What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mania and depression. These are not the typical emotional swings most people experience from time to time.
The mood shifts that come with bipolar disorder significantly interfere with daily life and can be debilitating.
Depression might make getting out of bed difficult. A manic episode will make sleep problematic. Both mania and depression last for days.
Characteristics of bipolar disorder can include various symptoms that are important to recognize among different treatment types :
- Mood swings that last longer than one day
- Emotional fluctuations that make it hard to go to work or school or enjoy regular activities
- Engaging in risky behavior that will likely have negative consequences, like fighting or substance use
- Mood changes that interfere with your personal relationships
- Suicidal thoughts or ideations
An estimated 2.8% of the population has bipolar disorder. The initial onset can occur in your mid-20s, but for some, symptoms may start in childhood or during adolescence.
Treatment for this condition is critical to managing the mood shifts and other co-occurring mental health disorders, such as substance abuse.
Different Types of Bipolar Disorder
There are three primary categories for bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. Each has a unique list of symptoms that factor into the type of bipolar disorder treatment you need. When you enter treatment, the first step is to get an accurate diagnosis.
Bipolar I
The categories focus on the type of episodes, their severity, and how long they last. For a diagnosis of bipolar I, you must experience at least one manic episode that lasts for at least a week. During a manic episode, you will have enormous amounts of energy and may be irritable. You also experience at least three of the following behaviors:
- Decreased need for sleep
- Talking very fast
- Racing thoughts that you can’t control
- Easily distracted
- Excessive activity and restlessness
- Risky or impulsive behavior like casual sex, reckless driving, and substance use
The behaviors must be different from how you usually act and easy for people who know you to spot.
Bipolar II
Bipolar II involves at least one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode with a deep feeling of intense sadness or despair. You may lose interest in relationships and activities. A major depressive episode also involves at least four other symptoms, such as:
- Feeling of worthlessness
- Changes in sleep
- Changes in appetite
- Slowed movement or pacing
- Poor concentration
- Thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
This category features hypomanic episodes with mild manic symptoms, less intense than full-blown mania. These episodes last at least four days. The shift in emotion is more pleasant than impactful. They can often continue with their daily lives unaffected until the major depression strikes and they require bipolar disorder treatment.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is a milder version of bipolar disorder. It involves a cycle of emotional ups and downs that follow a pattern that includes at least two years of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that don’t stop for more than two months. A person must also be symptomatic for at least half of those two years.
Bipolar Disorder Unspecified
There is a fourth, less common category defined as “unspecific.” A person who fits this category may not meet the diagnostic criteria of the primary levels of the condition, but still has clinically abnormal mood swings that can benefit from treatment.
What Do Mental Health Professionals Think Causes Bipolar Disorder?
Mental health professionals don’t fully understand the exact cause of bipolar disorder, but they believe it develops through a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors. This is especially true when bipolar disorder occurs alongside other mental health concerns, such as anxiety, PTSD, or substance use, often referred to as co-occurring bipolar disorder.
Genetics
Genetics are believed to play a significant role in the development of bipolar disorder. Individuals with a family history of the condition are at a higher risk, though it’s not guaranteed. Many people are diagnosed with bipolar disorder despite no known family history. When it does run in families, it may contribute to a manic phase or depressive symptoms earlier in life, potentially leading to long-term challenges if left untreated.
Environmental Factors
Trauma, chronic stress, and major life changes can all trigger or worsen bipolar symptoms. A difficult childhood, the death of a loved one, or an abusive relationship can increase the likelihood of developing co-occurring bipolar disorder. The way a person manages, or struggles to manage, stressful experiences may influence how the condition unfolds over time. Many rehab centers and mental health treatment programs now offer trauma-informed, comprehensive treatment that addresses both the condition and its environmental triggers.
Brain Structure and Functioning
Although there’s no definitive brain scan that can diagnose bipolar disorder, researchers have observed subtle structural and functional differences in the brains of those with the condition. These may involve areas that regulate mood, impulse control, and decision-making. Such neurological differences are considered part of what makes evidence-based therapies essential in helping stabilize mood and reduce the intensity of the manic phase and depressive episodes.
