Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

The extreme and sudden shifts in mood that characterize bipolar disorder are likely nothing new to you by now. Suicide is a real possibility if you don’t get help for your mood swings, and they can also strain your relationships and professional life.

On a positive note, bipolar disorder is manageable by a Behavioral Health Specialist. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively complements mood stabilization and recovery medication.

A Functional Analysis of CBT for Bipolar Disorder

The question of what triggers manic and depressive episodes in those with bipolar disorder remains unanswered. A study published in Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice in January 2015 found that thinking patterns can affect the severity of mood swings in people with bipolar disorder. Researchers found that “descent behaviors” (such as withdrawing from friends) are associated with having excessively negative thoughts. In contrast, “ascent behaviors” (such as risk-taking) are associated with having overly positive reviews.

Bipolar Disorder and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

According to Rego, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches several valuable skills that directly address the core manifestations of bipolar disorder. Among these are:

Accepting a diagnosis

The initial step is diagnosis and acceptance of the underlying disorder causing your symptoms by a Behavioral Health Therapist. People with bipolar disorder have difficulty accepting this, so learning about the disorder’s symptoms, causes, and progression is crucial. According to Rego, this encourages people to seek help because they feel less isolated.

Restructuring Thinking

By increasing one’s awareness of the impact one’s thoughts have on one’s emotional state, one can learn to recognize problematic thought patterns and work toward altering or eliminating them. The therapist guides the client through analyzing their thoughts to identify and eradicate distorted ways of thinking, such as an “all-or-nothing” mindset, and replace them with more reasonable alternatives.

Frequent use of problem-solving skills

The next step is acquiring the skillset to recognize an issue, think of potential solutions, settle on one, implement it, and assess its effectiveness. Commonly, problem-solving skills are taught in therapy and practiced in between sessions. Relationship issues, joblessness, and debt are just a few examples of the many areas of life that can be problematic. If any of these problems persist, you may experience a relapse.

Effective Strategies for Treating Bipolar Disorder

To get the most out of your treatment for bipolar disorder, Rego recommends:

Pay attention to what the doctor says. Learn to accept your bipolar disorder. Maintaining a stable mood requires careful adherence to medical advice and the use of prescribed medications.

Carry out your cognitive behavioral therapy assignments. With CBT, you’ll need to put in some time between sessions. Rego says completing all assigned homework is the best indicator of future success with cognitive behavioral therapy. Consistent practice is the best way to develop one’s abilities.


The persona hides its identity under a mask. Vector illustration of dissociative identity disorder, imposter syndrome, and split personality.

It would help if you kept studying the bipolar disorder. You can learn more about your condition by reading self-help books, participating in a support group, and consulting with your Behavioral Health Services in Utah. Participating actively in your treatment is the best way to help you manage bipolar disorder.

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