But there is an answer: a firm support system, medical intervention. It's just not the kind of answer you are talking about. When a person with bipolar disorder slides into an episode, the first things we need to do is contact our psychiatrist, a medical doctor. When my therapist sees me slipping, that's the first thing he expects me to do. He's even had me call from his office. He says, "Call Dr. M first; call me next." He knows there is only so much he can do for me as a therapist until I get the episode under control. But you see, that IS the answer in those circumstances. We have an intervention plan that we follow. Many of our sessions in therapy have been on the topic of, "Okay, we dodged that bullet. Now. What are the signs that you are going into an episode? What will you do next time you go into an episode so it doesn't get as dangerous?" Very step by step, concrete learning.

And yes, I am very confident in my therapy. I've dealt with my childhood issues and have pretty much put them on a high shelf. I don't need to look at them anymore. They aren't helpful to me as an adult. That's over now. I can live with the confidence that I'm safe from that harm.

I've gained so much autonomy through learning my boundaries, improving my communication with my husband and children, reframing my beliefs about myself. Those are typical therapy things. I just happen to have this complicating factor of bipolar disorder. It has to be dealt with on a different level.

My therapist works with both aspects of my therapy. Sometimes together. Sometimes separately. It depends on where I'm at. He meets me where I need him.