that if the cognitions and behaviors change, the emotions will also change;
•establish a regular routine of daily activities, especially a regular sleep-wake cycle, as this regularity can help stabilize mood and behavior;
•identify early signs of depression or mania so that early action can be taken to head off large mood swings;
•identify reasonable goals and reasonable levels of activity to accomplish them;
•rely on family members to help provide feedback and moderated activity and thinking;
•understand the need for medication and overcome obstacles to taking it regularly.
Also
April 28th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
http://www.yogictrance.com/2008/05/22/meditation-and-yoga-for-depression-and-bipolar/
Try meditation and yoga ..it helps to deal with depression / bipolar …
As for your question I have hear that CBT is very very helpful for Bipolar . I have no direct experience but have heard positive things abt CBT…
Cheers
References :
http://www.yogictrance.com
April 28th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
I don"t think so, i am also bipolar i went through the therapy thing, it didn:t do a thing for ME, but that"s me when you are bipolar it"s because circuits in your brain are messed up, that"s why we have to take meds i don"t believe someone talking to me about the way i think or feel is going to help my short-circuit brain but you should do it if you think it may help you good luck
References :
April 28th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
I have always been told and read in journals that the most effective treatment for mood disorders (including Bipolar) is a combination of therapy and medication(s)… but I don’t know. I’ve been to therapy for 5+ years now, 2 years with one therapist, 1 year with another, and 2 years with a third therapist, and feel I haven’t really gotten much out of it apart from the comfort of having someone to talk to for an hour once a week. I think it depends a lot on the person, their symptoms, and what they struggle the most with. For example, if you have a lot of trouble with spending and/or promiscuity when you are manic, maybe therapy could give you some tools to help set limits for yourself, or recognize specific triggers.
What has worked best for me personally, in order…
1. Meds.
2. A mood chart.
3. Diet.
4. Regular sleep cycles.
5. Exercise.
6. Cannabis when depressed and/or anxious (really).
I don’t really have family/friends support but if I did then I imagine it would be up there towards the top of the list as well.
References :
April 28th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
From http://semanticmemories.net/depression/bipolar-important-treatment-considerations
(Live Wire 2.0)
Bipolar
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is widely used in conjunction with medication to help control the symptoms of bipolar. Part of the therapy is to help the person to overcome the swings of mood, from mania to depression, and to recover from the psychological effects of those mood swings. Usually the symptoms will recur, frequently as the result of some event, sometimes spontaneously. Helping the person to be prepared and to recognize the symptoms is part of the clinician’s task.
Also:
From http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/psychotherapy-and-bipolar-disorder?pp=1
The cognitive therapist begins by helping the patient identify which negative behavior patterns he would like to work on. Together, they identify what kinds of thoughts and feelings precipitate these behaviors.
Next, the therapist helps the patient figure out strategies for replacing thoughts that have negative consequences with new thoughts that have positive consequences. In other words, the cognitive therapist helps you “think yourself well.”
Also:
From http://www.sfbacct.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=73
Cognitive-behavioral model of bipolar disorder
Aaron T. Beck’s cognitive theory proposes that individuals who have a biological vulnerability to bipolar disorder and who hold problematic beliefs about themselves (e.g., the belief that they are worthless) can, when those vulnerabilities and beliefs are activated by life stressors, experience symptoms of bipolar disorder. Symptoms, in the cognitive-behavioral model, are made up of emotions (e.g., depression or elation), thoughts (e.g, "I’m worthless," or "I’m amazingly talented") and behaviors (e.g., passivity or excessive activity).
Cognitive-behavior therapy for bipolar disorder
Cognitive-behavioral interventions typically include helping the person with bipolar disorder to:
•identify and change the thinking (cognitions) and behaviors that accompany depressed and elated emotions, with the notion that if the cognitions and behaviors change, the emotions will also change;
•establish a regular routine of daily activities, especially a regular sleep-wake cycle, as this regularity can help stabilize mood and behavior;
•identify early signs of depression or mania so that early action can be taken to head off large mood swings;
•identify reasonable goals and reasonable levels of activity to accomplish them;
•rely on family members to help provide feedback and moderated activity and thinking;
•understand the need for medication and overcome obstacles to taking it regularly.
Also
References :
It is embedded in the answer