Bipolar Disorder Treatment in Los Angeles

At Profound Treatment, we are dedicated to providing personalized mental health treatment that supports your unique needs. Through bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles, you can find holistic care and coping strategies for wellness in your daily life.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is one of the most common mood disorders that impairs well-being and your ability to lead a fulfilling life. Further, as a mental health condition, bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings. These mood swings differ significantly in severity and duration from the usual “ups and downs” that people experience from time to time. In addition to mood swings, you experience dramatic shifts in energy and activity levels that impede functioning in daily life.

Bipolar disorder can have a substantial negative impact on both the substance and quality of a person’s life. Struggling with untreated bipolar disorder can make it challenging to pursue a rewarding career, maintain healthy relationships, and otherwise live a productive and fulfilling life. However, with a holistic approach to evidence-based therapies and interventions, you can access effective treatment to manage your symptoms. When you have the tools and support for stabilization, you can resume your pursuit of a healthier quality of life and a more promising future.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Understanding bipolar disorder is an important first step toward management and recovery. Bipolar disorder is distinctly different from other mood disorders because its symptoms can be split into distinct episodes, like manic episodes and hypomanic episodes. Further, bipolar disorder can be broken into a few different types based on their pattern, duration, and the severity of your mood episodes. There are three main types of bipolar disorder:

Bipolar I Disorder

• Experience one or more manic episodes for seven days or more
  • Manic episodes are a distinct period of abnormal and persistently irritable mood and increased goal-directed activity or energy
    • Common signs of manic episodes:
      • Inflated self-esteem
      • Easily distracted
      • Racing thoughts
      • More talkative
      • Speaking quickly
      • Needs less sleep than usual
• Depressive episodes are also a common feature of bipolar I disorder
  • Mood episodes typically last for at least two weeks
    • Common signs of depressive episodes:
      • Persisted depressed mood all day for most days
      • Feelings of worthlessness
      • Excessive or inappropriate guilt
      • Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed
      • Fatigue and restlessness
      • Insomnia
• The mood episodes can also present as mixed features
  • Rapid cycling: experiencing four or more manic or depressive episodes within a year
• Psychosis can occur during severe depressive and manic episodes

Bipolar II Disorder

• Characterized by depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes
  • Hypomanic episodes are a less severe version of mania or manic episodes
  • Manic episodes typically never occur
    • Although hypomania is less impairing than mania, depressive episodes contribute to significant impairment
  • Experience extended and persistent low-grade depressive episodes

Cyclothymic Disorder or Cyclothymia

• The recurrence of hypomanic and depressive symptoms
  • Expressed as chronically unstable mood swings
  • They are not as intense or long-lasting as the depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes found in bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder
  • Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by persistent symptoms for at least two years in adults and one year in children and adolescents
  • Cyclothymia can have periods of a typical or stable mood, known as euthymia
    • This stable mood typically lasts fewer than eight weeks and no more than two months

In addition to bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder, there is another form of mood episodes that does not meet the criteria for the main types of bipolar disorder. It is referred to as other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders. Other specified or unspecified bipolar disorder is characterized by experiences with clinically significant periods of abnormal mood swings.

Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

The mood episodes found in the different types of bipolar disorder consist of several different signs and symptoms. Some of the signs and symptoms of different mood episodes include:

Manic Episodes

• Feeling excessively happy, hopeful, and excited
• Restlessness
• Sudden and severe mood swings
• Speaking quickly
  • Flight of ideas: talking quickly about a lot of different things
• Racing thoughts
• Impulsivity and poor judgment
• Increased energy
• Feeling rested with little sleep
• Risky behaviors
  • Substance abuse
  • Unsafe or unprotected sex
  • Driving under the influence
  • Overspending
  • Giving away money
• Making grand and unattainable plans
• Feeling unusually important, talented, or powerful
• Extreme irritability or short temper
• Feeling jumpy or wired
• Psychosis
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
• Some experience suicidal thoughts
• Difficulty maintaining work, school, home, social, or family obligations and responsibilities

Depressive Episodes

• Feeling overwhelming sadness
• Uncontrollable crying
• Feeling down and anxious
• Lack of motivation
• Low energy and fatigue
• Feeling lonely
• Social withdrawal
  • Isolating yourself from loved ones
• Loss of pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed
• Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness
• Increased irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Impaired decision-making
• Changes in appetite and sleep
  • Eating more or eating less
    • Unintentional weight gain or weight loss
  • Insomnia
    • Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
  • Excessively sleeping
  • Feeling unable to do even simple things
  • Talking slowly
  • Feeling unable to find anything to say
  • Forgetfulness
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
  • Difficulty maintaining work, school, home, social, or family obligations and responsibilities

Hypomania Episodes

• Milder manic-like symptoms make you feel energetic, very high, up, and elated
  • You feel like you can get a lot done
  • Unlike depressive and manic episodes, you can typically function well in social and work settings
  • It is often hard for you to recognize that you are in a hypomanic episode
    • You feel like nothing is wrong, but your loved ones notice the changes
      • Mood swings
      • Changes in activity levels that are unusual for you
  • Severe depressive episodes can follow hypomania

Mixed Episodes

• Includes symptoms of both manic and depressive episodes
  • Feeling negative feelings and thoughts while also feeling other extreme emotions with excessive energy
    • Agitation
    • Restlessness
    • Intense sadness and hopelessness
    • Feeling empty
    • Extremely energized

Looking at the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder highlights the challenges of mental health conditions like mood disorders on well-being and your quality of life. Moreover, the signs and symptoms support the importance and value of bipolar disorder treatment for long-term stability in your daily life.

Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is widely believed to be the result of several factors working together. Some of these factors include deregulation in brain chemistry, genetic predisposition, psychological stressors, social factors, family history, and family dynamics. Yet, how do these factors put you or a loved one at greater risk for developing mental health disorders like bipolar disorder? Listed below are some of the factors and risks they impose on you or your loved one’s health and well-being:

• Genetic predisposition
  • Bipolar disorder is known to run in families based on the hereditary passing of genes
  • Certain genes that are passed down are more likely to develop into bipolar disorder than others
  • There is not one specific gene that causes bipolar disorder
    • Various genes are involved in the development of bipolar disorder
  • Although genetics increases your risk, genes are not the only factor that must occur for bipolar disorder to develop
    • Many people with a family history of bipolar disorder, including identical twins, will not develop the mood disorder
      • The combination of genetic risk and triggering events, like life stressors or trauma, can contribute to the development of bipolar disorder
• Family history
  • The genetic predisposition risk factor highlights bipolar disorder as one of the mental health issues that runs in families
    • You have an increased chance of developing bipolar disorder if a close relative has bipolar disorder
      • A parent or a sibling
• Environmental: Significantly stressful and or traumatic locations, events, and relationships
  • Living in a stressful environment can trigger the development of mood disorders like bipolar disorder
    • Poverty
    • Being abused and or neglected by family
  • Stressful life events can trigger the development of bipolar disorder
    • Losing a loved one
    • Life-threatening illness or chronic health condition
    • Car accidents
    • Financial issues
    • Getting a divorce
  • Exposure to trauma can trigger the development of bipolar disorder
    • Adverse childhood experience (ACEs): Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and or physical or emotional neglect
      • The things that happened to you as a child can still impact you later in life, even if you are no longer in that environment or with those who harmed you
• Brain structure, function, and brain chemistry
  • Your brain structure and how your brain functions have subtle differences from those of brains without bipolar disorder or other mental health disorders
    • These subtle brain changes can be seen in the average size of the brain structure and the activation of some of the brain structures
  • Bipolar disorder is seen in an imbalance in brain chemistry
    • An imbalance of natural chemicals in the brain and body
• Substance abuse
  • Misusing or abusing alcohol and drugs increases your risk of developing bipolar disorder
    • Substance abuse is not a direct cause of bipolar disorder, but it is a risk factor for people with other known risk factors, such as genetic predisposition
    • Through substance abuse, those who are predisposed can trigger or worsen bipolar disorder symptoms
• Mental health issues
  • Other mental health conditions can exacerbate or trigger mood episodes, such as depressive or manic episodes
    • Seasonal depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use can trigger mood episodes and make it more difficult to recover from depressive or manic episodes
• Other factors
  • Changes in sleep patterns, such as not getting enough sleep, can be a trigger for those with a heightened risk for bipolar disorder
  • Certain medications can induce manic or depressive episodes
    • Some antidepressants can trigger mania
      • Mental health professionals recommend only taking an antidepressant with mood stabilizers if you have bipolar disorder
    • Steroids like corticosteroids can induce mania
    • Some other medications that are linked to potentially inducing manic episodes include thyroid medication and appetite suppressants

Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Needs

Bipolar disorder commonly co-occurs with several different mental health disorders or conditions. The most common mental health issues that co-occur with bipolar disorder are anxiety disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Bipolar disorder also has co-occurrence with eating disorders and substance use.

Substance abuse is common in bipolar disorder as the distress of depressive and manic episodes impairs functioning. You or a loved one may self-medicate with substances like alcohol or drugs to combat overwhelming symptoms like sadness and anxiety. However, substance abuse cannot suppress your symptoms forever and will eventually worsen your manic and depressive symptoms.

Mood disorders like bipolar disorder are complex and require the support of experienced mental health professionals. Managing bipolar disorder symptoms is further complicated by other co-occurring mental health issues and substance abuse. Thus, access to dual diagnosis care for substance abuse and mental health treatment supports whole-person healing.

At Profound Treatment, we offer evidence-based treatment options and continuing care support across multiple levels of care to improve your quality of life. With comprehensive, evidence-based therapies, you can work with our mental health professionals and other clinical healthcare experts to build a treatment plan that addresses your unique needs for long-term well-being.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment in Los Angeles

A variety of treatment programs can be explored to support bipolar disorder treatment. Levels of care can range from outpatient treatment or an intensive outpatient program (IOP) to a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or a residential treatment program. Outpatient care can be an effective treatment when you have:

• Mild to moderate symptoms
• No risk of self-harm or suicide
• Able to maintain your responsibilities at home, work, or school, and
• You have a strong support network

However, for many people, especially those whose bipolar disorder has gone untreated, residential treatment is the most effective treatment plan. If you or your loved one is struggling with severe symptoms that have led to significant impairment and risk of self-harm, residential treatment could be right for you. Residential treatment in our bipolar disorder treatment center can empower profound change for you to lead a fulfilling life.

Individuals who develop bipolar disorder are uniquely affected by this mental illness. At Profound, our comprehensive bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles, California, employs a holistic approach to evidence-based therapies to help clients experience long-term well-being.

Holistic Approach to Care With Evidence-Based Therapies

During your time in treatment with us, you will work with a team of experienced mental health professionals. Our compassionate team of healthcare professionals is committed to providing you with personalized, focused care. Several evidence-based therapies and interventions can be incorporated into your treatment plan to address your unique needs. Listed below are some of the forms of psychotherapy and interventions that can be utilized in an effective treatment program:

Pharmacological Therapy

• Incorporating medication can be an effective treatment tool
  • Our residential treatment offers support for medication management
    • With medication management, you learn how to:
      • Make a list of your medications
      • Take your medications properly
      • Understand and recognize side effects
      • Monitor and provide feedback on treatment response
• Common medications used to treat bipolar disorder
  • Mood stabilizers like lithium help with manic and hypomanic episodes, and may also help with depressive episodes
  • Antipsychotics like Seroquel offer mood stabilization for manic or hypomanic episodes, or maintenance treatment
    • Can also be used in combination with mood stabilizers
  • Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed to help manage depressive episodes
    • Since antidepressants can trigger manic or hypomanic episodes, they are typically prescribed in combination with mood stabilizers or antipsychotics
  • Combine antidepressant and antipsychotic medication
    • Medications like Symbyax combine the antidepressant fluoxetine and the antipsychotic olanzapine to treat bipolar disorder
  • Anti-anxiety medications can be used on a short-term basis to treat anxiety symptoms

Psychotherapy

• Individual therapy sessions
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Group therapy sessions
• Family therapy sessions
• Psychoeducation
• Coping strategies training
• Self-management strategies
  • Educational tools to help you identify early symptoms or triggers for mood episodes

Complementary Holistic Approach and Lifestyle Changes

• Building a regular sleep routine
• Eating nutritious foods on a regular schedule
• Creative activities and hobbies
  • Art and music
• Physical activity
  • Exercise
  • Walking
  • Hiking
  • Running
  • Swimming
• Stress management
  • Yoga
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Deep breathing exercises
• Support groups
• Spending time with and receiving mutual support from loved ones

Our dedication to your behavioral health needs supports building a treatment plan that meets you where you are. Bipolar disorder does not have to be a barrier to you or your loved one leading a fulfilling life. With comprehensive, holistic support, you can not only manage your symptoms but also learn how to thrive in your daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What if I have co-occurring substance abuse?

We specialize in treating co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis treatment. Our treatment programs are designed to address both substance abuse and mental health conditions simultaneously for expert coordinated care.

How long are the bipolar disorder treatment programs?

The duration of treatment varies depending on your unique needs. Treatment can generally range from a few weeks to several months or even years. Complex or chronic conditions like bipolar disorder may require longer-term treatment, tailored to your needs. You will work closely with our care team to develop a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs and goals.

When can I start the admissions process?

Admission to our bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles, California, begins with a simple phone call. Our experienced admissions team will take you through a brief initial assessment and a free insurance verification to determine the best plan of care for you.

Untreated bipolar disorder can impair function in your daily life, work, or school, and in your relationships. Additionally, bipolar disorder commonly co-occurs with conditions like anxiety and substance abuse to further complicate symptom management and impede your quality of life. Therefore, access to a holistic approach to evidence-based therapies and modalities at Profound Treatment supports healing for your long-term well-being. With bipolar disorder treatment in Los Angeles, you can find the tools and support you need to not only manage your symptoms but also build a fulfilling life. Call (833) 737-3422 to take your first step toward building the quality life you deserve.