Bipolar Disorder Treatment At Ohio Recovery Center

The extreme mood swings and changes in energy levels that occur with bipolar disorder can be debilitating.

Here at Ohio Recovery Center, our compassionate care team can help you stabilize during a crisis and achieve lasting recovery. We are also a preferred option for people who have recently completed inpatient psychiatric treatment and need continuing care.

Our Bipolar Disorder Treatment Options

At Ohio Recovery Center, we offer comprehensive treatment for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder as well as for people who are experiencing symptoms but haven’t been diagnosed.

Our state-of-the-art residential mental health treatment facility in a beautiful countryside setting provides all of the care elements that are often essential for lasting recovery, including psychiatric care, evidence-based treatment, 24/7 support, and a client-centered, holistic approach. 

This includes a full psychiatric evaluation and assessment, an individualized treatment plan, medication management, psychotherapy in one-on-one and group settings, peer recovery support, wellness activities, social opportunities, aftercare planning, and more.

Medication Management

Helpful mental health medications for people with bipolar disorder may include antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers.

Those experiencing rapid cycling may require a mood-stabilizing medication to provide relief from extreme highs and lows. 

Mood stabilizers that can help include:

• lamotrigine
• lithium
• carbamazepine
• valproic acid
• Valproate

Antipsychotics to be considered may include:

• quetiapine
• olanzapine
• aripiprazole
• risperidone
• asenapine
• lurasidone

Additionally, anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines may be of benefit. The psychiatrist and psychiatric nurses at ORC will adjust your medications if you are experiencing unwanted side effects or otherwise not reaching the desired outcome.

Medication combined with psychotherapy is considered the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder today.

Psychotherapy

Therapy is a key evidence-based treatment in recovery from mental illnesses. People with bipolar disorder may benefit from a variety of approaches. 

Evidence-based therapy options include:

• family-focused therapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• group therapy

Different therapies provide different benefits for people with bipolar disorder. For example, DBT can help you improve emotional regulation and reduce your vulnerability to strong emotions.

Other Treatment Options

Many people find a holistic approach to treatment, or one that focuses on treating the whole person, to be essential in achieving long-term recovery. 

Holistic options at ORC include meditation, yoga, exercise, outdoor activities, social activities, and more.

Because many who suffer from bipolar disorder can also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or a worsening of symptoms at specific times of year, light therapy may also help.

Another treatment option for people experiencing severe manic or depressive episodes, for which more traditional approaches haven’t worked, is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a brain stimulation procedure

Learn More About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes mood changes that can range from mild to severe. This includes episodes of depression as well as episodes of mania. 

People with bipolar disorder can find it very difficult to function during these periods, greatly impacting their relationships, careers, physical health, and other key areas of life.

However, the disorder is treatable, and most people who seek treatment go on to live fulfilling lives.

Types Of Bipolar Disorder

There are four types of bipolar disorder, distinguished mainly by the severity and frequency of symptoms.

These four types are: 

• Bipolar I Disorder: People with this type experience one or more manic episodes at some point during their life. Mania and depression can occur in rapid cycling, with the person experiencing four or more manic episodes during one year.
• Bipolar II Disorder: A person with this type experiences depression and hypomanic episodes. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania, and a full manic episode may not ever occur. Depressive episodes can be more common and last for longer periods of time.
• Cyclothymic Disorder or Cyclothymia: Sometimes called “bipolar III,” this type involves emotional highs and lows, but not as drastic as those experienced by people with bipolar I or II.
• Unspecified Bipolar Disorder: With this type, a person experiences periods of elevated or depressed mood but does not meet the criteria for the other types of bipolar disorder.

Diagnosis

The psychiatric team at ORC, or similar healthcare professionals, will provide a full mental health evaluation, referencing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to determine your diagnosis.

A person must experience at least one episode of mania or hypomania to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Signs & Symptoms

Talk to your doctor or seek treatment if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms. 

Signs of bipolar disorder are often detectable by family members and other loved ones as well. These signs generally indicate either an elevated or depressed mood.

Symptoms of depression include:

• feelings of worthlessness

• loss of interest in activities
• difficulty concentrating
• inability to do simple tasks
• suicidal ideation (thinking about or planning suicide)

Manic symptoms associated with bipolar disorder may include:

• racing thoughts
• feelings of grandiosity
• extreme irritability
• a decreased need for sleep
• increased energy and activity levels
• talking fast
• excessively spending money, having sex, eating, or engaging in other pleasurable activities

Psychosis, as well as other symptoms, may occur and overlap with other medical conditions such as schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or substance use disorder, sometimes leading to a misdiagnosis.

Risk Factors 

One risk factor for bipolar disorder is having close family members, such as a parent or sibling, with bipolar disorder.

Other factors that can play a role include experiencing childhood trauma or other very stressful life experiences and having a diagnosed or undiagnosed substance use disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a fairly common mental health disorder, and treatment is proven to help people overcome it.

Statistics related to bipolar disorder include:

• 2.8% of Americans have bipolar disorder.
• Bipolar disorder is one of the top 10 leading causes of disability worldwide.
• The median onset age of bipolar disorder is 25 years old.

A 2019 study on the suicide risk associated with bipolar disorder found that up to one in five people with mostly untreated bipolar disorder die by suicide.

Begin Your Treatment Journey At Ohio Recovery Center Today

To learn more about the mental health treatment options at ORC, please call us today.