Spotlight on Occupational Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is often difficult to treat with just the use of medications, as it can affect every aspect of an individual's life. Occupational therapy can be beneficial to most who suffer from this mood disorder. What is occupational therapy and how can it help bipolar disorder?

What Is Occupational Therapy and How Can it Apply to Bipolar Disorder?

Occupational therapy is simply helping an individual learn to accomplish everyday tasks, according to Concepts of Occupational Therapy: Fourth Edition . Occupational therapists help individuals learn how to get along in different environments, such as at home, school and work, regardless of disability, condition or illness.

Occupational therapy can be extremely useful for those with bipolar disorder. When in either the depressed or manic phase, affected individuals may find it hard to focus and concentrate on tasks at hand, no matter what environment they are in. Those with bipolar disorder are often less likely to socialize or engage in enjoyable activities when depressed. They also may be more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors that could be harmful to themselves or others when in the manic state. Occupational therapy can help the individual learn coping strategies to deal with tasks in any type of mood swing he or she is facing.

How and Why Does Occupational Therapy Work for Bipolar Disorder?

An occupational therapist makes the assumption that a person "functions through the interrelation of biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual factors." It is also understood that a person functions as a whole and can be the best they can be when all of the above-described aspects are working to their greatest extent.

Occupational therapy can work on habits, development and behavior. An occupational therapist evaluates the ability of an individual to take care of their own needs. Concepts of treatment might include, personal hygiene, communication with others, going to work, managing money and reducing stress with a hobby or activity to regain balance in one's life.

Occupational therapy works for bipolar disorder as it helps the individual to be effective in every area of life from home to work to social situations. The person learns ways to deal with stress and to get along with others. Hobbies are useful to reduce stress and to prevent boredom which is very beneficial during the manic phase.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy

There are many benefits to using occupational therapy for bipolar disorder. This type of therapy can be used in connection with other treatment options without adverse reactions. An individual can learn new skills and strategies for dealing with everyday problems to function independently. This helps a person gain confidence in their own abilities and thus continue the improvement of life functioning.

When enrolled in occupational therapy, the person has an additional means of emotional support in addition to other health care providers for bipolar disorder. This therapist works with other providers to give full and complete therapy to someone with bipolar disorder. Read a little more about what an occupational therapist does for those with bipolar disorder at Psych Central.

Occupational therapy is an excellent addition to other treatments for bipolar disorder. It helps people get out, be independent and gain fulfillment from everyday living.

SOURCES:

Google Books; Concepts of Occupational Therapy: Fourth Edition;

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=1ZE47g_IRTwC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=bipolar+disorder+and+occupational+therapy+&ots=sKcxgSji0Q&sig=6LEahm1QvYX7SAzEfE3U4boSEEI#v=onepage&q=bipolar%20disorder%20and%20occupational%20therapy&f=false

Candida Fink, MD & Joe Kraynak; Bipolar Beat Psych Central

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2008/12/what-can-an-occupational-therapist-do-for-you/