People who struggle with addiction often have underlying mental health conditions that contribute to the development of their substance abuse. For example, untreated mental health symptoms can cause someone to begin self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. When someone suffers from addiction and a mental illness, this is known as having co-occurring disorders.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “approximately 9.2 million adults in the United States have a co-occurring disorder.”[1]
One of the mental illnesses that commonly co-occur with addiction is bipolar disorder. This mental health condition causes drastic changes in mood, from manic highs to depressive lows. Experiencing these mood shifts can make it difficult to cope with everyday life, often leading to substance abuse.
If you or a loved one has co-occurring bipolar disorder and addiction, it’s important to receive treatment for both conditions simultaneously. Reach out to Mandala Healing Center today to learn about your treatment options for bipolar disorder and addiction in Florida.
How are Bipolar Disorder and Addiction Connected?
Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mania and depression. When someone is experiencing either mania or depression, the symptoms can be difficult to cope with, causing them to want to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Over time, abusing drugs and alcohol will lead to a substance use disorder.
The lifetime prevalence of substance use disorders among people with bipolar disorder is at least 40%.[2]
Another way that bipolar disorder and addiction are connected has to do with manic episodes specifically. When someone is manic, they will have a hard time controlling their behaviors, which means they might act impulsively. A common impulsive behavior is substance abuse, which can quickly turn into a full-blown addiction.
What to Expect During Treatment for Bipolar Disorder and Addiction in Florida
If you suffer from co-occurring bipolar and addiction, you might be wondering what treatment is like. Treatment centers that include support for both bipolar disorder and addiction in Florida are known as dual-diagnosis rehab programs. By combining clinically proven services for bipolar disorder with traditional addiction treatment methods, these programs can help you regain control over your life.
Assessment
The first step in a dual-diagnosis treatment program is an initial assessment. By gathering information about your physical health, bipolar disorder, and history of substance abuse, the medical staff can create an individualized treatment plan.
Individualized treatment plans ensure that each client gets the type of treatment that suits their needs. Your initial assessment will play a role in the length of your rehab program, whether you need medical detox, what types of therapies you engage in, and any special counseling groups you might require like trauma-informed care.
Medical Detox
Once your treatment plan is created you will begin detox. When you struggle with addiction, your brain and body begin to rely on the drug that you are dependent on. As a result, suddenly stopping the use of that substance will cause withdrawal symptoms.
Medical detox centers in Florida use FDA-approved medications to limit your withdrawal symptoms and cravings, allowing you to fully focus on recovery while remaining comfortable and safe. Additionally, your vital signs will be monitored constantly to ensure you stay medically stable throughout the whole process.
Evidence-Based Therapies
Treatment centers for bipolar disorder and addiction in Florida use evidence-based therapies to treat both of your conditions. This means that the counseling you engage in will be clinically proven to reduce the symptoms of bipolar disorder and teach you how to stay sober long-term.
Examples of evidence-based therapies include:[3,4]
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Contingency management (CM)
- 12-step facilitation therapy
- The matrix model
- Family behavior therapy
Medication
In addition to therapy, bipolar disorder is often managed using medications. Since the condition causes imbalanced chemicals in your brain, medications are often necessary to control manic and depressive episodes.
Common medications used to treat bipolar disorder include:[3]
- Lithium
- Anticonvulsants
- Antipsychotics
- Mood stabilizers
Aftercare Services
Lastly, treatment centers for bipolar disorder and addiction in Florida will provide you with aftercare services to ensure you are ready to tackle sobriety outside of a rehab program. Leaving treatment can expose you to new triggers, and having supportive services to rely on can be the difference between sobriety and relapse.
Examples of aftercare services include:
- Continued therapy
- Medication management
- Access to alumni support groups
- Referrals to outpatient or sober living programs
- Recommendations on local support groups like 12-step meetings
- Case management services like vocational or legal assistance
Find Treatment for Bipolar Disorder and Addiction in Florida
If you or a loved one struggles with co-occurring bipolar disorder and addiction, it’s time to seek help. Dual diagnosis rehab programs in Florida can offer you the tools and skills you need to recover from both of your conditions at the same time.
At the Mandala Healing Center, we are sensitive to the fact that every person we treat comes from a different background and has a unique set of needs. Our wide array of addiction treatment offerings allows us to cater to each patient’s strengths, and find the programs and activities that work best on an individual level. Our evidenced-based programs and holistic methods are designed to keep patients engaged in treatment, develop the necessary life strategies and skills to sustain long-term sobriety and achieve optimal health and internal balance.
To learn more about our treatment program for bipolar disorder and addiction in West Palm Beach, Florida, contact Mandala Healing Center today.
References:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Co-Occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions, Retrieved December 2023 From https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders
- The National Library of Medicine (NLM): The prevalence and significance of substance use disorders in bipolar type I and II disorder, Retrieved December 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2094705/
- The National Library of Medicine (NLM): The Clinical Management of Bipolar Disorder: A Review of Evidence-Based Guidelines, Retrieved December 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3219517/
- The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Evidence-based practices for substance use disorders, Retrieved December 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678283/