Social Rhythm Therapy – CBT for Bipolar

Social Rhythm Therapy or (IPSRT) is used in conjunction with observations in which bipolar symptoms are fundamentally body rhythm disturbances, which commonly change or distort body rhythms, e.g. circadian and seasonal rhythms or social and occupational rhythms, which often cause mood disturbances.

Some of the body rhythm disturbances include insomnia as well as other sleep disturbances. These body rhythms can be reformed or corrected by teaching you how to manage the changes. By helping you to set up and stick to healthy sleep routines we can assist you with changing negative behaviors or rhythms that cause insomnia or other sleep problems. Once the patient adheres to a regular sleeping routine and it is stabilized, most of the body rhythm problems tend to go away. Bipolar patients who involve themselves in social rhythm therapy may be taught to keep a Mood Chart. The chart can be used to track your mood states and daily activities as well as body rhythms.

Thus, we will provide you with a practice to get you started:

Practice

Get some paper and pen and make a chart. Daily, record your moods, daily activities, and body rhythms. Record your eating, sleeping, shopping and other habits.

Interpersonal worksheet

Record – write out or keep an inventory of your social interactions. Note them by writing them out in your chart. Note any conflicts, or stress that have affected you on a daily basis. Record your body rhythms. For example, if you had an argument with someone close to you such as your spouse, child, etc., write down what occurred during the argument and note whether it led to agitation or insomnia.

Once you complete the charts, I will analyze and discuss your current psychotherapy sessions. Our intention is to help you raise awareness of your inter-relationship amid body rhythms and mood. We will help you establish as well as manage a steady and stable routine, e.g. taking your medications as prescribed or sleeping at a regular time.

We also would like to help you recognize the types of activities and interactions which cause you body rhythms disturbances, to help you avoid such interactions and activities. We will use a variety of problem-solving techniques to help you effectively prevent any recurring mood episodes.

For our next article, we will write out some steps for you to follow:

Step 1: Make it a habit to go to bed every night at the same time, say around 11 o’ clock unless you work nights.
Step 2: As much as possible, avoid people, places, things, etc. that ignite your symptoms.
Step 3: Try to avoid the use of excessive alcohol or street drugs (IF applicable)
Step 4: Try to avoid loud noises or upsetting sounds.

Once you record your behaviors in your worksheets, we will help you set up some other steps to control certain behaviors that cause you to experience bipolar disturbances.

Each day, write out other activities that you perform or experiences that you have had that set off your bipolar symptoms. After you record the activities and experiences on paper, take time to review your details to see if you can come up with new ideas to help you avoid situations that cause you upsets or disturbances.

The more you put forth the effort to cut out activities that cause you disturbances, the less frequently you will have bipolar upsets.

Summary

We have taught you how to use social rhythm therapy and how to manage your bipolar episodes. Now, we would like you to take the time to learn some behavioral modification therapy to help you further your social rhythm therapy and to help you get the most out of your treatment. In next article, we will begin behavioral modification therapy.

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