After looking at these symptoms, it's possible that you wonder if you have bipolar disorder. Maybe you were diagnosed with major depression, but those symptoms don't quite fit. It can be helpful to take a quiz that can give you some more insight.

Answer the following questions about yourself honestly:

• Do you frequently have racing thoughts that are hard to express to others?
• Do you have periods of time when you are very goal-oriented?
• Do you ever participate in reckless activities that you know you shouldn't?
• Do you get very little sleep, but find that you still have a lot of energy?
• Is it difficult for you to maintain a conversation without getting distracted?
• Do you ever interrupt other people's conversations without regard for them at all?
• Do you ever feel like you're on top of the world?
• Do you ever become very irritable or angry?
• Do you have periods of time when everything makes you feel sad?
• Are you struggling in your relationships with your family?
• Would you rather be isolated from others most of the time?
• Have you ever thought about committing suicide?
• Do your moods tend to change rather quickly?
• Do you cry for no real reason?
• Have you recently lost weight without meaning to?
• Do you feel tired during the day?

These questions are split into mania and depression categories. If you answered some with a yes from both categories, you may have bipolar disorder.

If you do have bipolar disorder, there's no reason to be ashamed or feel guilty. It's important to identify what the problem is so that you can get the help you need to recover.

The most important thing you can do if you have bipolar disorder is to get treatment. Both phases of this disorder are serious, and so, treatment should begin right away.

Therapists and doctors use a few different methods to treat bipolar disorder. These methods depend on the symptoms and the type of treatment the patient needs. You might experience:

• Medication Therapy: There are a number of different medications that have proven to be effective in treating bipolar disorder. In fact, this method is often the cornerstone of treatment.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This type of therapy can help people manage their bipolar symptoms effectively. It can also help to prevent a relapse. Individuals learn how to use various coping techniques to control their emotions.
• Family Therapy: It can be very helpful to get family members involved when someone they love is in treatment. Quite often, therapists are able to help restore and strengthen these important relationships. The ultimate goal is to be a strong source of support.
• Group Therapy: For those who have bipolar disorder, it can be a very lonely mental illness. They frequently feel like no one understands what they're going through. Group therapy offers them the peer support they desperately need.
• Interpersonal/Social Rhythm Therapy: This is another type of behavioral therapy that has proven to be effective. It concentrates on improving personal relationships. It also establishes daily rhythms to improve the quality of life for bipolar patients.

There are a number of different medications that are frequently used to help people with bipolar disorder. These include:

• Lithium
• Valproic Acid
• Equetro
• Lamotrigine
• Gabapentin
• Haloperidol
• Risperdone
• Latuda
• Symbyax

Medications can be a very important part of treating bipolar disorder. However, they should never be viewed as the only form of treatment. Therapy is critical for anyone with this condition.

There is no real cause for bipolar disorder. However, researchers do know that a number of risk factors play a role in it.

• Family History: Bipolar disorder is an inherited disease. More than two out of three people with it have a close relative suffering from it as well. According to NIMH, when one parent has it, the risk to children is as high as 30%. When both parents have it, the risk increases to as high as 75%.
• Chemical Imbalance: Bipolar disorder is a condition that occurs in a specific part of the brain. When neurotransmitters aren't able to communicate with each other, this can easily lead to bipolar disorder. These problems can develop at any time, and they often remain dormant for years.
• Environmental Factors: If someone is predisposed to having bipolar disorder, any event can trigger it.
• Physical Health: Certain health conditions can trigger episodes of bipolar disorder. For example, hormonal shifts or other health conditions can play a role.
• Some Medications: For those who are more susceptible to bipolar disorder, manic episodes can be triggered by antidepressants. Drugs like Zoloft or Prozac are excellent examples.

Because the symptoms of bipolar disorder can change so quickly, the substances people abuse are also likely to change.

For someone who is in a manic state, he or she may choose to drink alcohol or use marijuana. These drugs have calming effects on the body that can counteract the symptoms of mania.

For someone who is in a depressive state, he or she may choose something to help them feel better. Again, alcohol is a common choice. Stimulants like Adderall or even cocaine might also be valid options in their minds.

By now, you may understand why bipolar disorder and addiction are often linked to each other. The goal is to minimize symptoms, regardless of what state a person is in at the time.

Drinking alcohol or using drugs can help this to occur for a short period of time. However, people generally find that it isn't long before their symptoms return. In some cases, they may even become worse. To help with this, people will increase how much or how often they use substances.

Integrative addiction treatment or dual diagnosis treatment is important for those with this condition and addiction. It's so important to treat them at the same time. Doing so improves outcomes for patients and leaves them less susceptible to a relapse.

A treatment plan is created specifically for each patient that outlines his or her own specific needs. Therapies are combined and complement each other.