Why Is Residential Bipolar Disorder Treatment Offered for Treating Bipolar Disorder?
The purpose of residential treatment is to provide a stable and supportive environment for comprehensive therapy. Residential care is often the first stage of a phased plan, which includes a personalized care strategy developed by an experienced treatment team that provides 24/7 support.
What to Expect From A Treatment Center Like pH Wellness
Residential treatment centers help those with bipolar disorder stabilize their moods in a variety of ways.
Structured Environment
The structured environment of a critical care unit is crucial for those experiencing severe episodes, either manic or depressive. It also provides monitoring and support for individuals who may harm themselves or pose a danger to others.
Medication Management
Medication serves as the foundation for bipolar disorder treatment, but compliance is an issue during intense periods. A residential treatment center ensures medication adherence, which allows mood shifts to stabilize.
Community
A live-in treatment center provides an opportunity for interaction with others who are facing many of the same challenges. That peer support system fosters a sense of community that allows you to see that you are not alone. Group therapy brings peers together to discuss coping mechanisms and challenges to treatment.
Holistic Mental Health Disorders Treatment
Mental illness is not just a psychological issue; it impacts the whole body. Residential care allows for a holistic approach to bipolar disorder treatment that includes nutrition, exercise, and fun activities.
Co-Occurring Conditions
Co-occurring mental health conditions like substance use disorder can significantly impact the treatment of bipolar disorder. The two conditions, including substance abuse, are intricately connected, so treating both through a partial hospitalization program is necessary for recovery.
Co-occurring conditions that impact bipolar disorder are not limited to substance use. Someone in a residential treatment center might also have anxiety or depressive disorders that require treatment.
Family Involvement
Families can play a critical role in the management of bipolar disorder, so they are often part of the therapeutic process and true and lasting healing. Through family therapy sessions, families can better understand bipolar disorder treatment and talk about how it affects their lives, as well. Family therapy helps families heal as a group and support one another.
What Therapies Does pH Wellness Offer?
As one of the premier residential bipolar disorder treatment centers in California, we offer individual counseling, group therapies, and medication management services. These treatment methods are part of a 24-hour support environment with a compassionate staff.
Medication Management
Medication is often the cornerstone for treating bipolar disorder and any co-occurring substance abuse issues. Medication can stabilize moods, allowing for more effective psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves individual therapy sessions that incorporate proven approaches like dialectical behavior therapy. Individual therapy allows you to focus on your unique treatment goals and recovery process.
Group Therapy Sessions
Through group therapy sessions, you discuss challenges with others who face similar issues. These group sessions offer peer support, provide an opportunity to learn from one another, and help reduce feelings of isolation. They also foster a network of ongoing support.
Therapy With Family Members
Our family program enables family members to be an integral part of the recovery process. It is a safe space that fosters open and more genuine communication among parents, siblings, and other family members.
Artistic Therapies
Residential treatment will also involve creative therapies such as art and music. You will also participate in adventure activities that are both recreational and educational in nature.
Residential treatment is the first step in managing your bipolar disorder. Once you have completed treatment, you can transition to an intensive outpatient program for continued therapy and support. Outpatient services provide support that helps those with bipolar disorder and substance use issues navigate their everyday lives successfully.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder, contact us to speak with a caring intake specialist.
Bipolar Residential Treatment California: Your Recovery Starts Here
If you are looking for comprehensive bipolar disorder treatment in California, let us help. Call us today at (888) 707 -3880 to learn more about our Southern California treatment center in Riverside. At pH Wellness, we offer dual diagnosis therapy, utilizing evidence-based practices and patient-centered care, to facilitate lasting recovery and well-being.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. Bipolar Disorder | NAMI. www.nami.org. Published August 2017.
- Howland M, El Sehamy A. What are bipolar disorders? American Psychiatric Association. Published April 2024.
- An Introduction to Bipolar Disorder and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders. SAMHSA. Published 2016.
