Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that affects a person’s energy levels, mood, and ability to concentrate. It can cause you to experience hypomanic, manic, and major depressive episodes.
The three most common types of bipolar disorder, which are categorized by the types of episodes you may experience, are:
- Bipolar I disorder: This diagnosis involves having at least one manic episode.
- Bipolar II disorder: This diagnosis requires a person to have at least one hypomanic and one major depressive episode.
- Cyclothymic disorder: For at least two years, a person must experience hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms, but they won’t have a full manic, hypomanic, or depressive episode.
As the National Institute of Mental Health points out, bipolar disorder can cause a person to experience periods of unusually intense emotions that can have a wide-ranging negative impact on their life. But the right type of bipolar disorder treatment can help you manage the symptoms you’ve been experiencing and live a more satisfying life.
At Tower Behavioral Health in Reading, Pennsylvania, we provide bipolar disorder treatment for adults and adolescents of all genders.
Signs & Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
People who have bipolar disorder don’t just struggle with the highs and lows of intense emotions. They may also experience fluctuations in sleep patterns and activity levels.
It’s best to break down the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder to manic or hypomanic episodes versus major depressive episodes. In a manic or hypomanic episode, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Rapid speech patterns
- Racing thoughts
- Impulsive or reckless actions
- Lack of need for sleep and excessive energy
- Elevated levels of self-esteem
- Greater confidence
- Feelings of invincibility
- Tendency to jump from topic to topic in conversation
If you’re going through a major depressive episode, you may display some of the following signs of bipolar disorder:
- Distancing from loved ones
- Significant change in appetite, along with rapid weight gain or weight loss
- Excessive need for sleep
- Subdued mood
- Extreme sadness
- Difficulty focusing
- Inability to finish simple tasks
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
It’s important to seek professional assistance if you’re displaying any of these signs or experiencing any of these symptoms of bipolar disorder. At Tower Behavioral Health, we’ll administer a comprehensive assessment to understand your specific needs and determine if we’re the right bipolar disorder treatment center for you.
Bipolar Disorder Statistics
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. Here are some additional statistics about bipolar disorder:
- NAMI reports that approximately 2.8% of the U.S. population has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
- Also according to NAMI, nearly 83% of bipolar disorder cases among U.S. adults are classified as severe.
- The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 4.4% of American adults will be diagnosed as having bipolar disorder at some point in their lives.
Potential Effects of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health disorder, and it should be treated as such. If you do not receive appropriate bipolar disorder treatment, you are putting yourself at risk for a wide range of negative outcomes.
The following list contains some of the many potential effects of untreated bipolar disorder:
- Inability to form or maintain relationships with friends and family
- Trouble focusing or keeping up in school or at work
- Financial difficulties
- Chronic unemployment
- Injuries or illness related to reckless behaviors
- Social isolation
- Onset or worsening of additional mental health disorders
- Substance use and addiction
- Suicidal ideation
The risk of death by suicide in people who have bipolar disorder is alarmingly high. According to a 2019 study published on the National Institute of Mental Health’s website, as many as 60% of people who have bipolar disorder attempt suicide and as many as 20% of those who have bipolar disorder die by suicide.
Tower Behavioral Health can help you get your symptoms under control. Improving your health is imminently achievable, and so is limiting or negating the consequences of untreated bipolar disorder.
Why Choose Our Bipolar Disorder Treatment Center
You’ve read about the dangers of failing to receive bipolar disorder treatment. But there are also so many benefits to getting professional help to manage your symptoms of bipolar disorder.
By working with a multidisciplinary staff in an environment that is conducive to patient-centered healing, you can regain control of your social, physical, and emotional well-being. You can take ownership of your thoughts and actions and better understand the fulfilling life you’re capable of living.
Bipolar disorder, like many mental health concerns, can make you feel isolated. But at our inpatient bipolar disorder treatment center, you’ll receive care from experts who understand the uncertainty you’ve been experiencing. You’ll also meet other patients who have felt the effects of bipolar disorder, and you’ll be able to learn from one another and embrace the feeling that you aren’t going through this process alone.
Tower Behavioral Health uses a wide array of evidence-based techniques and practices to ensure that you receive a comprehensive bipolar disorder treatment experience. As with any diagnosis at our facility, you’ll benefit from a personalized treatment plan that takes into account your specific needs.
Once you receive bipolar disorder treatment, you should continue to benefit from the tools and knowledge you’ve acquired. We assist in that process by providing a detailed discharge plan that will help you succeed in the days ahead. By compiling community resources and aftercare connections, we’ll ensure that you have all the information you need to stay successful after your time at our bipolar disorder treatment facility ends.
Therapies Used in Bipolar Disorder Treatment
When you first arrive at our bipolar disorder treatment center in Reading, Pennsylvania, you will complete a detailed assessment that will help our treatment team create your personalized bipolar disorder treatment plan.
Depending on your specific needs, your bipolar disorder treatment plan might include medication management services along with group, family, and individual therapies. We also offer psychotherapy and psychoeducation sessions, and we are pleased to feature experiential therapies such as art, music, and dance/movement therapies.
Throughout the course of bipolar disorder treatment, you’ll engage in a variety of therapeutic modalities that are conducive to increased healing and understanding. These include:
- Motivational interviewing
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness
A staff of behavioral health experts leads all our programming, and everyone at Tower Behavioral Health comes to work with one goal in mind: putting our patients first.
You shouldn’t have to navigate bipolar disorder alone. By choosing our bipolar disorder treatment center, you can find a renewed sense of hope and forge a path toward the future that’s full of improved health and happiness.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Tower Behavioral Health.
