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Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that can cause extreme mood swings. Even though doctors don’t fully understand what causes the disorder, experts believe that problems with specific brain circuits and abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals may be to blame.
Specific symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary from person to person, but the condition generally causes individuals to experience unusual and often extreme changes in mood, energy, activity, concentration, and focus. These sudden changes can be extremely debilitating and often interfere with individuals’ daily lives. In fact, 60 percent of people with bipolar disorder have a history of substance abuse.
This statistic, along with the brain abnormalities that seem to trigger the condition and the extreme mood changes caused by the illness, has led many behavioral health experts to wonder if bipolar disorder makes individuals more likely to use addictive substances.
We’ll explore the latest research below.
Bipolar disorder is an illness that causes extreme mood swings. People with bipolar disorder may seem extremely happy and elated one moment and irritable and depressed the next. Even though everyone goes through normal ups and downs throughout life, changes triggered by bipolar disorder are often sudden and extreme. Generally, bipolar changes also called “mood episodes,” fall into 2 categories: manic or depressive.
During a manic episode, individuals tend to feel extremely happy and energetic. They also might appear to be extremely confident or arrogant. Individuals will also have a high level of activity.
Common symptoms of a manic episode include:
During a depressive episode, individuals feel sad, indifferent, and hopeless. Individuals will also feel extremely fatigued and have low levels of energy. They may isolate themselves. If not, they will engage in very few to no activities.
Other symptoms of a depressive episode include:
Mood episodes may occur rarely or multiple times a year, but the severity of these emotional highs and lows often make living with bipolar dipolar extremely challenging. Most individuals have trouble managing relationships and everyday tasks at school or work. Because of these symptoms and the difficulties they cause, many individuals will turn to drugs or alcohol as a way of coping.
More than half the people diagnosed with bipolar disorder also have a substance use disorder. Even though researchers don’t fully understand the connection between the two disorders, the behavioral and emotional symptoms associated with bipolar disorder can make individuals more likely to use addictive substances. The way bipolar disorder affects the brain can also increase individuals’ likelihood of substance use.
Here’s why:
The sudden mood episodes triggered by bipolar disorder can increase impulsivity. During a manic episode, individuals may experience racing thoughts and take quick, impulsive actions. This impulsivity can cause individuals to consume addictive substances without thinking about the consequences. Manic mood episodes can also increase individuals’ appetites, which can cause them to overindulge in harmful substances. At the same time, bipolar disorder can cause individuals to have an inflated sense of self, which can make them wrongly assume that drugs and alcohol won’t affect them the way addictive substances affect other people.
Bipolar disorder can also reduce the amount of gray matter in the brain. The areas of the brain that have significant gray matter help individuals control their impulses and senses. When these parts of the brain have diminished gray matter, individuals become more impulsive and are less likely to properly process information, thoughts, and feelings, which can lead to substance use and addiction.
Even though bipolar disorder affects men and women of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups equally, certain risk factors can increase an individual’s likelihood of developing the condition. Some of the most common risk factors for bipolar disorder include genetic predisposition, living in a challenging environment, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, poor sleeping habits, and consistently experiencing high stress. Sadly, these same factors can also make individuals more likely to use addictive substances.
Growing up in a distressing environment, experiencing neglect, being abused, witnessing violence, and having high stress levels can increase individuals’ risk of substance abuse. Because bipolar disorder and addiction have similar risk factors, many researchers believe that these circumstances actually contribute to the development of both conditions. This means that a bipolar disorder risk factor can, in fact, make individuals more likely to use addictive substances. In the same way, using drugs and alcohol can trigger and worsen bipolar disorder mood episodes.
Living with bipolar disorder isn’t easy. Often, the symptoms affect individuals’ day-to-day lives. Because of this, many people with bipolar disorder try to self-medicate their distress with drugs or alcohol. In fact, many individuals use certain drugs for manic episodes and others for depressive episodes.
During manic episodes, researchers believe many people use substances like amphetamines or cocaine to prolong their high level of energy and excitement. Other individuals may use downers like alcohol or sedatives to try to calm themselves down. During a depressive episode, individuals may use stimulants to elevate their mood or energy levels. When individuals experience severe levels of hopelessness or sadness, they may use sedatives as a way of distracting themselves from how they really feel.
Here at StoneRidge Centers, we know that mental health challenges, mood disorders, and substance abuse originate in the brain. That’s why we take a different approach to recovery by combining the best of brain science and clinical support. Our mental health treatment program can help you manage bipolar disorder without turning to drugs and alcohol. Our addiction treatment program can help you overcome any substance use challenges you may be facing. And our dual diagnosis program can help you overcome both conditions at the same time. Let us help you live the thriving, sober life you deserve. Contact us today if you’re ready to begin or continue your recovery journey.
Because mental health and addiction concerns are so often interconnected, we utilize research-based approaches with evidence-based outcomes that promote overall healing and recovery.
This low-impact magnetic stimulation activates neurons inside the brain, relieving symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.
Using brain scanning and readings, we create a map of our patients’ brains, helping us develop more targeted and effective treatments.
This process assists patients in visualizing their own brain functionality through continuous EEG readings.
We use carefully monitored doses of Spravato to help patients struggling with complex mental health disorders, including severe depression.
Patients use this practice to help reframe intrusive or negative thought patterns and develop coping techniques for long-term recovery.
This practice helps patients learn to regulate emotions, communicate more effectively, and process their own thoughts and feelings..
Licensed and trained therapists guide patients through this technique for managing stress and anxiety on an ongoing basis.
Patients experience one-on-one therapy sessions with a licensed therapist to provide a safe and private place to recover and heal.
Patients can practice the skills and techniques they have learned in treatment with others in a safe, therapist-guided space.
5940 E. Copper Hill Dr. Ste B & E, Prescott Valley, AZ. 86314
928-583-7799
We exercise progressive, leading brain science in our treatment approach for patients in our community and across the country who are struggling with mental health and addiction challenges.
We exercise progressive, leading brain science in our treatment approach for patients in the Prescott Valley community and across the country who are struggling with mental health and addiction challenges.
© 2024 StoneRidge Centers – Prescott Valley. All Rights Reserved.