Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use

Bipolar disorder is characterized by severe mood swings that range from one of the spectrum being depression and the other mania. Everyone at some point in their lives feels down and out or overly excited, whereas with bipolar disorder, these feelings are extreme and interfere with daily life.

When a person with bipolar disorder is experiencing depression, they feel gravely hopeless, having problems with sleep, overcome with guilt, exhausted, unable to concentrate and preoccupied with suicide to name a few. When this person is experiencing mania, they are on top of the world, have little need for sleep, feel euphoric, delusional, irritable, hostile, easily distracted and out of control. Unfortunately, many times when a person is experiencing these lows and especially highs they resort to self medication with substances such as alcohol, cocaine, sleeping pills or anything that is going to take away their feelings. This can be particularly dangerous in that there is a greater risk of following through with suicide especially in the manic state. This is due to the high level of energy and impulsiveness that a person feels while manic. It's important to recognize signs of substance abuse in patients with bipolar disorder because it has greater implications for treatment.

If a person with bipolar disorder is dually diagnosed with substance abuse it is very important to treat the substance abuse along with the bipolar symptoms. With the use of various medications and therapy a person can lead a normal life with little symptoms.