Table of Contents
What is Bipolar Disorder (BPD)?
- Types of Bipolar Disorder
- Symptoms and Causes of Bipolar Disorder
- More About Causes of Bipolar Disorder
- Managing and Treating Bipolar Disorder
- Medication Options for Treating Bipolar Disorder
- Other Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder
- Lifestyle Changes to Make to Treat or Manage Bipolar Disorder
- Get Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Here at Harmony Oaks Recovery Center
Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder that chronically affects a person’s energy levels and mood. Sometimes, the person has manic episodes, while other times they have depressive episodes. There are therapies and medications that can help to manage this condition. If you believe that you or someone you love struggles with bipolar disorder, here in our Harmony Oaks mental health treatment center, we can help to overcome it.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I and II Disorders
One of the main features of this disorder is manic episodes. To be diagnosed with this condition, you must have a minimum of one manic episode at some point in your life that lasted for one week. Mania is when someone has an abnormally irritated or elevated mood. They also have:
- Extreme emotion changes
- Increased energy
- Racing thoughts
- Talkativeness that is out of the norm
- Increased activity level
People who are in a manic state may participate in activities that cause them harm such as stealing money or driving recklessly. They may have psychotic episodes such as hallucinations and delusions, too.
With bipolar II, the patient may experience hypomania which isn’t as severe as mania. It won’t last quite as long as the manic episodes do and won’t interfere with the patient’s daily functions quite as much.
Depressive Episodes
If you or someone you know has bipolar with depressive episodes, you may have loss of energy, depressed mood and other symptoms such as:
- Appetite changes
- Tiredness
- Losing interest in hobbies and other activities
- Feeling hopeless and/or worthless
If you are feeling like this with or without a diagnosis, our Harmony Oaks team wants to help you start feeling better.
Cyclothymic Disorders (Cyclothymia)
People who have this disorder are in a chronically unstable mood. They may have mild depression and hypomania for a minimum of 2 years before given a diagnosis. They may even have brief episodes where their mood is normal, but those generally last less than 8 weeks.
Other Specified and Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorders
There are some people who have emotional changes, mania or depression and other mood-related issues, but don’t meet the criteria to be diagnosed with bipolar. These are generally classified as other specified or unspecified bipolar or related disorders
Symptoms and Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Depending on which bipolar disorder someone has, their symptoms might vary. Some of the symptoms that you might experience include:
- Manic episodes
- Hypomanic episodes
- Depressive episodes
- General mood changes
- Excessive hopefulness, excitement, and happiness
- Restlessness
- Increased energy and not needing sleep (sometimes for days)
- Racing thoughts/rapid speech
- Making grand, unachievable plans
- Poor judgment
- Impulsivity
- Taking larger risks
- Psychosis
- Overwhelming sadness or despair
- Lack of energy
- Fatigue
- No to little motivation
- Feel worthless or hopeless
- Losing enjoyment in things you once liked to do
- Trouble making decisions and concentrating
- Crying uncontrollably
- Becoming quite irritable
- Needing more sleep than norma
- Thoughts of suicide or death
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms that are moderate to severe, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Harmony Oaks team today. We have mental health treatment programs that can help you to manage and overcome bipolar disorder.
More About Causes of Bipolar Disorder
There are numerous things that can cause bipolar disorder such as:
- Genetics
- Brain changes
- Trauma
- Stress
- Other environmental factors
No matter what caused your bipolar disorder, our team will still work hard to help treat it. That way, you can get your life back under control.
Managing and Treating Bipolar Disorder
There are also many different ways that this disorder can be managed and treated such as with:
- Medications
- Talk therapy
- Lifestyle changes such as meditation and yoga
- Self-management such as education and recognizing triggers or symptoms
- Other types of therapy
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness. However, it is treatable and you can manage it. As long as you reach out to get the help you need and stick with your treatment plan, things can get better for you.
Medication Options for Treating Bipolar Disorder
As noted above, there are some medications that can be used to treat bipolar disorder. If you or a loved one have this disorder, you may want to learn more about these medications. Some of them that are used include:
- Antidepressants
- Atypical neuroleptics (antipsychotics)
- Mood stabilizers
In addition to these medications, there are other therapies and treatments that can be used in treating bipolar disorder, too.
Other Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder
If you are struggling to get treatment or help for bipolar disorder, it is important to know that our Harmony Oaks team is here for you. We can help to create you a treatment plan that includes a range of bipolar disorder treatments. Some of the scientifically studied bipolar treatments include:
- ECT
- TMS
- Thyroid medications
- Treatment with ketamine
- Hospitalization
In addition to these treatments, as you read above, there are lifestyle changes the patient can make to improve their life while living with this disorder.
Lifestyle Changes to Make to Treat or Manage Bipolar Disorder
Do you or someone you know have bipolar disorder? If so, in addition to the treatment options above, there are many lifestyle changes that can help to manage or treat bipolar disorder. Some of the best lifestyle changes you can make to get back control over your life include:
- Stop using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol (these worsen bipolar episodes)
- Keep a mood chart and daily diary (this allows you to keep track of your feelings, thoughts, and bipolar disorder episodes)
- Stick to a healthy sleep schedule (irregular sleep patterns can negatively affect your life in numerous ways including aggravating your bipolar disorder symptoms)
- Exercise daily (research shows doing this can help to manage mood and improve mental health disorders in general)
- Meditating daily (this helps to relax and calm the mind and body)
- Maintain healthy relationships (if you have relationships in your life that only bring you stress it may be best to let go of these and stick to the ones that bring you happiness, joy, and contentment)
- Lower stress levels (high stress is more likely to cause your manic or depressive episodes than when you have your stress under control)
These are some of the lifestyle changes that you or your loved one can make if bipolar is diagnosed. If you aren’t sure how to get started with making these changes, don’t worry. You can always start your recovery in our Harmony Oaks treatment facility. We have a range of treatment programs and resources that can help you to manage your life, even with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Get Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Here at Harmony Oaks Recovery Center
Do you or your loved one have the bipolar disorder symptoms that were noted above? If so, do you know which type of bipolar disorder you might have? Maybe, you recently got a diagnosis or you have been self-medicating to manage it on your own. As you can see, that may not be going to so well. However, here at Harmony Oaks Recovery Center, we can help you to change this.
Contact us today, here at Harmony Oaks Recovery Center, to get treatment and help to manage bipolar disorder starting right away.