Bipolar Disorder & Addiction
Bipolar disorder (also called manic depressive illness) is a condition
that causes uncontrollable extremes in your moods. Your feelings and
emotions swing back and forth. Sometimes you feel overly excited and
can’t seem to slow down. This is the manic phase. On the low end of the
mood cycle you feel depressed and sad.
Bi-polar episodes can last for months or years if the symptoms aren’t
managed. This is exhausting for the patient and family. Many people use
alcohol or drugs to try to temper both the manic and depressive stages
of the disorder.
This dual diagnosis of addiction and bipolar disorder requires specialized rehabilitation and treatment.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder:
-
Talking too fast and too much
- Having many thoughts racing through your mind that may not make sense when you try to share them
- Spending more money than usual
- Feeling sad, angry, worried and anxious
- Have crying spells or feeling unhappy with yourself as a person
- Sleeping too much…or not at all
- Feeling completely drained of energy…or unable to stop moving
- Feeling on top of the world, and then suddenly angry or irritable
There is little middle ground in the emotional life of someone with
uncontrolled bipolar disorder. And with extreme highs and lows, it is a
very difficult disorder for friends and family as well. The ability to
maintain a stable social and working life are compromised.
Dual diagnosis treatment can help find a patient-specific combination
of rehabilitation, therapy, and medication to help bring your life back
into balance. It is essential to remember that only treating the
addiction or only focusing on the bipolar symptoms is a guaranteed plan
for failure. Both drug and alcohol rehab must be coupled with treating
the co-occurring (present at the same time) disorder.
This is where we can help. Our dual diagnosis therapy team will help
you design a personalized treatment plan that will help you redefine
your life in a more stabilized and healthy way.
Common Disorders Co-occurring with Addiction
Other Resources on Co-occurring & Dual Diagnosed Disorders