Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood shifts, ranging from extreme lows (depressive episodes) to highs (manic episodes). This condition can make it difficult for people to go to school or work, perform daily tasks, and maintain relationships.
Fortunately, Navita Health of Texas is here to help. We will listen to your story and help you achieve lasting wellness. Read to learn how bipolar disorder treatment works, what to expect in bipolar disorder treatment services, and more.
How Does Bipolar Disorder Treatment Work?
Bipolar disorder treatment involves using a range of mental health therapeutic approaches to ease symptoms, develop coping mechanisms, and boost well-being.
These approaches may include a mix of the following:
- Medication may be prescribed with talk therapy to manage anxiety symptoms. Healthcare providers may prescribe benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and beta blockers.
- Psychotherapy or talk therapy lets people explore the root causes of their anxiety, master coping strategies, and develop healthier behaviors and patterns.
- Lifestyle changes can help with anxiety management, and may involve activities such as diet changes, regular exercise, and avoiding substances that worsen anxiety (i.e., alcohol and caffeine).
- Complementary therapies may reduce stress, promote relaxation, and improve overall well-being. Common examples include massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, and aromatherapy.
Talk to Navita Health to learn more about our bipolar disorder treatment programs. We offer a holistic bipolar disorder program that addresses the emotional, physical, and psychological aspects of anxiety.
Bipolar Disorder Treatment Services
At Navita Health, we offer the following range of treatment options. Talk to one of our advocates to learn which is best for you.
Residential Treatment Programs
Residential programs require you to move into a healthcare facility providing therapy and other treatments for bipolar disorder.
These programs are best for people who want or need around-the-clock care. This may include patients with frequent mood episodes, substance use disorders, and episodes of hypomania who are at increased risk of suicide.
Key benefits of residential treatment programs include:
- Diverse treatments such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and art therapy
- A comfortable, home-like environment
- Continuous access to mental health professionals
- Usage of evidence-backed methods to promote healing
Day Treatment Programs
Day treatment programs do not require you to move into a facility. As such, you can return home in the evenings and weekends after attending programs.
Day treatment programs are best for people who do not want to change their schedules while receiving treatment for bipolar disorder.
Navita Health offers several types of day treatment programs:
- Outpatient programs provide basic recovery services, such as group and individual therapy sessions. People can step down to outpatient programs after their intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, and residential programs end.
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are more intensive versions of regular outpatient programs. They are good for people who want more support but want to continue living at home.
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are highly structured forms of outpatient rehab that let people live at home. They fall between IOPs and residential programs in terms of intensity.
The main benefit of day treatment programs is flexibility, since people can continue their lives while receiving the care they need. Another benefit is the cost, since day treatment programs tend to be more budget friendly than residential treatment programs.
Bipolar Medication
Another way to treat bipolar disorder mood episodes is through medications.
Depending on your condition and symptoms, your provider may prescribe the following medications:
- Mood stabilizers can control hypomanic and manic episodes. Examples include lithium (Lithobid), lamotrigine (Lamictal), valproate or divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Equetro, Tegretol, and others), and valproic acid (Depakene).
- Antipsychotics such as aripiprazole (Abilify), risperidone (Risperdal), lurasidone (Latuda), quetiapine (Seroquel), and olanzapine (Zyprexa) can help with symptoms of mania and depression that persist in spite of treatment with other meds. Manic episodes or episodes of mania are when you feel extremely energized or elated. Less extreme manic periods are called hypomanic episodes.
- Antidepressants can help manage depression. However, they can sometimes trigger manic episodes, so doctors typically prescribe them along with an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer.
- Anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines can improve sleep and help with anxiety. They are typically used on a short-term basis.
- Antidepressant-antipsychotic medications like Synbyax mix the antipsychotic olanzapine and the antidepressant fluoxetine. It is a mood stabilizer and depression treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment that is effective for a range of problems, including drug use and alcohol problems, marital problems, and eating disorders.
Many studies have shown that CBT leads to significant improvement in quality of life and functioning. In certain scenarios, CBT can be as effective if not more effective than other types of psychiatric therapy and medications.
CBT can be delivered in self-help, one-to-one, or group formats.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a type of psychotherapy that relieves symptoms by boosting interpersonal functioning. It addresses current relationships and problems rather than developmental or childhood issues.
IPT is usually limited to 12 to 16 weeks and can be delivered in group or one-to-one formats.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy helps couples in a committed relationship deal with problems within the relationship.
For example, a therapist can help both partners communicate with each other. They can also help one partner with undiagnosed depression.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is one-on-one mental health treatment that is tailored to meet an individual’s needs. It involves goal setting, processing one’s past, and learning how to manage triggers and symptoms to live healthier.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is when one or more psychologists leads a group of 5 to 15 patients for an hour or two each week.
Group therapy is usually designed to target specific issues, such as substance abuse, obesity, depression, or social anxiety. They can build strong relationships among group members.
Family Therapy
Family therapy helps family members of bipolar depression patients work through challenging feelings and understand each other.
