Bipolar Disorder and Addiction | Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments At Aura Recovery Center

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes intense shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels.[1] People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of mania and depression that go beyond typical ups and downs. During manic episodes, someone might feel euphoric, energized, or unusually irritable. They may talk rapidly, take risks, or sleep very little. These highs can feel exhilarating at first, but often spiral into reckless behavior and disconnection from reality.

On the flip side, depressive episodes bring a deep sense of sadness, fatigue, and hopelessness.[2] A person may struggle to concentrate, lose interest in things they once enjoyed, or feel unable to get out of bed. These low points aren’t just “bad days” – they can last for weeks and disrupt every part of daily life. The emotional swing between mania and depression can be sudden or gradual, and for many, it creates ongoing challenges at home, at work, and in relationships.

Bipolar disorder affects how someone thinks, feels, and interacts with the world. It doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people have more extreme highs, while others spend more time in depressive episodes. The timing, frequency, and intensity of mood changes vary widely, but the impact is real and often misunderstood. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.

Addiction and Its Interaction with Bipolar Disorder

Addiction and bipolar disorder often feed off each other in harmful ways. When someone feels overwhelmed by the intensity of their mood swings, they may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope, trying to calm racing thoughts during mania or numb emotional pain during depression. Substance use changes brain chemistry, which can make mood episodes more severe, more frequent, and harder to predict.[3]

This combination creates a dangerous cycle. Addiction blurs the lines between mental health and substance effects, making it harder to recognize when someone is in a true manic or depressive state. It can also delay diagnosis or lead to mislabeling the root issue. Over time, bipolar disorder and addiction push each other deeper: unstable moods drive substance use, and substance use fuels instability. Together, they create a pattern that’s exhausting, confusing, and hard to break without support.

At Aura Recovery Center, clients facing both addiction and bipolar disorder find a place that sees the full picture. With a calm, intimate setting and a team trained to recognize the complexities of co-occurring conditions, Aura offers space to stabilize, reset, and prepare for long-term healing.

Are There Different Kinds of Bipolar Disorders?

Yes, there are several types of bipolar disorder, each with its own pattern of mood changes. While all involve shifts between elevated and depressive states, the intensity, duration, and specific features of those episodes can be different for everyone: [4]

• Bipolar I Disorder: Characterized by at least one full manic episode, often lasting a week or longer. Depressive episodes may occur as well, but are not required for diagnosis.
• Bipolar II Disorder: Involves at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode (a milder form of mania that doesn’t reach full intensity).
• Cyclothymic Disorder (Cyclothymia): Defined by ongoing, fluctuating mood swings that include periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms, not severe enough to meet the full criteria for bipolar I or II.
• Other Specified and Unspecified Bipolar Disorders: Used when symptoms don’t neatly fit the above categories but still involve significant shifts in mood and energy.

Each form of bipolar disorder brings unique challenges, and recognizing the specific type is key to understanding what’s happening and what kind of support might be needed.

What Are the Primary Symptoms of Mania or Hypomania?

Mania and hypomania share similar symptoms, but they differ in intensity and impact. Mania tends to be more severe, often requiring hospitalization or causing major disruptions, while hypomania is milder and typically doesn’t impair daily functioning to the same extent. Common symptoms include: [5]

• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
• Decreased need for sleep (feeling rested after only a few hours)
• Rapid or pressured speech
• Racing thoughts or jumping quickly between ideas
• Increased distractibility
• Risky or impulsive behavior (such as spending sprees, reckless driving, substance use)
• Elevated, expansive, or unusually irritable mood
• Increased goal-directed activity or restlessness

Treating Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse

At Aura Recovery Center, clients struggling with bipolar disorder and addiction receive care that’s both comprehensive and deeply personal. The staff recognizes how mood instability can drive substance use and how addiction can worsen emotional highs and lows. Rather than treating one issue in isolation, Aura creates a safe, supportive environment where both challenges are addressed together, laying a stronger foundation for long-term recovery.

Our Bipolar and addiction treatments in Kentucky include:

• Individual Therapy: One-on-one sessions that explore personal history, identify triggers, and develop coping strategies tailored to each client’s unique needs.
• Group Therapy: Group therapy for bipolar utilizes facilitated peer sessions where clients gain insight, share experiences, and build skills in a supportive environment that helps reduce isolation.
• Family Therapy: Sessions are designed to rebuild trust, improve communication, and educate loved ones about the dynamics of bipolar disorder and substance use.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps clients recognize and reframe harmful thought patterns that contribute to both mood episodes and substance use.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT for bipolar teaches emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance to manage intense mood swings and impulsivity.
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT): Encourages clients to accept their emotions while committing to actions aligned with their values and long-term goals.
• Holistic Therapies: Includes practices like yoga, meditation, and Reiki to support physical, emotional, and spiritual balance.
• Experiential Therapy: Uses creative and hands-on activities to help clients process emotions and trauma in nonverbal, engaging ways.