Bipolar Disorder Treatment in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Characterized by dramatic mood swings that take people from states of severe depression to manic elation, bipolar disorder is a common, co-occurring mental health issue. Many people in drug or alcohol addiction treatment find that they’ve been using drugs or alcohol to self-treat the symptoms of this simultaneously occurring disease.

In substance abuse treatment, having bipolar disorder professionally diagnosed and treated can mean the difference between success and failure in recovery. When recovering addicts have the right needs-specific tools and strategies for the long-term management of this illness, they are often no longer compelled to abuse substances.

There are four distinct types of manic episodes that people with bipolar disorder can experience:

• Hypomanic episodes
• Manic episodes
• Major depressive episodes
• Mixed episodes

Both manic and hypomanic episodes are characterized by excessive hostility or cheerfulness. However, while manic episodes can last a week or longer, hypomanic episodes typically span just four days or less. Major depressive episodes are periods of extreme depression that leave people unable to focus, function, or derive pleasure from any of their normal activities.

During mixed episodes, people with bipolar disorder experience some or all of the symptoms of major depressive episodes, manic episodes, and hypomanic episodes in rapid succession or all at once. Bipolar disorder can be classed as bipolar I or bipolar II, with bipolar II recognized as being markedly less severe than bipolar I. 

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Treatment for bipolar disorder is often ongoing. It typically includes various types of psychotherapy and the lifelong use of one or more forms of medication. People with bipolar disorder tend to fare best when a multi-pronged approach is taken. Long-term management of this disease typically includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT), diligent self-care, ample options for social support, regular participation in therapy, and effective stress management techniques.

Both substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder can exacerbate and intensify the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Thus, a commitment to ongoing addiction recovery is also a critical element for success. For people with bipolar disorder, dual diagnosis treatment limits the likelihood of relapse in addiction recovery. It also makes it easier to safely and successfully manage bipolar disorder as the primary mental health issue.

Medications that are commonly used to treat bipolar disorder include:

• Mood-stabilizing drugs for preventing or limiting hypomanic and manic episodes
• Antidepressants for managing issues with severe and lasting depression
• Antipsychotic medications when mania and depression are not responsive to mood stabilizers
• Short-term use of benzodiazepine drugs or other anxiety medications

Bipolar disorder treatment is streamlined for meeting each person’s unique range of needs. As such, not everyone is given a combination of multiple drug types. For some, the use of antidepressants, anxiety medications, or antipsychotic medications isn’t deemed necessary. It’s also important to note that when bipolar disorder is believed to be substance-induced, treatment plans are regularly reviewed and revised as necessary to reflect marked and lasting changes in brain chemistry, brain functioning, and overall mental health.

Untreated bipolar disorder can cause performance-related issues at work or school, relationship challenges at home, suicidal thoughts and suicidal tendencies, and a host of financial and legal problems. It also greatly increases the likelihood of drug or alcohol abuse. 

If you or a loved one requires mental health or addiction treatment, our treatment programs in Fort Lauderdale can help you. Start on the path to healing today!