This type of bipolar disorder is often mis-diagnosed and/or under diagnosed because the patient is often seen as "high-functioning" during times of mania. This means that the periods of mania that a person experiences does not visibly interfere with their daily lives. What can be surprising is that the periods of depression are often severe enough that a person may experience thoughts of suicide and family and friends may not even know that their loved one is sick.
As previously mentioned there are a number of different medications available on the market to help treat bipolar disorder but there are also a number of non-medication therapies that can be useful as well. Some of these include: social rhythm therapy, interpersonal therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, psycho-education, light therapy, and family-focused therapy. It is important to note that relapses can occur and are expected even with continued treatment.
Personally I chose to use behavioral therapy along with a blend of medications that include Lamictal and Serequel. It took me almost a year and a half and several trips to the ER to find a combination of medication that would work effectively for me. The problem for me was not the medication itself but rather the side effects. Since each person reacts differently to an individual drug the number and occurrences of side effects will vary. I found that I was allergic to one, had severe stomach upset with another, hives with yet another, and even drowsiness that prevented me from functioning on a daily basis with another! Yet despite all of this I persisted in my efforts to find something that would eventually work for me. It helped to have a doctor who was committed to my well-being.
A video on treatment through psychotherapy:
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