Dear Sir
Thank you for your query.
The mainstay of treatment of bipolar mood disorder is medications. How long the medicines needs to be continued depends on a lot of factors like the duration of illness, severity, frequency of episodes as well as social and family support that you have. Just like any long term illness such as
diabetes and high blood pressure, the medicine has to be continued for a long term, not necessarily lifetime. I will recommend that you discuss without your psychiatrist any concerns that you have about medication and please do not stop the medicine on your own. It can lead to a relapse of your illness.
You will benefit from psychological therapy which can be done along with medications. Learn to identify the triggers and the early signs like feeling restless or changes in sleep pattern. It will help you to get help in an early stage and prevent a full blown episode.
Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, regular sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol and drugs will benefit you.
Feel free to contact me through practo
Thanks
Regards
Dr Ankita Mishra