Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Treatment for bipolar disorder focuses on symptom management to provide a higher quality of life. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be very disruptive. Drastic changes in mood and energy can affect a person’s ability to perform daily tasks.

Many people struggling with bipolar disorder will experience periods of intense euphoria and increased energy, known as mania, for days to weeks. A depressive phase of low energy and depressed mood follows this. Because of these intense mood swings and the need to alleviate those symptoms, co-occurring substance abuse disorders are highest amongst individuals with bipolar disorder. Professional treatment of both conditions simultaneously is the best recovery plan.

Our treatment team will carefully determine the level of care you need before entering a substance use disorder (SUD) program.

Three diagnoses fall under bipolar disorder: bipolar I and II disorders and cyclothymic disorder. We provide the appropriate diagnosis to facilitate the necessary treatment plan for each individual. 

• Bipolar I Disorder
  The most telling characteristic of bipolar I disorder is the individual’s extreme mood swings. These mood swings include racing thoughts, hyperactivity, and excessive energy. Many individuals also tend to have bouts of depression, where they feel a sense of hopelessness and despair. Often, these episodes can last for days or even weeks. In more elevated cases of bipolar I disorder, individuals may experience psychotic symptoms, including delusions or hallucinations. To treat bipolar I, options may include a combination of medication and group and individualized therapy. 
• Bipolar II Disorder
  With bipolar II disorder, individuals experience many of the same symptoms as bipolar I disorder but also hypomania, a mild form of mania, and high energy and creativity levels. Many individuals with bipolar II disorder tend to engage in risk-taking behaviors such as spending money carelessly and engaging in sexual activities they might not normally do. Bipolar II disorder can also impair social judgment and complicate maintaining a job. Treatment for bipolar II disorder includes medication, therapy, gaining strategies, and understanding how to redirect to positive lifestyle changes. 
• Cyclothymic Disorder
  This form of bipolar disorder causes individuals to cycle between episodes of hypomania and mild depression. While mood swings are not as severe as those with bipolar I and II conditions, they tend to happen more frequently. Since individuals with cyclothymic disorder have trouble with daily activities, treatment options include therapy and medication. 

Bipolar disorder is characterized by unusually intense emotions and changes in sleep patterns and activity levels. Understanding the differences between manic and depressive episodes is essential to the individual and loved ones offering support. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has compiled the symptoms.

Symptoms of Manic Episodes

• Feeling very up, high, elated, or extremely irritable or touchy
• Feeling jumpy or wired, more active than usual
• Having a decreased need for sleep
• Talking fast about a lot of different things (“flight of ideas”)
• Racing thoughts
• Feeling able to do many things at once without getting tired
• Having an excessive appetite for food, drinking, sex, or other pleasurable activities
• Feeling unusually important, talented, or powerful

Symptoms of Depressive Episodes

• Feeling very down or sad, or anxious
• Feeling slowed down or restless
• Having trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, or sleeping too much
• Talking very slowly, feeling unable to find anything to say, or forgetting a lot
• Having trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Feeling unable to do even simple things
• Having a lack of interest in almost all activities
• Feeling hopeless or worthless or thinking about death or suicide

Bipolar can develop in all ages, races, and social classes, and an equal number of men and women have bipolar.

Georgia officials developed a program called Stepping Up. The intent is to divert those who commit minor offenses into mental health treatment if they suffer m from a disorder. This way, they can get the coping skills they need to live with their mood disorder.

More than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the illness or unipolar major depression, showing that the disease has a heritable component.

Bipolar disorder results in 9.2 years reduction in life span. As many as one in five patients with bipolar disorder completes suicide.

The National Library of Medicine conducted a mental health study in metro Atlanta and rural Georgia. Of the 5,680 adults surveyed, 49% stated being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

1.4 million Georgians have a mental health disorder, with bipolar disorder among the top.

With so many treatment options and facilities, you might wonder why you should choose The Summit Wellness Group for substance use disorders. The answer is simple: our comprehensive treatment approach.

Our Facilities

We currently have two locations in Georgia, both designed with your recovery journey in mind. We want you to feel welcome and relaxed when you enter the front door. Combining touches of home with modern design, each detail was handpicked to enhance a peaceful and positive recovery process.

Our Staff

Our team of professionals understands what you feel when you come to us. We want to do everything possible to ensure you leave our facilities having received the utmost care. We work with you daily to provide a continuum of care. We pride ourselves on our commitment to your recovery. You won’t ever be “just” a client when you see us. You will be welcomed with open arms into a family that continues to provide support even after the end of your program because your recovery is important to us.

Our Reviews

We take recovery seriously; our alum testimonials and reviews speak of that commitment. We use the feedback to improve our treatment plans and the practice of our clinicians. We are constantly working to use the best evidence-based practices.

The most effective form of treatment for bipolar disorder and substance abuse involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and holistic therapies. The Summit Wellness Group uses the latest and most effective treatments to create a multifaceted plan for treating bipolar disorder and substance abuse. These plans reduce negative and distressing symptoms and encourage healthier habits and thinking.

