Mood swings are common in life, as emotions can sometimes be unpredictable. However, for people who struggle with Bipolar Disorder, these mood swings can have a detrimental effect on their lives and possibly even make them a danger to themselves and others.
Mood swings are common in life, as emotions can sometimes be unpredictable. However, for people who struggle with Bipolar Disorder, these mood swings can have a detrimental effect on their lives and possibly even make them a danger to themselves and others.
Bipolar Disorder: Understanding the Basics
Formerly known as manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder is a mental health condition associated with extreme mood swings.
People with the condition may experience hypomania, which is a state of extreme or emotional highs and periods of incredible sadness and hopelessness.
These symptoms can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. In short, it’s an emotional rollercoaster. Untreated bipolar disorder can often lead a person to do any number of harmful or self-destructive behaviors.
Types of Bipolar Disorder and Their Symptoms
There are currently three recognized categories. These are:
Bipolar I Disorder
This type is characterized by manic episodes that last seven days or are incredibly severe. During these manic episodes, a person may need to be hospitalized for their safety. People may also experience depressive episodes as well.
Bipolar II Disorder
A pattern of depressive and manic episodes characterizes this form of bipolar disorder. Typically, the manic episodes experienced are less severe than those experienced in Bipolar I Disorder.
Cyclothymic Disorder
This involves chronic mood swings wherein the episodes experienced are not intense enough to qualify as either manic or depressive.
It should be noted that some people’s symptoms do not fit into any of the three categories listed above.
To determine the specific type someone has and the appropriate treatment, treatment providers must diagnose an individual and develop a personalized treatment plan.
What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known. It’s believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Substance use disorder has also been known to trigger and exacerbate emotional volatility in some people, which is why many addiction treatment facilities integrate dual diagnosis treatment into their approaches.
Signs and Symptoms
While it can affect people of any age, people with this condition often manifest it between adolescence and early adulthood. The primary way to tell if you or someone you know has bipolar disorder is to look for the signs of manic or depressive episodes.
Manic Episodes
Manic episodes can be identified by several symptoms that include:
- Racing thoughts: People in manic episodes tend to have racing thoughts and may have difficulty focusing on one thing at a time.
- Increased energy: Persons in manic episodes may have an increase in power and may become hyperactive.
- Decreased need for sleep: They may also feel a decreased need for sleep without affecting their energy levels.
- Grandiosity: Manic episodes can increase self-esteem and confidence and may give people an unrealistic view of their capabilities.
- Impulsivity: People with this condition also often engage in impulsive actions during manic episodes. Examples of this can include reckless driving and impulse shopping.
- Irritability: Manic episodes can make people more agitated.
Hypomanic Episodes
Hypomanic episodes are less severe than manic ones and can be identified by the following:
- Elevated mood: Similar to manic episodes, a person can have an elevated mood and just feel better than normal for no discernible reason.
- Increased sociability: People in a hypomanic state can become more sociable and less introverted.
- Increased productivity: Hypomanic episodes can make people more productive and goal-oriented.
Depressive Episodes
- Persistent sadness: A key feature of depression is a persistent feeling of sadness or feeling empty inside.
- Loss of interest: Depression can make a person lose interest in things about which they were once passionate.
- Sleep changes: Depressive episodes can affect sleep patterns, either causing insomnia or oversleeping.
- Dietary changes: Changes in appetite, either overeating or under-eating, are a common sign of depression.
- Fatigue: Someone in a depressive episode can also experience persistently low energy levels regardless of sleeping patterns and diet.
- Low self-esteem: A depressive episode can cause someone to feel guilty and/or worthless for no reason.
- Suicidal ideation: Severe depression can cause a person to have thoughts of suicide.
It should be noted that some people may experience manic/hypomanic and depressive symptoms at the same time.
This is known as mixed features. It should also be noted that experiencing the symptoms listed above does not necessarily mean that a person has been impacted by bipolar disorder.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a complex disease, and there are different types of treatment interventions available for it. Treatment is often multifaceted, and a treatment program will integrate medication and therapy.
Treatment for bipolar disorder is possible, but there is no known cure for it. However, while there is no cure, there are ways to treat it so that people who are suffering from it can manage their condition. The different types of treatment offered by healthcare providers often include:
Medication
Treatment options will typically include medication prescribed by a doctor, which is one of the many types of treatment available for someone suffering from bipolar disorder. These can include drugs such as lithium, which is often prescribed to people suffering from it to prevent manic and depressive episodes.
Antipsychotic medication can be prescribed to manage manic or mixed episodes. Antidepressants can be prescribed to manage depressive episodes.
Therapy
Therapeutic modules such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be used to identify harmful thought patterns. This can be useful for managing depressive and manic episodes.
Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy is about creating a stable routine and managing personal relationships to stabilize emotions.
Holistic Therapy
Holistic treatments can help people who struggle with many mental health concerns. Practices such as mindfulness, nutrition, and stress management can complement medication and therapy to help patients achieve their treatment goals. Holistic practices can help stabilize mood, manage stress, and improve overall well-being.
Benefits of Residential Treatment
A residential facility may be the best place to get treatment for bipolar disorder for patients whose symptoms are incredibly severe.
A residential treatment center can have many benefits that outpatient treatment won’t be able to provide. These benefits include:
Crisis Intervention
Residential bipolar disorder treatment is often initiated when a person is in the midst of a severe manic or depressive episode, and specialized treatment becomes necessary for their physical health. Inpatient facilities are also equipped should a crisis happen onsite, so individuals with the condition will be safe while in a facility.
Medication Management
Inpatient treatment happens in a controlled setting, where medical professionals can oversee patients and ensure that they take all the medication they need to manage their conditions.
Supervision
Inpatient facilities are monitored at all hours of the day. This is particularly important for people who are prone to self-harm or other destructive behaviors.
Structure
A structured environment with activities and therapy sessions can help establish stability.
Family involvement
As part of an effective treatment plan, inpatient facilities can involve a patient’s family in their recovery so they can learn more about the condition and are better equipped to support their loved one’s recovery.
Continuing Care
Before being discharged from a treatment center for their illness, patients who have completed treatment will collaborate with the treatment team so they can begin an outpatient treatment program, get follow-up care, or continue to receive support after they complete the program
When To Seek Residential Bipolar Treatment
Many people who struggle with bipolar symptoms can live everyday lives and manage their condition through a combination of therapy and medication.
However, there are instances when a person’s symptoms become so severe that they put themselves or others in danger. When an acute crisis happens, a person may be put into treatment for their safety, regardless of their feelings on the matter.
However, an acute crisis is not the only sign that a person may need a higher level of treatment for bipolar disorder. Depressive episodes can lead to suicidal ideation, which can be a significant sign that consistent monitoring found in a facility may be required.
Co-occurring disorders such as substance addiction or other mood disorders can also be a significant indicator that a person may need specialized care and support to manage their symptoms.
Get Help
If you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, understand that with the proper management, it is possible to live a productive and functional life. Treatment is available for you.
You can manage your illness and live a whole life. Bipolar disorder may affect you, but it doesn’t have to control you.
When you find yourself at a point where you need to consider treatment for bipolar disorder or know someone who is, then come to us; Luxe Recovery LA is ready to provide you with the world-class treatment that you need to manage your condition.
We take most forms of insurance. Contact us now to take control of your condition.
