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Intervention for Bipolar Disorder: When It’s Time to Seek Help

Are you noticing extreme mood swings in your loved one? Are they very happy one day and very sad the next? You may be seeing the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Knowing when it’s time to seek help can be critical for your loved one’s mental and physical health. It may be time for an intervention for their bipolar disorder.

Early Detection

The time for an intervention for bipolar disorder is the first time you notice that your loved one is suffering from the symptoms. It’s important to get professional help right away, for everyone’s health and well-being. Early detection and treatment can provide the best chance for your loved one to get well and stay well.

If the symptoms of bipolar disorder, a lifelong condition, go untreated, your loved one’s episodes of extreme ups and down could have a catastrophic effect. They will, at the very least, find it difficult to lead a stable and productive life. They may even cause harm to themselves and others if the condition remains untreated.

The average age of bipolar disorder onset is around 25. It can, however, occur in someone who is in their teens. Although uncommon, the disorder has been diagnosed in childhood as well. Men and women are affected equally, with approximately 2.8% of the population in the US receiving a diagnosis. Almost 83% of those cases are classified as being severe.

A Chronic Mental Disorder

You may notice extreme, changing moods in your loved one. They may have significantly more or less energy, and have either intense focus or a complete loss of concentration, depending on the day. When you notice the first symptoms, it is time to consider an intervention for bipolar disorder.

The disorder is a chronic mental disorder that can cause significant problems for your loved one and for their family and friends if the disease is not treated appropriately and in a timely manner. You may know it from its previous names of manic-depressive disorder or manic depression.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Although everyone has their ups and downs, bipolar disorder involves an extreme range of mood changes. It’s time to seek help when you notice symptoms in your loved one. When they are manic, they might be extremely happy or “up” and they might show a noticeable increase in their activity level. When they are depressed, they probably feel very sad or indifferent. They may even feel hopeless and will show a very low level of activity, possibly even having a difficult time getting up and getting moving.

Their symptoms can vary from manic to depressive to mixed episodes with both manic and depressive symptoms. Their mood changes will cause symptoms that can last a week or two or even longer and their mood episodes can be intense. They demonstrate very strong ups and downs, with changes in their behavior, activity level, and energy level that is definitely noticeable to their family and friends.

Lifetime Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong disorder that requires lifetime treatment. Its symptoms will not go away on their own, without professional treatment, which will probably include therapy and medication. If the disorder is not treated, it will usually become worse.

Arranging an intervention for bipolar disorder for your loved one is a good first step. Working with a professional, you can help guide the individual toward the treatment they need that can help them with their symptoms.

Untreated bipolar disorder can have devastating results, including suicide in the most depressive stages. However, with the proper diagnosis and treatment, your loved one can lead a healthy and active life. When you first notice the symptoms, that’s when it’s time to seek help.

STAGING AN EARLY MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION

When someone you love shows signs of a mental health issue such as bipolar disorder, holding an intervention could be the only way to help them understand why and how they need to seek help. An early intervention can prevent many issues in their life, as they are encouraged to get treatment before it’s too late. If your loved one is struggling with mental illness or an addiction to drugs or alcohol, please contact Whitman Recovery Service. With more than 30 years of experience, our team can help you stage an intervention with a positive outcome; we have a 98 percent success rate. We are available at (210) 291-0278.