Bipolar treatment centers can be hard to find.
Getting treatment for bipolar disorder is essential, but where do you find the care you need?
At This Way Out, we’re here to provide you with the best treatment options for bipolar disorder. Read below to learn more about what this mental health condition is and how our treatment plan for bipolar disorder works.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that primarily affects a person’s mood. Those who deal with bipolar disorder experience major emotional highs and lows throughout the day, and these mood changes can be hard to predict. Mental health professionals sometimes refer to the highs of bipolar disorder as mania and the lows as depression.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
There are two types of mania associated with bipolar disorder: standard manic episodes and hypomania. Hypomania is considered much more intense than a regular manic episode. However, hypomania and mania have the same types of symptoms. Symptoms of mania and hypomania include:
- Feeling agitated, restless, and jumpy due to excess energy
- Feeling overly self-confident to the point of euphoria
- Functioning fully without your normal amount of sleep
- Talking more rapidly and more often than normal
- Being easily distracted by your surroundings
- Making impulsive and spur-of-the-moment decisions
On the other hand, the depression associated with bipolar disorder has its own set of symptoms. Like mania, bipolar depression can vary in severity ranging from minor depression to a major depressive episode. The symptoms of depression in those with bipolar disorder include:
- Feeling lethargic and fatigued for long periods of time; lacking the motivation to do things you normally enjoy
- Changes in appetite that cause you to eat significantly more or less; can lead to changes in weight
- Lack of sleep or sleeping excessively
- Decreased self-worth and feelings of guilt or shame
- Irritability, increased frustration
- Moving slowly or feeling increasingly restless
- In some cases, suicidal ideation or suicide attempts
Types of Bipolar Disorders
There are multiple types of bipolar disorders, and we treat each of them at our bipolar disorder treatment centers. The most common types of bipolar disorder are:
Bipolar I Disorder
A diagnosis for this condition is characterized by at least one manic episode that is linked to either a hypomanic or major depressive episode.
Bipolar II Disorder
A diagnosis for this condition is characterized by at least one major depressive episode and hypomanic episode but no manic episodes.
Cyclothymic Disorder
This condition is characterized by at least two consecutive years of hypomania and depression.
How Bipolar Disorder is Developed
Bipolar disorder doesn’t have one specific known cause. However, there are several factors that mental health professionals believe lead to the development of a form of this condition.
The primary risk factors for bipolar disorder are a person’s social environment, their genetics, and certain circumstantial triggers.
- Bipolar disorder is thought to have a connection to genetics, which means it can be inherited and passed down generationally. One primary risk factor for bipolar disorder is the presence of the condition in family members. However, it’s important to note that there is no particular gene that is associated with the development of bipolar disorder.
- It’s also thought that bipolar disorder can be triggered by circumstances. High-stress experiences are often triggers for bipolar disorder, such as a relationship ending dramatically, the death of a friend or family member, experiencing abuse, or a traumatic experience. In addition, long-term struggles with finances, work, or other aspects of life may also trigger bipolar disorder.
When diagnosing bipolar disorder, mental health professionals look at a person’s circumstances, family history, and any co-occurring conditions in addition to any evident symptoms.
Bipolar Disorder and Co-Occurring Mental Illnesses
Bipolar disorder is known to sometimes co-occur with other mental illnesses. This condition specifically often coexists with anxiety and substance use.
Addiction and bipolar disorder are thought to go hand-in-hand, and it’s often unclear which one precedes the other. People with bipolar disorder are thought to be more vulnerable to developing addictions during episodes, as the condition can make a person significantly more reckless and impulsive.
Likewise, bipolar disorder often manifests itself in the form of severe depression. Those who deal with bipolar disorder may be inaccurately diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and have the other aspects of their condition go unnoticed and untreated. The potential to misdiagnose bipolar disorder leads many mental health professionals to use rigorous testing procedures to diagnose the condition.
Types of Bipolar Disorders We Treat
At our bipolar disorder treatment centers, we address all of the most common types of bipolar disorders, including bipolar type I, bipolar type II, and cyclothymic disorder. We also treat similar conditions, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. If you need help managing your bipolar disorder, contact us today.
Our Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder
We offer several treatment options for bipolar disorder, taking a compassionate and personal approach to treatment for each of our clients. Instead of viewing those with bipolar disorder as all the same, we assess each client’s individual symptoms and circumstances when formulating a treatment plan.
Our primary treatment method for bipolar disorder is intensive inpatient therapy. When a client with bipolar disorder stays with us, we work over the course of several weeks to help them experience breakthroughs and learn to manage their symptoms instead of being managed by them.
What To Expect From Our Bipolar Disorder Treatment Centers
When you stay at one of our bipolar disorder treatment centers, you can expect to receive the highest quality of care from compassionate professionals. We take your recovery seriously and work closely with you as you run the course of your inpatient treatment. You can count on never feeling neglected or left to handle your bipolar disorder on your own.
Get Help For Bipolar Disorder Today
If you’re struggling with bipolar disorder, we want to help. Contact This Way Out today to learn more about our treatment options for bipolar disorder and how we can help you heal and find freedom from the cycle of ups and downs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bipolar Disorder Treatment
What are the best treatments for bipolar disorder?
The best treatments for bipolar disorder vary from person to person. For some, psychotherapy independent of medication is effective enough to make bipolar symptoms significantly more manageable. For others, a combination of psychotherapy and medication (antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, or anti-anxiety medications) is best.
Are there any risks or side effects associated with bipolar disorder treatment?
The prescription medications used to treat bipolar disorder can have a variety of side effects, but a mental health professional can help you manage these side effects or find a medicine that works better for you. That’s why it’s essential to get treatment from experienced professionals instead of self-diagnosing and self-treating.
How long does bipolar disorder treatment usually last?
Inpatient bipolar disorder treatment usually lasts several weeks and is followed by ongoing outpatient therapy and medication.
Is medication necessary for bipolar disorder treatment?
In many cases, medication is the final piece of the puzzle that is successful treatment for bipolar disorder. Therapy can go a long way, but medication is sometimes necessary to facilitate long-term management of bipolar disorder.
Can bipolar disorder be cured, or is it something that needs to be managed long-term?
Bipolar disorder is considered an ongoing, lifelong condition that needs to be managed rather than cured. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up hope on a rich, fulfilling life. With the right treatment, you can live your life well and manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder, even while dealing with the condition throughout different stages of your life.
If you deal with bipolar disorder, getting effective treatment is absolutely essential. A period of inpatient treatment can be life-changing and equip you to live well for years afterward. However, even after inpatient treatment is complete, it’s still important to be treated for bipolar in the long-term.
Continuous treatment may look like taking medication daily and going to therapy weekly, as well as building up healthy, enriching habits that help you keep the extreme highs and lows away. Making lifestyle changes like avoiding stimulants and other substances, as well as changing your diet and getting regular exercise, can make a world of difference in the months and years after your inpatient treatment is complete.