By combining different treatment models and techniques that target both disorders, we have found that chances of longer-term recovery increase and improved quality of life are established. The modes of treatment we incorporate include:

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): This highly customizable program includes 9 hours of treatment each week. Those hours can be completed either during the day or at night. IOP is tailored to fit our client’s specific schedules and needs.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): This program is a more comprehensive and immersive treatment plan, totaling 30 hours per week. Though clients can live at home while attending PHP, daily groups and activities provide increased care while still giving clients the freedom to go home at the end of the day.

Sober Living

Sober Living: Living arrangements encouraging healthy habits and growth is essential. This program allows clients to spend their days attending our programs. Then, they can go home to a private space with people dealing with similar struggles.

At The Summit Wellness Group, we also offer group therapies, individual therapy, medication management, art therapy, and other holistic treatments. This combination helps individuals create better habits to maintain outside treatment for longer-term recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches clients to recognize their inability to pay attention to or stay focused on tasks. Ultimately, CBT improves a person’s organization and time management skills. For our clients, one of the biggest takeaways from this therapy is learning to break down tasks. This skill improves their daily lives.

What we notice about clients who engage in CBT is that it builds confidence and controls impulsive behavior. Individuals with ADHD gain confidence and can control impulsive and risky behaviors.

Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapies take a whole-person approach to treatment that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual health with wellness activities. Research supports that holistic treatment can improve the chances of getting sober and the overall quality of recovery when utilized as a part of an inpatient rehab or IOP alongside more traditional methods like the 12 steps and CBT.

Our holistic therapy includes yoga, guided meditation, therapeutic fitness, chiropractic care, massage therapy, art therapy, adventure therapy, and nutritional classes.

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy focuses on each person’s needs that must be addressed, impacting their addiction. The topics the therapist presents during personal settings are specific to each client. No two people respond to mental illness or past trauma the same way. Our clients work collaboratively with their therapists to create a plan that goes beyond the one-size-fits-all model, leading to greater self-awareness. 

Group Therapy

Group therapy involves sharing similar issues or concerns in a supportive and collaborative setting. We value the power of shared experiences and community, making group therapy and peer support vital elements of our program.

Medication- Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines prescription medications and counseling to help our clients continue their recovery. MAT programs are effective for overcoming addiction and building a recovering lifestyle.

When clients come to us suffering from suicidal ideation and co-occurring substance abuse issues, MAT can help to ease cravings and reduce the risk of relapsing. By using opioid blockers, we reduce the risk of relapsing in our clients even more. 

40% of people struggling with bipolar I and II disorder will have a lifetime prevalence of substance abuse if left untreated. The cyclical nature of bipolar disorder and substance abuse can accelerate the progression of each other. And because bipolar disorder is something people deal with for their entire life, relapse is more likely to occur without professional treatment of both co-occurring disorders.

A co-occurring SUD is when a person has a mental health disorder. To cope with the symptoms, they begin to abuse substances. To provide proper treatment, a dual diagnosis is the only way to stop the cycle.

• The most common mental health disorders that lead to SUD are:
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Mood disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Major depressive disorder (MDD)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Some of the most common substances include the following:
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Opioids
  • Stimulants
  • Marijuana
  • Hallucinogens
  • Prescription drugs

• What is Bipolar Disorder?

  Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by unusually intense emotions and changes in sleep patterns and activity levels. The intense emotions are manic episodes. The lowered emotional state is a depressive episode.

• What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

  The root cause of bipolar disorder is part of ongoing studies. However, doctors can surmise that genetics and chemical imbalances in the brain play a role. Experiencing trauma can also bring on bipolar disorder.

• Do I Need Bipolar Disorder Treatment?

  Treatment is critical for bipolar disorder. Without proper care, the symptoms can worsen and lead to self-harm. Because bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness, ongoing behavioral health care must be received.

• What Does Bipolar Disorder Feel Like?

  The combination of manic and depressive phases is confusing. Life seems great between increased productivity, excessive spending, drinking, and partying. But when the depression hits, it’s hard to remember what happiness ever felt like.

  The swings from one mood to the other, from intense mania to deep depression, are exhausting. It can be distressing for everyone around you because it’s almost like you’re two different people.

• Is Bipolar Disorder more prominent in adolescents?

  Bipolar disorder can occur at any age, including adolescents. But research suggests that the typical age of onset for bipolar disorder is late adolescence or early adulthood, usually between the ages of 15 and 30.

Treatment for bipolar disorder is often ongoing. Through the combination of medication and holistic therapies with psychotherapy, clients can minimize negative symptoms and avoid self-medication as a form of maladaptive treatment.

Coupled with substance abuse, individuals with bipolar disorder can experience painful and distressing manic and depressive phases. These phases often lead to increased drug use and possible overdose or death. Seeking help from a facility that focuses on tackling co-occurring diseases together offers the best chance at regaining control over your life.

Make the first step and call 770-299-1677 to begin your treatment at one of our addiction treatment centers in Roswell or midtown Atlanta.