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Understanding bipolar disorder

  • Morningside Recovery: Bipolar disorders

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Bipolar disorder has many shapes and faces. The image of the mentally ill is similar to that of addicts—in that it is both stigmatized and inaccurate. In the same way that addiction in America touches families of all races and demographics, severe mental health issues like bipolar disorder are involuntary, chronic conditions that affect people from all walks of life. According to mental health and addiction experts at Morningside Recovery, living happily with bipolar disorder is possible with the right kind of help and a large dose of understanding.

Here are the facts.

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a psychological issue that afflicts 1-2% of the population. It typically appears in adolescence or young adulthood, in extreme depressive and manic episodes that last for days or weeks at a time. Bipolar disorders are characterized by sporadic fluctuations in mood, between acute euphoria (“mania”) and extreme depression, which arise between periods of normalcy. There is a bipolar spectrum that individuals fall upon, which is determined by the severity of their symptoms and how often they appear. Bipolar I disorder is the most severe, Bipolar II disorder less severe, and Cyclothymia is the mildest form in diagnosis.

One potential wrench in finding good bipolar treatment is that many people with bipolar disorder also have some form of addiction or other mental health issue, something known as dual-diagnosis.

Nearly 46.2% of individuals with Bipolar I disorder have alcohol dependency, and 48% of those with Bipolar II disorder have some kind of substance abuse problem. Why? Mania, for example, can be triggered or “enhanced” by alcohol and other drugs. Others attempt to self-medicate their moods with substances, in effort to come out of a depressive episode or control their mania. Unfortunately, this experimentation often leads to more or worse problems, both physically and emotionally. There are places that specialize in dual-diagnosis care, including Morningside Recovery, but not every facility offers this level of comprehensive programming.

There are other difficulties in treating individuals with bipolar disorder.

Relapse is common and people with bipolar disorder do not like being medicated. Some understandably seek the “high” they feel during mania, and others experience side-effects or don’t have their medications managed properly. Bipolar disorder can present in numerous symptoms, which requires trying different combinations of medications with trial and error. There is no cookie-cutter way to treat bipolar disorder and it can take time to find a regimen of therapy and medication that fits.

With the help of a well-educated, sympathetic therapist, people with bipolar disorder can find the right regimen for them, but it may take some time. This is especially true for those who also deal with addiction, anxiety, or personality disorders. Bipolar disorders do not present the same way for everyone, but with the drive to get better and help from experienced professionals, there is hope for recovery and a stable, healthy life.


At Morningside Recovery’s unique open-model program in Coastal Orange County, California, hundreds of individuals struggling with Bipolar disorder and related issues find successful, sustainable recovery every year. With premier therapeutic support and fully individualized case management in a real-world living context, Morningside Recovery makes the transition from intensive treatment to successful health as seamless as possible. To learn more about Morningside Recovery and the services they offer call 1-888-917-9560 or visit www.morningsiderecovery.com.

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