According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), 40 to 70% of people with bipolar disorder have a history of substance abuse.[1]

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme emotional highs (manic episodes) and periods of low mood and energy (depressive episodes).[2] Symptoms often include intense mood swings, impulsive behavior, trouble maintaining relationships, and suicidal thoughts or ideation. Because the symptoms of bipolar disorder make it difficult to cope with everyday life, many people begin abusing drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication.

If you deal with co-occurring bipolar disorder and addiction, you must receive treatment for both conditions at the same time. Thankfully, dual diagnosis programs in Florida can provide you with the treatment you need to make a full recovery. These facilities offer a variety of services, including medical detox, evidence-based therapies, medication management, and relapse prevention planning.

What are the Signs of Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that has a variety of causes, including biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. That said, it often runs in families, as certain genes are passed down that make you more likely to develop bipolar disorder.

If you are worried that you are struggling with this mental illness, being aware of the symptoms can help you determine if it’s time to seek professional support.

Bipolar disorder occurs in episodes, including manic, depressive, and hypomanic episodes. If you have Bipolar I disorder, you will experience mania and depression. Bipolar II disorder causes hypomania and depression. Hypomania is simply a less severe form of manic episode.

The symptoms of a manic episode include:[2]

• Feeling high or elated
• Jumpiness or irritability
• Increased energy
• Decreased need for sleep and insomnia
• Talking fast about different ideas
• Experiencing racing thoughts
• Being able to complete a lot of tasks without feeling tired
• Excessive appetite for food, sex, drinking, or other pleasurable activities
• Impulsive and risky behaviors
• Feeling important or powerful

In severe cases, manic episodes can lead to psychosis. This causes you to experience symptoms like delusions, a detachment from reality, hallucinations, and paranoia. If you develop psychosis, you will require inpatient treatment.

The symptoms of a depressive episode include:[2]

• Feeling down, sad, or anxious
• Slowed activity or restlessness
• Trouble falling asleep, oversleeping, or difficulty getting out of bed
• Talking slowly and dealing with forgetfulness
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Feeling unable to complete simple tasks like showering or brushing your teeth
• Lacking interest in almost all activities
• Feeling hopeless or worthless
• Self-harm and suicidal thoughts

How are Bipolar Disorder and Addiction Connected?

Addiction has many underlying factors, with a major one being untreated mental illness. If you have a mental health condition that is not being managed, you are more likely to begin abusing drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication. Abusing substances can temporarily numb emotional distress caused by mental health disorders.

This is why many people with bipolar disorder begin abusing drugs. Another reason is the impulsivity associated with the condition. Because impulsive and risky behaviors are more likely, it is easier to fall into a cycle of addiction.

Whether you develop an addiction or bipolar disorder first, they must be treated at the same time. Co-occurring disorders can complicate the recovery of one another, making it vital that you seek help from a dual diagnosis program.

How Does Treatment for Bipolar Disorder and Addiction in Florida Work?

Dual diagnosis programs in Florida combine mental health services with addiction treatment. You will receive an individualized treatment plan that is solely based on your needs and history.

If you are receiving treatment for co-occurring addiction and bipolar disorder, you can expect the following services:

Medical Detox

The first step in recovery from addiction is medical detox. Before you can worry about your psychological symptoms, you have to recover from the physical aspects of substance abuse. Medical detox helps you overcome withdrawal symptoms by offering medications to lessen the severity of your side effects and cravings.

The exact treatment you receive during detox will depend on which drug you are addicted to. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are often treated using benzodiazepines, while opioid withdrawal is treated using other opioid medications.

Evidence-Based Therapies

Once you overcome withdrawal, you will begin therapy. Dual diagnosis programs in Florida use evidence-based therapies to help you overcome your substance use disorder and bipolar disorder.

For example, therapy can help you recover from addiction by teaching you how to change negative patterns of behavior and offering you healthy coping mechanisms to replace drugs and alcohol. On the other hand, therapy manages bipolar disorder by offering you tools to lessen the severity of manic and depressive symptoms.

One of the most common therapies used to treat both addiction and bipolar disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is clinically proven to be beneficial for both conditions.[3,4]

Medication

In most cases, recovery from bipolar disorder requires daily medication. Thankfully, the medications used to manage this condition are non-habit-forming. This means your medication will not trigger your substance use disorder.

Common medications used to manage bipolar disorder include:[5]

• Mood stabilizers
• Antipsychotics
• Lithium
• Valproic acid
• Carbamazepine
• Lamotrigine

Relapse Prevention Planning

Lastly, relapse prevention planning is a vital aspect of addiction treatment. It provides you with the tools and support you need to avoid a relapse after you leave the treatment facility. The first step is learning about your triggers and coming up with healthy coping skills to overcome them.

In addition, you will be offered aftercare services to keep you connected to recovery. These services include:

• Continued therapy
• Medication management
• Access to an alumni support group
• Referrals to outpatient and sober living programs
• Recommendations on local support groups
• Case management services like vocational or legal assistance

Find Support for Co-Occurring Addiction and Bipolar Disorder in Florida

If you or a loved one suffers from co-occurring disorders like bipolar and addiction, it’s time to seek help. The Best Treatment Center is a dual diagnosis program that offers evidence-based treatment and highly qualified staff members.

Contact us today to learn more about our bipolar disorder and addiction treatment center in Florida.

References:

1. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Update on bipolar disorder and substance abuse: recent findings and treatment strategies
2. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Bipolar Disorder
3. PLOS One: Efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in patients with bipolar disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
4. Psychiatry Online: Evidence-Based Treatments for Substance Use Disorders
5. Medscape: Bipolar Disorder Medication