Dual diagnosis: Bipolar disorder and substance abuse
Dr. M.K. (Khal) El-Yousef founded Fairwinds Treatment Center over 25 years ago to help patients achieve long-term recovery and happier, healthier lives. Dr. El-Yousef pioneered the dual diagnosis method of treatment to do just that. The dual diagnosis method involves clinical treatment for addiction and eating disorder problems, combined with therapeutic counseling.
Dr. El-Yousef understands that underlying mental, emotional and psychological issues can fuel addiction problems. This makes the treatment of psychological pain just as important as the treatment of the addictive behavior.
Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that often accompanies drug addiction. The disorder is characterized by dramatic mood swings that can vary in severity but are different than the normal ups and downs that a person typically experiences in a given day. Patients will experience overly joyful and energetic episodes that are characterized as "manic," and then dip into a hopeless episode termed "depressive."
These mood swings also lead to marked behavioral and personality changes. During manic episodes, individuals will talk very fast, have racing thoughts, be unusually distractible, pursue a variety of projects, experience insomnia, display restlessness, behave impulsively and express an unrealistic confidence in their own abilities and strengths. Depressive episodes can include a display of lethargy, difficulty with memory, irritability and suicidal thoughts or actions.
Bipolar disorder is usually diagnosed in a person's late teens or early twenties, and it lasts for the rest of a person's life. With ongoing professional medical treatment involving medication and behavioral therapy, though, even severe cases of bipolar disorder can be well-controlled in the longterm.
Bipolar disorder and drug addiction are often reported by health providers to be co-occurring diseases. The link between the two conditions is unclear, but it's believed that those suffering from bipolar disorder sometimes try to cope with their illness by self-medicating with drugs. During manic states, judgment is impaired and patients may make spontaneous and unsafe decisions involving illegal substances.
At Fairwinds Treatment Center, we understand that addiction and bipolar disorder are two complex and subtle conditions that have intertwined ramifications. In order to achieve long-term recovery from drug addiction, those suffering from bipolar disorder must also undergo treatment for that disorder. Only when individuals are both psychologically and physically healed can they return to their families to lead happier and more fulfilled lives.
If you think you may be suffering from bipolar disorder or substance abuse issues, contact Fairwinds today. We're one of the premiere dual diagnosis treatment centers in the nation and our dedicated healthcare professionals can help you overcome your problems in a holistic manner, so you can recover in body, mind and spirit. Psychological disorders and addiction problems are legitimate diseases that require real medical attention in order to heal, so don't hesitate to reach out for help.
