by Amber Hilton

Created on: July 21, 2010

If you struggle with bipolar disorder (formerly termed manic depression), its quite normal to wonder how this difficult mental illness is going to progress over time. You might worry that your bipolar disorder is going to continue to get worse as the years pass or you might wonder if you'll eventually be "cured' of this mental disease. Furthermore, you might like to know what will happen if you stop taking your mood stabilizers or whether you'll ever be able to stop seeing a mental health professional.

For most people, bipolar disorder symptoms begin to appear during late adolescence, but they can appear in early childhood or much later in life as well. Many people with bipolar disorder go undiagnosed for years after symptoms emerge or are misdiagnosed and treated for unipolar depression.

*Will I get better or worse?

This is a common question of patients suffering from bipolar disorder and one that is difficult to answer. A small percentage of bipolar patients will improve with treatment and remain healthy even after ceasing medication. However, a much larger percentage of patients will experience more severe and frequent episodes of mania and depression as the illness progresses. According to experts, depressive episodes become more frequent than manic episodes over time, which is disconcerting for many patients.

*Is there a cure?

Unfortunately, there is currently no "cure" for bipolar depression and there doesn't appear to be one in sight. Bipolar disorder is considered to be a lifelong mental illness that requires consistent treatment. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the illness, many patients don't believe that they have a problem and therefore treatment compliance is a major issue with this disease.

However, experts have suggested that consistent treatment, which typically includes a combination of psychotherapy, mood stabilizers and antidepressants, can not only significantly decrease the severity and frequency of bipolar episodes, but it can also slow down the disease progression. As long as you continue with proper treatment, you may experience what some experts have termed "bipolar disorder remission." This doesn't mean that your mental illness has been cured, but as long as you continue with your treatment, you will get better and can still live a full life.

Remember, bipolar disorder is a scary illness, but it is not a death sentence. Many people with bipolar disorder live full lives, hold down good jobs and care for a family. Try not to think of your treatment program as a crutch, temporary fix or hassle; instead, think of it as a lifelong plan to keep your symptoms in check and your life on track and you too could be on the road to recovery.

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