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How can I Find the Best Sources of Bipolar Support?

Patti Kate
Patti Kate

To receive the best bipolar support and treatment for bipolar disorder, you might consider an online support group or a center that can provide specialized attention for your personal needs. Online support groups are a good choice for those who wish to remain anonymous while seeking advice or input on certain situations. It can be an option for individuals who care to share stories and offer encouragement. If you would rather deal one-on-one with a trained councilor, there are centers that specialize in bipolar support while offering treatment options. To find one that works best to suit your needs, a good starting point might be a reference from your personal physician.

Contacting a mental health center that specializes in treating the disorder can help provide you with bipolar support. A good idea is to make an appointment with a psychiatrist who treats this condition and can give you a proper evaluation. After evaluating your history and assessing your unique symptoms and weaknesses, your doctor will be able to provide you with treatment options.

Doctors may help recommend the best bipolar support groups.
Doctors may help recommend the best bipolar support groups.

If you feel you would do well by joining a specialized support group, there are resources available to help you find the right one for you. Check your local library and see if they can help. One advantage to joining a group that offers bipolar support is that you will not have to face the challenge alone. Some groups can team you up with a bipolar friend. For many individuals, having a buddy makes it easier in coping with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar support groups are not intended to substitute for an in-depth diagnosis by a mental health professional.
Bipolar support groups are not intended to substitute for an in-depth diagnosis by a mental health professional.

Another way of receiving positive bipolar support is by various forms of therapy. Social interaction can be beneficial, and there are therapy groups that focus on this aspect. By forming stronger bonds and reinforcing your established relationships, coping with bipolar becomes more manageable.

Finding support may also mean searching for a new and fresh approach, such as holistic healing or therapy. The therapeutic concept of holistic healing is relatively new, but it might be worth considering if all other options have been exhausted. There are holistic therapists who treat mental disorders, such as bipolar and manic depression. Finding the right one might take some research, which can often be done effectively online.

In certain cases, a patient may find it beneficial to change physicians or seek another opinion elsewhere. If you feel you are getting nowhere with your present physician or support group, allow yourself to be open to other options. Sometimes all it takes is a different perspective from another person — or in this case, physician — to see things differently and find significant improvement. Being your own advocate may be essential to finding the bipolar support you are seeking. It's important to establish a trusting relationship with your doctor in order for treatment to be successful.

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    • Doctors may help recommend the best bipolar support groups.
      By: Nikki Zalewski
      Doctors may help recommend the best bipolar support groups.
    • Bipolar support groups are not intended to substitute for an in-depth diagnosis by a mental health professional.
      By: Phase4Photography
      Bipolar support groups are not intended to substitute for an in-depth diagnosis by a mental health professional.