Mental illnesses like bipolar disorder often make the headlines, but did you know there are four types of bipolar disorder? Anyone who has this mental health disorder or cares about someone who has it wants to be fully informed about it. For many, this includes determining which kind of disorder they or the other person has.
Renewal Oasis understands the complexities of treating someone who deals with bipolar disorder. Our skilled therapists work hard to help the person identify their symptoms and learn how to minimize them. This allows people with this challenging disorder to enjoy better control of how it affects their lives, jobs, and relationships. We offer options for a multitude of levels of care, including residential, outpatient, and transitional living programs.
What are the 4 Types of Bipolar Disorder?
Knowing that a person has bipolar disorder is not enough to begin quality treatment. It’s imperative to find out which of the four types of bipolar disorder the individual has. This lets the team create a treatment plan tailored to the specific type of bipolar disorder. This makes the treatment plan more targeted and helps begin the process of minimizing the symptoms sooner and with fewer complications. The different types of bipolar disorder include:
Bipolar I Disorder
This kind of bipolar disorder is marked by the person having manic episodes (feeling up and invincible) for at least seven days. The symptoms may be so severe, the individual will need medical attention. They will also experience frequent depressive episodes that last at least two weeks. Someone who goes through four or more episodes of mania and depression in one year is said to be “rapid cycling”. This is the most common type of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II Disorder (pronounced “Bipolar Two”) causes a person to have depressive and elevated episodes, but there is a difference in the mania moods. With Bipolar I Disorder, the person experiences full-blown mania. Bipolar II Disorder manic episodes are not as intense and are called hypomanic episodes or hypomania. People with Bipolar II Disorder tend to have more depressive episodes than hypomanic ones. About 60% to 70% of hypomanic episodes happen right before or after a depressive episode. In the U.S., approximately one in every two hundred people will develop Bipolar II Disorder at some time during their lives.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Also known as Cyclothymia, this type of bipolar disorder is similar to the first two. However, the main difference is that the person’s hypomania and depressive episodes are not as extreme as they are with Bipolar I and II Disorders. Someone with Cyclothymic Disorder may be less likely to recognize something is wrong or seek treatment because their symptoms are not as impactful as ones people associate with bipolar disorders. Approximately 0.4% to 1% of people will develop this type of bipolar disorder.
Other Specified Bipolar and Related Disorder
Sometimes a person does not clearly fit into one of the above categories of bipolar disorder. They may have symptoms from two or more types, making it necessary to diagnose them as having Other Specified Bipolar and Related Disorder. They may have both manic and depressive episodes, but they don’t meet the minimum number of times they occur or to the degree of intensity other kinds have.
Treatment for the Different Types of Bipolar Disorder
This illness can cause complications and hopelessness in a person’s life. However, the good news is that there are concrete ways to treat all types of bipolar disorder. Talk therapy is usually the beginning point, with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) proving especially effective. CBT zeroes in on how a person thinks and feels and the way that impacts their behaviors and belief systems. The therapist uses CBT to help people learn to adjust their reactions and actions, which results in fewer symptoms.
People with bipolar disorder commonly take prescription medications, and it’s important that they take them regularly and in the right amount. The types of medications that get the best results include mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antidepressant-antipsychotic combinations.
Individuals with bipolar disorder often have trauma in their past. If so, using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy can help them. In addition, Exposure Therapy can help people face their fears and become more comfortable with situations that normally cause them distress.
Contact Renewal Oasis Behavioral Health for Treatment
Have you decided to take the important step of getting valuable help to improve your mental health? Renewal Oasis has skilled, licensed therapists who help manage all types of bipolar disorder. Whether a person needs the round-the-clock care of residential treatment or the convenience of outpatient sessions, we are here to support you.
Contact us to find out how our programs work and what they can do for you. If you need help determining which type of bipolar disorder you have, we can assist in getting the right diagnosis. Get in touch with us and we can provide a free insurance verification.
