Just like other mental illnesses, there is a distinct correlation with drug and alcohol use. Bipolar disorder has a notably high tendency to occur right along with substance abuse, with one working to amplify the other, referred to as dual diagnosis. Studies indicate that anywhere from 30% to north of 50% of people with bipolar disorder (I or II) will develop substance use disorder in their lifetime.
Understanding the types of bipolar disorder, the impact of mental health disorders like bipolar disorder on substance use disorders (SUD), and the evidence-based therapies and treatment programs available at our bipolar treatment in Los Angeles can empower you to take the first step toward wellness and change today.
Once commonly called manic depression or manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder manifests itself in the form of dramatic mood swings and significant shifts in energy and activity levels. These two extremes of mania and depression, the euphoric highs and devastating lows, are the “poles” to which the term “bipolar” is referring, with those living with the mental health disorder moving from hypomanic episodes to times of intense low energy and mood.
While “only” about 2.8% of adults in the United States will struggle with bipolar disorder in a given year, the more staggering statistic is this: of that roughly 2.8% who have it, nearly 83% had serious impairment. That amounts to the highest percentage of serious impairment found in all mood disorders.
Bipolar disorder profoundly affects daily life, bringing not just an increase in risky behaviors like substance use, but also impacting daily life, mental well-being, and even affecting loved ones and family members. Interventions for the mental health condition, paired with effective treatment and family therapy, all make up a holistic approach to bipolar treatment in Los Angeles. Our bipolar disorder treatment center can provide effective, personalized treatment options across all levels of care for you or your loved one.
Understanding bipolar disorder and its effects on mental and behavioral health is necessary for identifying the personality disorder in oneself or a loved one. Learning the signs can empower you to find effective health care for the challenges and mental health issues presented by bipolar disorder.
At Thrive Treatment, we accept most private insurance plans, and we are in network with Cigna, Optum, First Health, and Anthem Blue Cross. Additional payment options are available, so don’t hesitate to give us a call about our bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles so we can connect you to mental health professionals for the help you need.
1-855-232-1334
The high, or mania, associated with bipolar disorder actually has two types:
This form lasts at least 4 days, often with less severity, and doesn’t necessarily impair the ability to function.
The symptoms of a manic episode can include the following:
On the flip side are the lows, which are very much in line with the standard definition and experience of depression.
The symptoms of a depressive episode can include the following:
Those living with bipolar disorder will experience symptoms from both sides, creating a unique collection of challenges to overcome. However, there is always help available, and the providers at Thrive Treatment’s Southern California bipolar disorder treatment facility can help you find the help and community you need for comprehensive healing.
Thrive Treatment offers evidence-based mental health treatment for bipolar disorder at our Culver City and Santa Monica locations in Los Angeles, California. We also offer substance abuse treatment, from detox to residential treatment and outpatient care, to address dual diagnosis and personalize your healing journey. Discover your personal path to healing today.
Making matters even more complicated for yourself or a loved one experiencing this is the fact that, although the name might suggest a clear distinction between manic and depressive episodes, that’s not always the case. It’s quite possible to be dealing with both the highs and lows of this disorder simultaneously. If a person is self-medicating with substances, it will also make matters worse.
Additionally, there are three types of this mental illness:
Bipolar I Disorder – Having manic episodes that last for a week or more or by symptoms that reach a level of severity. It also may bring breaks from reality in the form of psychosis, which requires hospitalization.
Bipolar II Disorder – Experiencing major depressive episodes as well as hypomania, but not mania.
Cyclothymic Disorder – Periods of depressive symptoms and hypomania that last for 2 years or more (1 year in children and adolescents).
In other words, bipolar I relates more to severe mania, bipolar II is defined by less intense mania and more episodes of depression, and cyclothymia is altogether milder.
Getting the care you need for bipolar disorder requires being able to get diagnosed correctly. As you can tell from the above, these periods of mania and depression punctuated by stretches of euthymia, or a relatively normal state of mind, can be difficult to follow and therefore tricky to label as bipolar disorder. This can make diagnosis challenging, but never impossible.
Moreover, the high periods of hypomania may appear as productive and a good time, which puts a diagnosis further out of reach because a person may simply not see an issue. Circumstances like these make it significantly tougher to shine a light on this disorder and convince someone to seek bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles or even get a medical opinion.
That said, the vacillation and constant back and forth between the extremes can create a tumultuous emotional state that grows increasingly unstable and hard to manage the longer it goes unaddressed.
The clearest sign of when you need to seek help comes during the full-blown manic episodes that can lead to breaks from reality and major depressive episodes, which can stir up thoughts of self-harm. If you or someone you care about is having suicidal thoughts or has been hospitalized due to psychosis stemming from mania, these are crystal clear indicators that it’s time to intervene and get the help needed.
At the end of the day, the symptoms of bipolar disorder look an awful lot like other mood disorders and mental illnesses, and often a person needs multiple visits to a doctor before the issue is appropriately classified.
Despite the potential hardship of obtaining an accurate diagnosis, once you know what you’re working with, treatment is possible. While there isn’t a “cure” for bipolar disorder, it is something that can be worked through, and you can bring a sense of normalcy back to your life. Healing is an ongoing, lifelong process, the basis of which is built upon proper therapy.
Bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles is predicated on just that. At Thrive Treatment, our team of nurturing experts and support staff helps you bring balance back to your life and days through a tailored treatment plan, the most well-known feature of which is psychotherapy, or talk therapy. In sessions that are both group and individual-based, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), you’ll be able to dig deep into the root of the disorder and work towards a solution. We can also supplement your personalized Southern California bipolar disorder treatment with medication management, using mood stabilizers under the supervision of a professional to work towards new coping strategies and goals.
In addition to the therapy sessions, you’ll receive support in the form of helping you identify your triggers and begin to lay the foundation for a change in your lifestyle that promotes stability. Everything from diet to sleep schedule has an effect on your life, and establishing a healthy routine goes a long way. Our outpatient treatment and group therapy all support individual care, ensuring that your bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles supports your healing goals while connecting you to a community ready to help you navigate the ongoing challenges in change.
Naturally, if substance abuse is a co-occurring disorder, we take great pains to treat both. Solving one issue without touching the other is no solution at all.
With bipolar outpatient treatment in Los Angeles, you’ll be able to achieve the balance you need to achieve your goals and lead a fulfilling, healthy, and constructive life. At Thrive Treatment, we want to be the ones to bring you to that promised land. To discover more about our intensive outpatient programs, don’t hesitate to reach out.
You deserve to live a life free from the ceaseless pull of bipolar disorder, and at Thrive Treatment, we can guide you every step of the way. Reach out to us to learn more about our bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles.
1-855-232-1334