Recover from Mental Health and Behavioral Health Conditions
Bipolar Disorder Treatment
in Costa Mesa
Serving the Orange County Area
Living with bipolar disorder may cause challenges in one’s life — but it does not need to disrupt one’s life entirely and get in the way of daily activities and relationships.
Bipolar disorder is not so rare of a condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly 5 million U.S. adults have a bipolar diagnosis.
While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, there are many effective treatment options available that can help one improve their quality of life. Bipolar treatment can help one better manage depressive and manic episodes and cope with the symptoms that come with them.
Safe & Sound Treatment in Costa Mesa understands the challenges that come with bipolar disorder and want to provide the tools and education to help you better manage your bipolar disorder symptoms and live a happy, fulfilling life.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness that is characterized by intense shifts in one’s mood, energy and even cognitive abilities. People with bipolar disorder experience manic episodes (periods of enhanced mood and high energy) and depressive episodes (periods of low mood and low energy).
Everyone has their ups and downs, but people with bipolar disorders have more dramatic and cyclical mood shifts. However, these shifts may also happen rapidly, last extended periods of time, or even simultaneously.
These shifts are not always experienced the same way, as symptoms may happen along a spectrum. In extreme cases, periods of mania or depression can cause psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions.
Mania and Hypomania
Manic episodes (mania) may make a person feel excited, euphoric, impulsive, and energetic — a sort of unsustainable emotional high. During these periods a person may have uncontrollable, racing thoughts that may cause one behave out-of-character.
Common behaviors that might happen during a manic episode can include drug or alcohol use, unsafe sexual activity, gambling, spending sprees, quiting a job, taking an impulsive vacation, unsafe driving, etc.
Hypomanic episodes (hypomania) is essentially a less severe form of mania, more associated with bipolar II disorder. These episodes are harder to notice by the person with the disorder and the people around them.
Generally, a hypomanic episode might not cause someone to behave out-of-character. But, the person will still feel heightened levels of energy and perhaps be more productive than usual.
Depressive Episodes
The difference between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and depression in bipolar disorder is that the bipolar person may have “up” and “down” mood states. A person with MDD generally just remains “down” until the condition has been properly addressed or treated.
Still, the depression symptoms are typically felt in similar ways.
Bipolar-related episodes of major depression include five or more of the following:
- Hopelessness, sadness, low mood, or emptiness
- Restlessness or sluggishness
- Lossed interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Too much or too little sleep
- Feelings of worthlessness, inadequateness, or a sense of guilt
- Cognitive issues
- Changes in appetite and/or weight
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Not everyone with bipolar disorder experiences depressive episodes, though most do. Because the highs associated with manic episodes are unsustainable, they can eventually lead to a depressive crash.
Bipolar Disorder Types
Because bipolar disorder can be seen as a spectrum (like most psychiatric disorders) we can categorize it into different types.
- Bipolar I — which requires one episode of mania that lasts at least one week. These symptoms should not related to another medical condition (such as a substance use disorder) and symptoms affect one’s daily life. A person with bipolar I may also, at times, experience symptoms of psychosis (delusions or hallucinations) or even both mania and depression at the same time.
- Bipolar II — which requires at least one episode of hypomania for four or more days or hypomania for three or more days. It also includes episodes of depression that may last two weeks or more. The big difference here between type I and type II is that a person with Bipolar II does not experience full mania. However, a person may still experience psychosis symptoms — but only during depressive episodes.
- Cyclothymia — which a person may not fully meet criteria for hypomania or depression, but experiences symptoms for at least two months at a time. These symptoms of hypomania and depression may be on and off for two years or longer. It is generally seen as a less severe condition than type I or type II bipolar disorder.
- “Other specified” and “unspecified” — bipolar disorders may be diagnosed if someone is experiencing mood shifts that do not fit the previous three categories — but still experience abnormal mood changes.
- Separation Anxiety — which is caused by separation from someone or something of which the person has a strong emotional attachment to.
Diagnosing these conditions can be difficult and requires physical and mental examinations, interviews, and lab testing. If no other conditions or substances are causing these symptoms, it is recommended that a person seek professional mental health care.
Treatment & Therapies
There are several treatments that may help a person gain better control over their symptoms, including medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle adjustments.
- Psychotherapy — such as CBT, can help a person better control behavioral choices and better understand how the condition is affecting them.
- Medications — can stabilize one’s mood and might include independent or simultaneous use of mood stabilizers (i.e. lithium), antipsychotics (i.e. olanzapine), antidepressants, or antidepressant-antipsychotic medications (i.e. Symbyax). Note that one’s bipolar type and symptoms will greatly reflect how medications are used in treatment.
- Self-Management Strategies — can include getting better sleep, exercising, eating a healthy diet, keeping a regular schedule, among other things that will be largely personalized.
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FAQ's
Treatment for bipolar disorder typically includes a combination of medication, such as mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, and psychotherapy to manage symptoms and prevent mood episodes.
While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, effective treatment can manage symptoms and significantly improve quality of life. Ongoing treatment is usually necessary to maintain stability.
Medication is a key component of treatment for bipolar disorder, helping to stabilize mood and prevent the extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression) associated with the condition.
Psychotherapy helps individuals understand their condition, develop coping strategies for mood swings, improve relationships, and stick to their treatment plan.
Yes, lifestyle changes such as regular sleep patterns, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management can help manage bipolar disorder symptoms and contribute to overall well-being.
