Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism

At Crest View Recovery Center, we understand that bipolar disorder does not discriminate. It affects both men and women and is commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 25. It is estimated that 2.9% of Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Out of that estimate, 83% of those diagnosed are classified as severe cases.

A lot of people in North Carolina are uneducated about what bipolar disorder truly is. There are many instances when individuals have no idea how serious their condition is, and they go about living their daily life believing what they are feeling is normal. Because of this, many bipolar disorder cases go undiagnosed.

In order to cope with their symptoms, individuals faced with this disorder may turn to other substances to east the pain they are feeling inside. Some may turn to prescription drugs to give them a euphoric high to help them forget. Others may turn to alcohol and over consume to try to numb their emotions.

Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive mental illness due to a hormonal imbalance inside of an individual. It is characterized by mood shifts and energy fluctuations that change on a day-to-day basis.

The individual who has this disorder will experience bouts of mania and depression that heighten their emotions towards whatever situation is going on around them. These periods can be caused by any event or mood change that the person experiences and can last weeks or even months at a time.

There are four main types of bipolar disorder that include:

• Bipolar I Disorder: an individual with a Type I Disorder will have manic episodes that last at least 7 days and experience symptoms that will require proper hospital care. Depressive episodes are also associated with this type and last at least 2 weeks at a time.
• Bipolar II Disorder: this is the lesser version of Type I and individuals experiencing this will not have full-blown manic periods.
• Cyclothymic Disorder: individuals with Cyclothymic Disorder will have periods of hypomanic symptoms for at least 2 years. 
• Unspecified Related Disorder: this disorder has symptoms that are similar to the other types of bipolar disorder but do not follow a certain guideline.

When it comes to why someone developed his or her bipolar disorder, every individual is different. There are many reasons why someone could develop their disorder. 

Brain structure and functioning play a huge role in determining how someone thinks and feels. Scientists have done studies that prove that “healthy” individual’s brains differ from those with mental disorders. As for someone with bipolar disorder, their brains are hypersensitive to everything around them, which shows up on MRI scans.

Psychosis is a huge reason for development because it causes severe mania and depressive episodes that lead to hallucinations and delusional states. Individuals can think they have obtained a different lifestyle that they actually live or even believe someone they have never met before is out to get them. These can even be misdiagnosed as schizophrenia and the individual could never know it’s actually a severe type of bipolar disorder.

Genetics and family history also have a lot to do with the development of certain disorders. Often times, people develop this type of disorder because of another present mental illness, which can be linked back to someone in their family tree more often than not. Untreated anxiety disorders, attention-deficit disorders and depression are major factors in if someone develops a bipolar disorder over time. 

Bipolar disorder and alcoholism tend to work in tandem. In fact, studies have shown that people diagnosed with bipolar disorder have a 60% chance of developing alcoholism at any point throughout their life. Although someone with this mental illness may see alcohol as an escape, both disorders worsen the symptoms of the other severely, which only leads to more problems down the road.

Alcohol greatly increases the length of periods of mania and depression bipolar individual experience. It also heightens an individual’s emotions and causes them to become confused or have hallucinations. A lot of bipolar people who choose to drink instead of get medical help do so because the effects from their medications are far worse than that of alcohol.

Bipolar disorder is mainly characterized by symptoms of mania and depression. These episodes are characterized as hypersensitive emotional spurts that develop from any given situation an individual may face. These periods can last anywhere from days to weeks to months at a time making them unbearable to live with.

The general symptoms of bipolar disorder will vary from person to person. But, some of the commonly seen effects of bipolar disorder include the following:

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Racing thoughts
• Lack of energy
• Lack of motivation
• Shifts in appetite
• Low self-esteem
• Poor self-image
• Impulsive behavior
• Lack of judgment
• Episodes of anger

CRVC believes the first step to overcoming the co-occurring bipolar disorder and alcoholism is by acknowledging that the disorders are there in the first place. We believe taking medicines for the disorder will be the first phase of the treatment. These include mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics.

When it comes to alcohol abuse, the first step to recovery will be detoxification with our partnered center in North Carolina. After being weaned off the alcohol for a period of time, our specialists will begin other treatments proven effective for preventing relapse after rehab completion. 

We believe a great way to overcome both alcoholism and bipolar disorder is holistic treatment. Instead of focusing on the physical effects of both disorders, a holistic approach will give an individual the tools they need to explore their mental and emotional needs. Both disorders are heavily influenced by negative thoughts and feelings, and this treatment shows how to give energy towards something higher than oneself. 

Here at Crest View Recovery Center, we offer this treatment to those who need help overcoming addiction and working through mental health disorders. So, if you or someone you know is in need of treatment, please contact us today by calling (866)327-2505.