Bipolar And Alcohol Abuse

Is There A Connection Between Bipolar Disorder And Alcohol Abuse?

Have you ever wondered whether there was a link between your bipolar and alcohol abuse that makes it more difficult for you to live your life? Many people with bipolar disorder are surprised to learn that their drinking may be connected to their mood swings and impulse control.

Bipolar disorder and alcoholism are connected through genetic factors that influence both conditions. It’s also common to find that people with bipolar disorder drink to manage their symptoms, even if it worsens them in the long run. Poor judgment and stress can also influence how much you drink.

Icarus Nevada offers relief from the symptoms of bipolar disorder and alcohol use. Our residential treatment program allows you to rest easy knowing that you’re safe.

Here’s what you need to know about the connection between bipolar disorder and alcohol.

Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism: How Are They Connected?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly one in four adults with mental disorders will also struggle with substance abuse. This is particularly true in the case of the population with bipolar affective disorder. The two are inextricably linked.

What should you know about how alcohol consumption intersects with bipolar disorder?

Genetic Differences with Alcohol Use Disorder and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

The first thing worth noting is that bipolar disorder patients are at the mercy of their genetics. Bipolar disorder is linked to genetic inheritance. This means that if you have a close relative with the diagnosis, you’re more likely to develop the same condition.

It requires a unique combination of factors to reach the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual diagnosis, rather than one single gene that could be altered to prevent it.

The same is true for alcohol use disorder. While you could develop alcoholism without any sort of family connection, it does have a high heritability rate. Like bipolar disorder, it isn’t a single gene that marks an alcoholic. Instead, it is a combination of genetic factors that influence the outcomes of your propensity to turn to booze.

Researchers speculate that having the genetic predisposition to one of these issues may link you to an increased likelihood of developing the other. This is why it’s important to receive help for both.

Drinking to Manage Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

While genes play a role in your propensity to drink alcohol while coping with psychiatric disorders, there are other factors at play. People with bipolar disorder experience extreme mood swings from a manic episode to the deepest depths of depressive episodes. Alcohol is often used to cope.

In the beginning, alcohol can mask some of the worst of the symptoms. It tends to minimize feelings of depression and anxiety, and it can make mania feel more tolerable.

Because it’s so effective at masking the worst of the symptoms, people tend to turn to it more often. The problem is that this creates dependence for managing mood symptoms. Not to mention, as time goes on, the effects of alcohol on co-occurring bipolar disorder can actually worsen symptoms.

Poor Judgment in Manic Episodes for Patients with Bipolar I

Patients who experience full manic episodes as part of their bipolar I disorder will also have a unique struggle. Mania (and to a lesser extent, hypomania in bipolar II disorder) makes patients feel as though they are on top of the world. While some people drink alcohol to cope with depressive episodes, this is different.

Instead, they feel so good that their judgment is often impaired. They might take more risks than usual without stopping to think about the consequences.

One of these risks is engaging in substance abuse, whether that means alcohol or other drug abuse. It could mean that they drink more in one sitting or do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do. If they spend enough time in a manic episode, it could lead to further dependence on alcohol.

Stress and the Impacts of Your Environment

Everyone has stressful things going on in their lives, and this is particularly true for those with bipolar disorder (sometimes referred to as manic depression). Stress can exacerbate symptoms and trigger a more extreme mood episode. However, it can also indicate future problematic alcohol use.

The more stress you experience on a day-to-day basis, the more likely you are to experience mood swings and to turn to self-medication.

This is why it’s so important to seek help at a center that’s skilled in dual diagnosis. You can learn how to manage stress without drinking. Plus, you’ll receive instant relief from a stressful situation when you enroll in a residential treatment center. Both can help ground you and prevent future problematic alcohol use.

Why is it Important Not to Drink with Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder?

The link between mental disorders and alcohol consumption is fairly clear, but why should you avoid the fallout of drinking if you have bipolar disorder? There is a fairly clear-cut case for nixing the drinking so that you can live a full and satisfying life with your diagnosis.

