Co-occurring disorders of addiction and mental illness are more common than many people may think. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders… Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses,” and “Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.” Heavy in these statistics are those who struggle with comorbidities of bipolar disorder and addiction.
Better Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is one of the more common mental illnesses occurring today. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Psychiatry (Edgmont), “Bipolar spectrum disorders are a major public health problem, with estimates of lifetime prevalence in the general population of the United States at 3.9 percent, with a range from 1.5 to 6.0 percent. Bipolar disorder is also associated with significant mortality risk, with approximately 25 percent of patients attempting suicide and 11 percent of patients completing.”
These are both significant and significantly scary statistics. This makes being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder all the more vital.
The Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
There are multiple types of bipolar disorder. The primary types are bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. While they all have varying signs and symptoms, many are universal across all types. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Extended periods of depression followed by periods of intense elation (mania)
- Isolating away from friends and family
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Irregularities in sleep patterns; either sleeping too much or not enough (insomnia)
- Changes in eating patterns
- Feeling overly nervous, anxious, or stressed out
- Having audible or visual hallucinations
- Experiencing delusions of grandeur
- Acting paranoid
- Self-harming
- Expressing suicidal ideations
- Using alcohol or substances as coping mechanisms
This last sign of alcohol and substance use is critical because it is so common and can be dangerous. Not only can it lead to more risky decision-making, but it can also lead to addiction.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
Bipolar and addiction are a relatively common comorbidity. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Medicina, “Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, severe and cyclic mental illness that presents with marked and unpredictable changes in mood and activity. BD is a risk factor for addictions, both behavioral, such as gambling and substance use disorders. Besides a strong association between alcohol and nicotine dependence and BD, the abuse of other drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, cannabis, and prescription medications is also an important health concern in people with BD.”
As previously mentioned, the reason for this commonality of this comorbidity is two-fold. One is that many people try to cope with the discomfort they feel from their bipolar symptoms with alcohol and substances. Two, an increase in risky behavior is a common symptom of bipolar disorder, and alcohol and substance use (misuse) can certainly be considered risky behavior.
Many people also struggle with addiction without even realizing that they also have a co-occurring mental illness. They are often misdiagnosed because many of the signs and symptoms of alcohol and/or substance use disorder can be so similar to bipolar disorder. The good news is that once both disorders are diagnosed, both disorders are highly treatable.
Treating Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
Bipolar disorder is generally treated in two ways. One is with psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Two is with pharmacology like mood stabilizers and anti-depressants.
It is also common to treat alcohol and substance use disorder with CBT and DBT, but with the pharmacology, one must be careful because the medications can be very dangerous when used in tandem with recreational substances. This could occur during a relapse for example. This is why a recovery plan for co-occurring bipolar disorder and addiction should always be overseen by professionals.
This includes in the long term. Many people with bipolar disorder stay on medication to ensure that their symptoms remain in remission. So it is important to have a strong long-term addiction recovery so those previously mentioned medications don’t get mixed with alcohol and/or substances and cause more issues down the road. One of the best ways to keep a strong addiction recovery is to stay connected to a recovery center via an alumni group and connect with others in a recovery community (such as a 12-Step group for example).
Long-Term Success With Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term fixes. This is why we focus on all our clients’ issues at the same time, including those with addiction struggles and bipolar disorder.
Recovery is possible. There is a solution. The key is to reach out, and we can help make it a reality.
Many people who struggle with bipolar disorder also struggle with addiction. This is because many people turn to alcohol and substances to self-medicate for their untreated bipolar disorder. Also, many people discover their bipolar disorder after seeking recovery from addiction. The good news is there are many ways to treat co-occurring bipolar disorder and addiction. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with bipolar disorder, addiction, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about treating co-occurring disorders, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
