Bipolar disorder, once known as manic depression, is a serious mental health disorder characterized by sudden and intense changes in mood, energy levels, and behavior. While the disorder itself is a hardship to bear, those afflicted with it also have a higher risk of developing alcohol addiction.
This only complicates the situation and leads to what’s known as a dual diagnosis – a co-occurring disorder between bipolar and alcohol that can make recovery more challenging.
In this blog, we will go over how bipolar and alcohol use disorder go hand-in-hand.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
We all experience times of happiness, despair, anger, or sadness, but for an individual suffering from bipolar disorder, these emotional episodes are uncontrollable and all-consuming. There are five types of mood episodes that characterize bipolar disorder, each with a unique set of bipolar disorder symptoms. The five types are:
- Mania
- Depression
- Hypomania
- Mixed Episodes
- Rapid-Cycling
Mania
Also known as Bipolar I disorder, mania occurs when someone has manic episodes that last at least seven days and are accompanied by psychotic features. In extreme cases, mania might result in the person needing to be hospitalized in order to prevent them from doing harm to either themselves or others. During a manic episode, someone might feel very “up”, elated, or jumpy with tons of energy. They might also have trouble sleeping and feel irritable or be prone to risky or reckless behavior. A manic episode can last up to two weeks.
Depression
Depression is a common symptom of Bipolar II disorder. While mania isn’t typically involved in this type of bipolar disorder, a milder form called hypomania can occur. Those who suffer from this type of bipolar disorder have experienced major depression and hypomania, either at the same time or at separate times. Those who suffer from Bipolar II may find themselves severely fatigued, crying uncontrollably and for no real reason, having recurring thoughts of death or suicide, and even suffering from insomnia or hypersomnia.
Hypomania
Also known as cyclothymia, hypomania is a milder form of bipolar disorder. Like the more extreme versions of bipolar disorder, those suffering from hypomania might find themselves experiencing cyclical mood swings. A person might feel great, be highly productive, and function well at times, only to feel depressed and lethargic later for no discernable reason. What separates this type of bipolar disorder from the others is that the highs and lows that are felt are not extreme enough to qualify as either mania or depression. Hypomania is commonly found in adolescence and typically goes untreated as it is chalked up to the adolescent being either moody or difficult.
Mixed Episodes
Some people might find themselves suffering from multiple types of bipolar disorder, sometimes simultaneously. When that occurs, it is called mixed episodes. Those suffering from mixed episodes have high energy while at the same time suffering from sleeplessness and racing thoughts. They may also feel hopeless, despairing, irritable, and suicidal.
Rapid Cycling
Rapid cycling occurs when someone has four or more mood episodes within a 12-month period. Each episode has to last at least a few days in order to qualify. Some people can experience this within a single week or even a single day. This type of bipolar disorder can increase the risk of severe depression and suicide. Rapid cycling is more common in women than in men.
Double Trouble: The Link Between Bipolar And Alcohol
In the United States, bipolar disorder affects about 2.6 percent of the population, and about 45 percent of those affected also have an alcohol use disorder. Although researchers have proposed explanations for the high rate of alcohol abuse among bipolar individuals, the exact relationship between bipolar and alcoholism is not well understood. Researchers point to a variety of possibilities, including the following:
Self-Medication
It is widely believed that those suffering from bipolar disorder turn to the bottle in an attempt to self-medicate and numb the painful symptoms of their disorder. These bipolar symptoms, including depression, pain, anxiety, and insomnia, are so disruptive that many individuals drink alcohol to excess as a means of offsetting the discomfort, if only for a while.
Brain Chemistry
Clinical researchers believe that brain chemistry may influence both bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder often have abnormal levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine compared with the brains of healthy people.
These chemicals interfere with vital body functions like the stress response, sleep, appetite, and metabolism, as well as affecting emotions and mood. While many turn to alcohol to ease the negative effects, this often has the opposite effect, making symptoms of bipolar disorder worse.
Behavior
People with bipolar disorder tend to be reckless or impulsive, and abusing alcohol is consistent with this type of behavior. In essence, they want something now, not later. They don’t think before they act, or they act without discipline.
Furthermore, in alcohol-induced mania, they may crave excitement and have an intense need for positive feelings, which they may find at the bottom of a bottle of alcohol. Conversely, they may feel depressed and get the notion that drinking will make them feel better. So, they buy a six-pack without thinking of the consequences.
Withdrawal
Although there seems to be evidence that bipolar disorder leads to alcoholism, some researchers say the opposite may be the case as well. Symptoms of bipolar disorder, such as manic moods or depression, may be triggered by chronic alcohol abuse or withdrawal.
Genetics
There is growing evidence that supports the possibility of genetic transmission of both bipolar disorder and alcoholism. One recent study evaluated 226 people with alcoholism with and without a mood disorder as well as family members of those people and found a greater familial association between alcoholism and bipolar disorder (odds ratio of 14.5) than between alcoholism and unipolar depression (odds ratio of 1.7). These findings show that a positive family history of mental disorders or alcoholism is a clear risk factor for offspring.
Diagnosing and Treating Bipolar and Alcohol Disorders
The combination of alcohol misuse and bipolar disorder can have severe consequences. People with both conditions are likely to turn their mental illness into severe bipolar disorder and also have a higher risk of committing suicide. But is bipolar disorder causing you to drink or is your drinking causing bipolar disorder? Knowing the difference is crucial to addiction treatment in Florida.
Diagnosing bipolar disorder in the face of alcohol abuse can be difficult because the bipolar symptoms can mimic nearly any psychiatric disorder. As a general rule, it seems that a more reliable diagnosis comes from evaluating whether bipolar symptoms occur before the onset of the alcoholism or if they persist during sustained abstinence (though the adequate period of time has not yet been defined).
Given that bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse co-occur so frequently, screening for alcoholism in people seeking treatment for bipolar disorder is a common precursor to treatment.
While bipolar disorder and substance use disorders were once diagnosed and treated as separate conditions, today a more integrated approach is used. Instead of referring those diagnosed with bipolar disorder or other mental health disorders to mental health treatment centers and sending those actively abusing alcohol to alcohol rehab in Florida, today, they’re commonly treated together at a single rehabilitation facility.
Features of an integrated treatment program for bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction include:
- A collaborative treatment team of addiction counselors, psychologists, medical professionals, nutritionists, and other professionals trained in dual diagnosis care
- Personalized individual psychotherapy focuses on managing stress and emotions, and minimizing the risk of substance abuse or relapse
- Psychiatric disorders medication as needed to manage bipolar disorder
- Group therapy and support with others battling mood disorders and/or addiction
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques that focus on changing the negative thoughts and behaviors that are associated with depression.
- Family-focused therapy helps both the patient and their family member learn about the illness and ways they can treat it in a safe and caring environment.
In some cases, a mental health professional might choose to go the medication route when treating alcohol and bipolar disorders. These medications may include mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications, antidepressants, or even lithium. Lithium is specifically used in the treatment of bipolar disorder patients because it helps stabilize them quickly. Before beginning any sort of medication treatment, the patient and their doctor will discuss options as well as dosage.
Is Bipolar Disorder Causing You to Drink?
It’s simply not enough to treat bipolar disorder without addressing the problem of alcohol addiction, and vice versa. Until you receive comprehensive care for both bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse, the chances of relapse are extremely high. At Behavioral Health Centers, we are highly skilled and experienced in treating the dual diagnosis of bipolar disorder and alcoholism. Seek treatment today!
Our dual diagnosis treatment in Port St Lucie, FL is especially beneficial to those recovery-resistant individuals who are stuck in the vicious cycle of treatment and relapse. We know what you are going through can be scary and tough and you shouldn’t have to do it alone. If you’d like to learn more about our programs contact us today.
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