What is the Connection Between Bipolar Disorder and Addiction or Substance Abuse?
Bipolar depression is often complicated by attempts to self-medicate both manic and depressive phases with addictive drugs, alcohol or prescription drug abuse. When substance abuse is combined with psychotropic medications commonly used to control depressive symptoms and stabilize the individual’s moods, symptoms may become even more erratic and dangerous. An experienced psychiatrist can manage bipolar disorder and help people with this illness to lead full and productive lives. While in many cases bipolar disorder can be treated very effectively in an outpatient setting, it can also pose a grave challenge for suffers who also have symptoms of drug addiction, alcohol abuse or eating disorders. Sufferers of bipolar depression and co-occurring disorders or addictions will face a much more challenging path to recovery, and require more aggressive and integrated treatment. It is essential for both the bipolar disorder and the substance abuse disorder to be expertly addressed. That’s why ex