It takes place among people who define themselves as family, and may include parents and children, siblings, cousins, friends, and aunts and uncles.
Alternative Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
If the above treatments for bipolar disorder don’t work, your provider may suggest alternative treatments. These may include:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This involves sending an electric current through the brain to create a controlled seizure that eases bipolar disorder symptoms.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): This involves using an electromagnetic coil to create electric currents to relieve depression over several sessions. It is not as powerful as ECT and does not require general anesthesia.
- Fish oil: Bipolar disorder appears to be less common in countries where people eat fish oil and fish. Accordingly, you may want to consider taking fish oil supplements or eat more fish.
- Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT): This is a type of psychotherapy that helps people with bipolar disorder to adopt good sleep habits, maintain a routine, manage stress, and learn how to address issues that interrupt their routine.
- Calming techniques: Several calming techniques reduce stress and anxiety in people with bipolar disorder. These include yoga, meditation, massage therapy, and acupuncture.
- Light therapy: This is the best evidence-based treatment for relieving seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which many people with bipolar disorder experience.
Types of Bipolar Disorders We Treat
Like other conditions, bipolar disorder can be split into several subtypes. Navita Health treats several types of bipolar disorders, including the following.
Bipolar 1
Bipolar 1 disorder is characterized by either of the following:
- Manic episodes that last for a minimum of 7 days (almost every day for most of the day).
- Manic symptoms that are so severe that the patient requires immediate medical care.
People with bipolar 1 may also experience:
- Depressive episodes that last at least 2 weeks
- Episodes of depression with mixed features, such as having manic and depressive symptoms at the same time
Bipolar 2
Bipolar 2 is characterized by a pattern of hypomanic and depressive episodes. The hypomanic episodes are less severe than bipolar I disorder’s manic episodes.
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia refers to recurring depressive and hypomanic symptoms that do not last long enough and are not intense enough to qualify as depressive or hypomanic episodes.
Rapid Cycling Bipolar
When someone experiences over 4 episodes of depression or mania within a year, it is called “rapid cycling.”
Unspecified Bipolar
People who experience symptoms of bipolar disorder that do not match the categories above are said to have “unspecified bipolar” or “other specified or unspecified bipolar and related disorders.”
Who Will Benefit from Bipolar Disorder Treatment?
If you are struggling with bipolar disorder mood swings and other symptoms, you may benefit from treatment.
Bipolar disorder has a wide range of symptoms, including mood changes.
During a depressive phase, you may experience the following:
- Feelings of despair and guilt
- Feeling irritable, hopeless, or sad most of the time
- Self-doubt
- Lack of appetite
- Feelings of worthlessness and emptiness
- Difficulty remembering and concentrating on things
Here are the signs and symptoms associated with the manic phase of bipolar disorder:
- Being easily distracted
- Feeling very overjoyed, energized, and self-important
- Being easily agitated or irritated
- Being delusional and having illogical thoughts and hallucinations (which can be symptoms of psychosis)
- Doing things that can have bad consequences, such as spending a lot of money in one go
- Making risky decisions and saying things that are out of character
What Sets Apart Our Bipolar Disorder Treatment Programs?
Navita Health’s bipolar disorder treatment programs stand out from the rest for several reasons:
- Custom bipolar treatment plans: Our staff will listen to your story and work with you to tailor a bipolar treatment plan for your needs.
- Home treatment environment: Our environment is comfortable, home-like, and designed to promote healing and sustain recovery.
- Holistic treatment approach: Our holistic treatment approach means we care for the whole person, including your social, spiritual, and mental needs.
How Long Will Bipolar Disorder Treatment Last?
The duration of bipolar disorder treatment depends on individual needs, the severity of the condition, treatment progress and goals, and insurance coverage.
In general, it could take a year to 18 months to experience recovery. Talk to Navita Health to learn how long your bipolar disorder treatment plan may last.
Does Insurance Cover Bipolar Treatment in Texas?
Your insurance may cover bipolar treatment in Texas. However, several factors may affect the extent of coverage, including your provider network, type of insurance, and your policy details.
Talk to your insurer to learn whether bipolar treatment is covered. If you encounter problems with insurance coverage for your bipolar treatment, talk to your treatment provider. They may offer alternative resources or payment arrangements so you can get the treatment you need.
Find a Personalized Bipolar Disorder Treatment at Navita
If you or a loved one need personalized bipolar disorder treatment, Navita Health is here to help.
Our holistic treatment philosophy addresses not only symptoms but the underlying factors contributing to bipolar disorder. Once we understand what your needs are, we will tailor a plan to help you recover from bipolar disorder.
Reach out to Navita Health today to learn more about how we can help you and your loved one(s) with Bipolar I, Bipolar II disorder, cyclothymia, and other types of bipolar, mental disorders, mood disorders, and mental health conditions.
We offer and can provide referrals to services for the effective treatment of bipolar disorder, such as family-focused therapy, psychoeducation, support groups, and more.