Difficult to Diagnose Bipolar Disorder with Drinking

The first thing that you should know is that it can be very difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder if you’ve been drinking for some time. Because alcohol use disorder can mask and mimic some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, your provider might not notice the mood symptoms or pay them much attention.

This is why it’s key to take a step back from alcohol if you think that something else may trigger drinking.

Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada offers experienced clinicians who are trained to spot the potential interplay between substance abuse and mental disorders like bipolar disorder. Plus, you’ll be safe from the risk of drinking while you’re in our care. This allows us to see your symptoms more clearly.

Interference with Medication to Treat Bipolar Symptoms

Bipolar disorder isn’t something that’s going to go away on its own. Instead, medication is key in finding a balance between mania and depression, leaving you feeling more stable. The medications don’t work as well if you spend your free time drinking. How does this impact the progression of your illness?

Alcohol consumption interferes with the medication’s ability to work properly. It can exacerbate the very symptoms of bipolar disorder that you’re trying to treat. If they can’t work correctly, then you may not find the relief that you were hoping for.

More than that, you could run the risk of very dangerous situations. For example, lithium is often used in treating patients with bipolar disorder. If you drink alcohol while taking it, you could develop toxicity and need emergency medical help to mitigate the symptoms and its long-term effects.

Increased Risk Factors for Suicide with Bipolar Affective Disorder and Alcohol

Bipolar patients are at a greater risk of suicide than the general population. The catch-22 is that those who abuse alcohol are also at a greater risk of suicidal ideation and action. When you combine both of these issues, you face a dangerous combination that could cost you your life.

Particularly those with mixed episodes as part of their bipolar symptoms, suicide is a real danger. You may lack the impulse control not to act on those fleeting thoughts. Additionally, you may not have the insight to determine why you should keep living.

If you have co-occurring bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder, you need to be particularly careful. This is why residential treatment can be a great option. You’ll have access to 24/7 monitoring and care so that you can rest easy knowing that you’re safe.

Seeking Help for Bipolar Disorder and Comorbid Alcoholism

People with bipolar disorder type II or type I will require help to put a stop to the most extreme of their symptoms. It may not be enough to try to white-knuckle it to give up your alcohol use. Here are some of the services that can help with bipolar disorder and alcoholism.

Residential Treatment for Monitoring and Safety and Lower Levels of Care

If you’re dealing with suicidal ideation, you need to know that you’re safe, and residential treatment can deliver for you. You’ll receive access to 24/7 care with counselors and medical professionals who can help you through a difficult time.

When you no longer pose a danger to yourself and start to gain confidence that you can cope outside of a residential care facility, you can think about transitioning to a lower level of care. Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient permit you to receive services during the day and return home at night.

Look for a program that offers both levels of care so that you can easily make the jump from inpatient to your home life. Make sure they offer a healthy balance of one-on-one therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and recovery meetings so that you can tap into the resources you need when you need them.

Medication Management for Manic and Major Depressive Episodes

The best thing you can do for your mood instability is to find a medication that works for you. There are all sorts of medications that you can try: mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and more. What works for one person with a dual diagnosis may not work for the next, though.

This is why it’s essential to put yourself under the care of an experienced psychiatrist. They can help you taper your elevated mood and major depressive episodes with the right medication and dosage.

Keep in mind that this is trial and error for most people with bipolar disorder, so keep showing up to your appointments as you work together to find a solution.

They might also be able to offer you relief from your desire to drink. There are drugs out there that can minimize the effects of drugs and alcohol on your system, making you less likely to turn to them when stressful situations arise.

Enroll in Treatment for Dual Diagnosis at Icarus Nevada

Are you ready to get a handle on both your bipolar and alcohol abuse? Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada offers the comprehensive treatment you need with every level of care. Most will start out in an inpatient program where they have around-the-clock access to care and monitoring.

Our enrollment team is here to answer your questions and verify your insurance benefits with a quick and confidential call. From here, we can reserve your spot in our program with access to same-day admissions so that you get the help you need when you need it most.

Reach out to us today to enroll in our treatment programs for dual diagnosis clients and experience lasting relief from both bipolar and alcohol!

References

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