Note: Solutions Recovery treats all primary alcohol and drug addictive disorders. We also treat issues related to coexisting secondary disorders, including but not limited to, anxiety, depression, eating, gambling, impulse control, sexual and trauma issues.
How Bipolar Disorder can lead to addiction
Bipolar Warning Signs
When a person's illness follows the classic pattern, diagnosing bipolar disorder is relatively easy. But bipolar disorder can be sneaky. Symptoms can defy the expected manic-depressive sequence.
Self-injury, often referred to as cutting, self-mutilation, or self-harm, is an injurious attempt to cope with overpowering negative emotions, such as extreme anger, anxiety, and frustration. It is usually repetitive, not a one-time act. Some drugs, including marijuana, downers, alcohol, and opiates, seem to temporarily blunt the effects of mood swings, only to cause ill effects later.
Others can actively exacerbate manic depression. Speed (methamphetamine, crank, crystal) and cocaine are two that have sent many abusers into mania, often followed quickly by deep depression and psychotic symptoms. Hallucinogens, including LSD and PCP, can set off psychotic symptoms as well. These drugs are not a good idea for any child or teenager, but their effects on young people with bipolar disorders can be even worse.
The primary symptoms of bipolar disorder are dramatic and unpredictable mood swings.
Mania symptoms may include:
- Excessive happiness
- Increased energy
- Less need for sleep
- Racing thoughts
- High sex drive
- Tendency to make unattainable plans
Depression symptoms may include:
- Loss of energy
- Uncontrollable crying
- Change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
- Increased need for sleep
- Difficulty making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide