Addiction Treatment and Bipolar Disorder
What is Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)?
Bipolar disorder was formerly known as manic-depressive illness. It is a brain disorder that causes quick and extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. The feelings and sensations experienced by someone suffering from manic-depressive illness are not the average ups and downs of everyday life. The intensity of the feelings and the behaviors that accompany the mood swings can destroy a person’s career, family home-life and the ability to function daily. These extreme mood swings are known as mood episodes.
Bipolar disorder usually begins in late adolescence or early adult years (early 20s). It affects an equal amount of men and women, but women experience the start of manic depressive illness with a depressive episode while men experience the onset of bipolar disorder with a manic episode. The origins of this brain disorder are not known, but bipolar disorder seems to have a genetic as well as an environmental component. There is no distinction between ethnic groups, races, or social classes. Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness can be managed. Appropriate diagnosis becomes crucial as does knowledge about the mental health disorder and proper, ongoing treatment.
The patterns and severity of symptoms or episodes of highs and lows determine the different types of bipolar disorder and determine appropriate bipolar disorder treatment. The following are different types of bipolar disorders:
- Bipolar I Disorder: One or more manic episodes or mixed episodes (mania and depression happening nearly every day for almost one week) and one or more depressive episodes. This is the most severe form of the illness, marked by extreme manic episodes and manic depression treatment should be sought.
- Bipolar II Disorder: One or more depressive episodes accompanied by at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes are similar to manic episodes but are less severe. These manic moods clearly differ from a person’s non-depressed mood.
- Cyclothymic Disorder: Chronic fluctuations of moods involving hypomania and depression occur. The periods of depressive and hypomania symptoms are shorter and do not appear with as much irregularity as Bipolar I or II.
- Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: Every so often a person will experience the symptoms of a manic or major depressive episode, but that do not fit within the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder I or II. The symptoms are not the same as those of the categories mentioned above or they do not occur as often. However, these episodes are not within the range of normal behavior or feeling.
Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Self medicating with drugs or alcohol only worsens the mental health disorder and creates unexpected drug or alcohol addiction problems.
Those with bipolar disorder experience tremendous mood swings, alternating between mania (highs) and depression (lows), thus the name manic depressive illness. Whenever a person experiences symptoms for at least two weeks and is unable to function, it is determined to be an episode. Four or more episodes of mania or depression within a year is referred to as rapid cycling bipolar disorder. These symptoms require immediate bipolar disorder treatment. Rapid cycling is experienced in approximately 10 percent of those people with diagnosed bipolar disorder. Research has shown that this aspect of the disorder is predominant among females. People can experience rapid cycling episodes more than once a day. Bipolar disorder treatment can be challenging because of the patient’s instability and continual changes in mood. The frequency and severity of episodes will worsen with time if the disorder is left untreated.
Mood Episodes Associated with Bipolar Disorder
- Manic Episode (Mania): A specified period of time where there is a constantly elevated, expansive or irritable mood, lasting at least seven days.
- Hippomanic Episode (Hypomania): A milder form of mania that lasts at least four days without psychotic symptoms.
- Major Depressive Episode (Depressive): A time when there is either a depressed mood, lasting for at least 14 days.
- Mixed Episode: A period of time when a person experiences both manic and depressive symptoms for at least seven days consecutively but the symptoms can last years.
Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
It is not unusual for people suffering from bipolar disorder to seek drugs or alcohol in order to cope with their internal discomfort. They may seek to elevate or change their mood through the use of various substances. Quickly, the patient becomes dependant upon substances. Thus, drug and alcohol addiction may temporarily mask the symptoms of bipolar disorder. It is important to remember that self medicating will provide only momentary relief. Once addiction has taken hold, the bipolar disorder will worsen. Addictions and bipolar disorder require immediate and professional treatment.
A dual diagnosis, the combination of a mental health disorder such as manic depressive illness or some other disorder and substance abuse, seriously compromises a person’s health. Addiction treatment becomes necessary. As part of the addiction treatment program, mental health treatment is needed or a full recovery and mental health management will not be possible.
