Every year on March 30th, we celebrate World Bipolar Day, a global initiative designed to raise awareness about a mental health condition that affects 2.8 percent of the adult population in the U.S. People with bipolar disorder go through episodes of mood swings that can significantly impact their lives. If you or someone you love suffers from bipolar disorder, World Bipolar Day is a reminder to people with bipolar disorder that they are not alone. It also educates others about the challenges you might face in life and how treatment can help. At TruHealing Centers, we feel that knowledge and awareness of bipolar disorder are essential to learning to live with it.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by periods of depression and elevated mood, leading to a psychosis called mania. If you have bipolar disorder, a feeling of sadness can change without warning to mania or hypomania that leaves you euphoric, overly energetic, and irritable. That back and forth of mood swings associated with bipolar disorder can affect your ability to hold a job, sleep, behavior logically, and maintain relationships.
There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but there are treatments available that can help stabilize moods. At TruHealing Centers, mental health treatment for bipolar disorder usually involves both drug therapy and counseling.
What Are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
The symptoms may vary from person to person. There are also different kinds of bipolar disorder. Someone with bipolar I disorder has at least one manic episode followed by depression or hypomania. There may be episodes of psychosis, as well. A person with bipolar II disorder will have at least one major depressive and one hypomania episode but never experience mania.
Someone who is having a major depressive episode will feel sad and hopeless. They may have trouble getting out of bed and be unwilling to eat or may overeat as a way to self-soothe.
Mania and hypomania are the reverse of major depression. Someone who is manic or hypomanic will have three or more of these symptoms:
- Abnormally wired
- Energetic or agitated
- An exaggerated sense of self-confidence
- Decreased need to sleep
- Racing thoughts
- Distractibility
- Poor decision-making
- Hypomania (a milder form of mania)
What Happens on World Bipolar Day?
World Bipolar Day is about raising awareness and finding acceptance for those with the condition. The International Society for Bipolar Disorders (WBD) works in conjunction with the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder (ANBD) and the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF) to make this day happen.
Together they host online forums and other virtual and in-person events that educate people about this mental health condition and how to recognize it. There are also discussions about ways to get treatment.
What Does Mental Health Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Involve?
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, but it can be manageable with proper treatment. Typically, those with bipolar disorder undergo different therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavioral therapy. This can be done at a residential or outpatient treatment program like TruHealing Centers. Some may also take medication to help regulate their moods.
TruHealing Centers provides comprehensive mental health services and substance use disorder treatment at locations all over the east coast. Services at TruHealing Centers include:
There is often a connection between mental health conditions like bipolar disorder and substance abuse disorder. Some try to manage their symptoms with drugs or alcohol, leading to an addiction. This is why it’s important for TruHealing Centers to offer mental health treatment and substance use disorder at the same time.
Receive the Best Mental Health Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Today
If you or someone you love is living with untreated bipolar disorder, TruHealing Centers can help. We provide compassionate care for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Learn more from our team today by calling [Direct] or completing our online contact form.