“Living with bipolar disorder is difficult for the sufferer as well as for those close to them. The latter must know that the patient does not choose to be. The disease must be diagnosed as soon as possible in order to prevent both the patient’s mental state from deteriorating and his physical health from being seriously affected.

In order for the doctor to make the correct diagnosis, it is essential that the patient recounts all the symptoms he is encountering, from the most insignificant to the most important. His entourage will participate in the description of the troubles.

The announcement of the disease inevitably affects the life of the person who suffers from it, he will have to readjust his lifestyle according to his symptoms in order to reduce as much as possible the impact of the disease and to live better with it. In this context, psychotherapy can complement drug treatment and help the patient to better manage his disorders in daily life by developing adaptive strategies.

If you think you or someone you know has bipolar disorder, you can seek professional help to talk about your concerns. For this, you can contact either a Medico-Psychological Center (CMP in France), a part-time therapeutic reception center (CATTP), a day hospital, a crisis center, an inpatient unit or even a psychiatrist. private.

Finally, hospitalization may be necessary in cases where the patient behaves in a dangerous manner both for himself and for those around him. “

Laure Deflandre, psychologist