Bipolar Disorder Treatment
“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain, and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.”
— Matt Haig
Mental health is not linear. Many mental health conditions don’t make themselves known until later in life, often evolving alongside us.
This is commonly how bipolar disorder is discovered. While it can occur in children, most people don’t notice their condition until adulthood. This can make it feel even more daunting as you’re already adjusting to living on your own, and now your mental health has changed.
If you’re one of nearly 5% of people in the United States living with bipolar disorder, you’re not alone. But the symptoms of Bipolar don’t need to control your life. Our team offers unmatched bipolar disorder treatment, and we’ve seen it change lives.
What We Treat: Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition, sometimes referred to as a mood disorder, that often develops in teens or young adults. It is a lifelong condition noted by the periods of symptoms, or “episodes,” that can last days, weeks, or months. Between episodes, there can also be days, weeks, months, and even years without symptoms. This is what can make bipolar disorder harder to notice. It also makes it tricky to recognize when treatment is needed.
During an episode, a person’s “normal” behaviors, thoughts, and feelings will shift depending on what kind of bipolar disorder they have. This regularly impacts day-to-day function, relationships, finances, and overall mental health.
It’s not uncommon for people living with bipolar disorder to have other co-occurring conditions, as well. These include anything from substance use disorders to PTSD, depression, anxiety, and more.
No matter how severely or frequently your bipolar disorder influences your daily life, you’re deserving of support and care. Our team at Wings Recovery utilizes a full-person approach molded to your unique needs, so you can gain the tools and skills to manage and address your bipolar disorder moving forward.
How We Treat: The Power of a Trauma-Informed Approach to Healing
While the exact reason behind someone having bipolar disorder is still being researched, we do know that genetics and trauma can both play a big role.
This is where a trauma-informed approach comes into play. Trauma can happen to anyone, at any age, no matter their circumstances. Many people are unaware of the trauma they’ve lived through, which can lead to and contribute to their mental health conditions.
Our team is fully trained and well-versed in trauma, the trauma-informed approach, and more. Through our treatment, we strive for a full-person healing program. We don’t just want to address one facet of your concerns; we want to find the source of the problem and prepare you for future obstacles, too.
No matter what level of care you need or how often that level changes over time, we have support options available.
How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?
Like many mental health conditions, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder isn’t quick and straightforward. This ensures that a diagnosis is accurate so the individual seeking help gets the right support for their circumstances.
Before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it’s common to have a physical exam as well as a dive into your medical and family history. This is to check for patterns in mental health amongst your ancestors, as well as make sure a physical illness isn’t contributing to your symptoms.
Once other ailments are ruled out, a mental health examination will occur.
Depending on which type of bipolar disorder you may have, it’s not uncommon for other mental health diagnoses to occur prior to finding the correct one. Commonly, those with Bipolar II may be misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder prior to a bipolar diagnosis.
If you’re ever uncertain about your diagnosis, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions about it. Being open and honest and communicating how treatment is or isn’t helping you is important to ensure you get the right treatment.
Understanding the Differences Between Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and More
Bipolar disorder is a multi-faceted condition. It has 4 types: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder, and unspecified bipolar disorder. Each of these conditions has specific symptoms that differentiate them. While there is overlap between many of them, one person cannot have more than one type of bipolar disorder.
The common symptoms of bipolar disorder are broken up into two types: manic and depressive. Manic symptoms are ones that “increase” your mood and energy. Depressive symptoms, on the other hand, “decrease” your mood and energy.
The specifics of each kind of symptom will vary from person to person as well as per type of bipolar disorder. Any combination of symptoms that don’t fall into the diagnosis of bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymic disorder is labeled as “unspecified bipolar disorder.”
The Signs of Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I is primarily defined by manic episodes, with the potential to experience depressive episodes, too.
To be classified as bipolar I, the manic episodes must last at least 7 days at a time or be severe enough to warrant hospitalization. The symptoms of a manic episode include:
- Feeling more alert or energetic
- Being more impulsive
- Having quick mood swings, primarily increased irritability and anger
- Having racing thoughts or speaking quickly
- Feeling a decreased need for sleep
- Having a heightened sense of importance or power
- Participating in risky activities
- Eating more than usual
The Signs of Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II is primarily defined by depressive episodes but can also involve hypomanic episodes, which are less intense forms of mania. The specific requirements for depressive episodes aren’t as strict as the manic episodes for bipolar I. On average, however, these episodes can last weeks or months.
During a depressive episode, symptoms will consist of:
- Increased feelings of worthlessness
- Feeling lonely or isolated
- Decreased self-care
- Changes in sleeping and eating patterns (increased or decreased)
- Decreased energy
- Lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Low or no motivation to do even simple activities
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
The Signs of Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is a form of bipolar disorder that involves experiencing periods of depressive and hypomanic symptoms without having full “episodes.” This means that the symptoms don’t last as long or aren’t as severe overall.
This doesn’t mean that the symptoms don’t interrupt or influence how you live your day-to-day life, however. These sudden shifts in energy, mood, and thought patterns are still notable and irregular, hence the condition’s existence.
What to Expect in a Treatment Program for Bipolar Disorder
During treatment at Wings Recovery, you’ll work through different treatment modalities, many simultaneously, to give you a strong foundation for your healing. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), internal family systems therapy (IFS), dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), and more, depending on your needs.
Additionally, we offer equine therapy, motivational interviewing, housing options, outpatient treatment, and nutrition programs, to name a few.
How Dialectal Behavioral Therapy Helps with Bipolar Disorder
Dialectal behavioral therapy was initially built off the foundation of cognitive behavioral therapy with a specific focus on addressing motion dysregulation. Over time, it’s been shown to be effective in addressing a much wider range of mental health conditions.
DBT is a form of psychotherapy that works explicitly on helping individuals recognize their emotions, the source of their emotions, and how their emotions make them feel and behave. It works on building skills of mindfulness, acceptance, tolerance, and regulation. It works well in individual and group therapy sessions and can easily co-exist alongside other forms of therapy.
Get Started With Bipolar Disorder Treatment at Wings Recovery Today
There’s no wrong time to get started with your journey of recovery. With our gender-specific treatment paths, our team understands your unique story and concerns. We believe in working with you, so you’ll be an active participant in planning your journey alongside your dedicated medical team.
We don’t just focus on the specific aspects of your mental health. We address every area that needs improvement. This includes nutrition programs and other components of self-care. We see you for the person you are. You’re more than your mental health conditions, and your treatment reflects that.
If you want to know more about our programs at Wings Recovery, give us a call anytime at 888-790-9377. Your story doesn’t have to be written for you. Take control and write it the way you want. Don’t wait, take the first step today.
Wings – Rising to Meet Recovery