Meeting the Treatment Team
Your treatment team includes all the people who help you reach goals, solve problems and manage your condition. You, however, are the most important member of this team.
Goals you and your treatment team might agree to work toward are:
- Getting symptoms under control
- Learning about bipolar depression and how to manage it
- Improving personal skills
- Stopping drinking alcohol or using street drugs
Members of the Treatment Team
It's a good idea to learn about the roles of your treatment team members so that you know the best person to speak with about specific problems, questions, needs and goals.
Some of the people you may work with include:
- Doctor or Psychiatrist
- Therapist or Case Manager
- Pharmacist
- Recreation, Activity and Occupational Therapist
- Rehabilitation Staff
- Job Coach or Vocational Rehabilitation Staff
- Your Family and Friends
- You
Doctor or Psychiatrist
Your doctor can:
- Discuss your diagnosis and symptoms, explain the prescribed course of treatment and what you might expect in the future
- Work with you to find appropriate medication and explain how these medicines may help you
- Prescribe your medicine, explain when and how to take it and discuss any potential side effects
- Talk with you about other treatments you may need
Therapist or Case Manager
Your therapist or case manager may be trained as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, counselor or nurse. Your therapist or case manager can:
- Listen to and help you explore your concerns, hopes, feelings, goals and problems
- Help you choose goals and work to achieve them
- Provide guidance to help you manage your illness
- Work with you on certain tests that will provide information about your particular problems
- Talk with you about your diagnosis, symptoms, how to recover from episodes and how to avoid relapse
- Help coordinate your overall treatment and get the services you need
- Support you in emergency situations
Pharmacist
Your pharmacist fills your prescriptions, but can also help you in other ways, such as:
- Explain how to take your medicine correctly
- Tell you what side effects may occur and how to handle them
- Tell you if a nonprescription medicine or supplement might cause problems for you
- Make sure that medicines prescribed by different doctors won't cause an adverse reaction when taken together
Recreation, Activity or Occupational Therapist
Recreation, activity and occupational therapists can help you:
- Create a balanced lifestyle for yourself
- Develop interests, hobbies and leisure activities
- Learn stress management and relaxation skills
- Explore issues and concerns in creative ways
- Improve your coordination
Rehabilitation Staff
If you're involved in a rehabilitation program, this can help you:
- Identify skills and strengths
- Choose rehabilitation goals and work toward them
Family and Friends
Your friends and family can be important members of your treatment team. They may:
- Provide information about your personal and treatment history
- Help you identify problems and set reasonable goals
- Represent you in certain situations
- Learn about your illness and how to support you in managing your condition
- Help you in emergency situations
Job Coach or Vocational Rehabilitation Staff
If you're interested in returning to work or changing your work in some way, a job coach or vocational rehabilitation specialist may help you:
- Evaluate, develop and improve work skills and abilities
- Identify work that matches your interests, skills and abilities
- Enroll in school
- Work on job application and interview skills
You
Although all the other members of your treatment team make important contributions, you are the most important team member. Here are some ways you can help yourself:
- Discuss your needs, ideas, problems, concerns and goals with your treatment team
- Provide complete and accurate information about your personal and treatment history
- Do all you can to reach the goals you and your treatment team have agreed upon
- Learn all you can about bipolar depression, how to manage it and how to avoid relapse
- Ask for what you need
- Express your respect and appreciation for the treatment team members
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