By: Lakeview Health
Treating Bipolar Disorder
Many people who suffer from drug addiction also suffer from bipolar disorder. For individuals who are bipolar it is common for them to self medicate. An example is a person who suffers from severe depression may find temporary relief through the abuse of alcohol. If a person that has a bipolar disorder is experiencing manic highs he or she may seek temporary relief through the use of opiates. This commonly results in drug or alcohol addiction. Treatment for bipolar disorder is essential for an individual who suffers from bipolar disorder and drug or alcohol addiction. It is very challenging to recover from both bipolar disorder and addiction. In order for there to be success in both it is beneficial for the suffering to attend a facility that has both drug treatment and treatment for bipolar disorder. One of the problems for the suffering that comes with addiction is that they may start to forget when to take their prescribed medications. In addition the side effects that drugs and alcohol have on bipolar disorders can exasperate an already existing mental illness. Individuals who suffer from bipolar disorder and drug addiction are dually diagnosed. There are treatment centers that specialize in dual diagnosis. Research has shown that in order to completely recover treatment for both problems is a necessity. Dual diagnosis treatment will focus on both bipolar disorder and drug addiction. By attending a treatment center that specializes in dual diagnosis the services and therapy used is integrated to help the individual recover from both illnesses simultaneously. A quality treatment facility will offer a number of different services to treat dually diagnosed patients. Some of these services include family counseling, relationship therapy, case management and individual and group therapy. A reputable treatment center will provide each individual client with a personalized treatment plan. A well thought out treatment plan will give the client the hope they have been searching for. If treatment for bipolar disorder is not done properly drug addiction and alcohol abuse will be very difficult if not impossible to overcome and could eventually lead to death. Over recent years there have been large advancements in treatment for dually diagnosed people making it much easier for recovery to be obtained and ultimately lead to a happy and productive life.