Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by dramatic shifts in mood, energy and daily functioning. These shifts go far beyond the everyday ups and downs most people feel, and they interfere with thinking processes, relationships and self-care.
At Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health in Council Bluffs, Iowa, our compassionate team understands how disruptive and distressing suffering from bipolar disorder can be. We offer focused inpatient care that is designed to help individuals stabilize, build coping skills and move toward lasting wellness.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, text revision (DSM-5-TR) recognizes several bipolar and related disorders. The three most commonly diagnosed are bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder and cyclothymic disorder.
Bipolar I disorder
To receive a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, a person must have had at least one manic episode. Manic episodes involve an abnormally elevated, expansive or irritable mood paired with a noticeable surge in energy or goal-directed activity. The episode can cause clear problems with relationships or job performance, require hospitalization to keep the person or others safe, or include psychotic features such as hallucinations and delusions. Most people who have bipolar I disorder also experience major depressive episodes, which can be long-lasting and significantly impair daily life.
Bipolar II disorder
Bipolar II disorder involves at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode, but no full manic episodes. Hypomanic episodes share many symptoms of manic episodes, but they are shorter and less severe. They do not cause the marked impairment seen in mania, rarely require hospitalization and do not include psychotic features.
Because people who have bipolar II disorder typically seek help during depressive lows and not during the more energetic hypomanic phases, this condition is often mistaken for major depressive disorder. A thorough evaluation by a qualified clinician is essential because an incorrect diagnosis can lead to worsening symptoms.
Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder, also sometimes referred to as cyclothymia, is defined by an ongoing pattern of mood shifts in which someone cycles from feeling up to feeling down. A person can experience numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and numerous periods of depressive symptoms, but neither set of symptoms fully meets the criteria for a clinical hypomanic episode or major depressive episode. In adults, this pattern must last for at least two years, with symptoms present more than half the time and no symptom-free stretch lasting longer than two months.
Although individual mood shifts may seem manageable, the cumulative toll on relationships, careers and overall quality of life can be substantial.
Signs & Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Due to the fact that bipolar disorder cycles between distinct mood phases, and because some people feel relatively stable between episodes, symptoms of the disorder will vary widely depending on what someone is currently experiencing as well as the type of bipolar disorder they are suffering from.
Symptoms of manic or hypomanic episodes
- Inflated self-esteem or grandiose thinking
- A reduced need for sleep but not feeling tired
- Pressured or unusually rapid speech
- Racing thoughts or jumping between ideas
- Easy distractibility
- Restlessness or a noticeable increase in activity
- Risky decision-making, such as reckless spending or participating in unsafe behavior
- Hallucinations (manic episodes only)
- Delusions (manic episodes only)
Hypomania looks similar to mania but is milder. Friends, family and coworkers may not even notice the change, and the person typically continues to function appropriately. However, loved ones may sense that something feels different.
Symptoms of a depressive episode
- Persistently feeling sad or hopeless
- Loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Significant changes in appetite or weight
- Low energy
- Chronic fatigue
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty making decisions
- Memory problems
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Some people experience episodes with mixed features. During a mixed episode, manic and depressive symptoms occur at the same time. For example, someone in a depressive episode may also feel agitated, have racing thoughts or experience a reduced need for sleep. Mixed features can be especially distressing and require close clinical attention.
Effects of Untreated Bipolar Disorder
Without proper treatment, bipolar disorder tends to worsen over time. The exact impact depends on the type of bipolar disorder, the frequency of episodes and a person’s support system, but the consequences of leaving bipolar disorder untreated are often serious.
Common effects of untreated bipolar disorder include:
- Difficulty forming and keeping friendships
- Conflict and strain within the family
- Falling behind at work or in school
- Job loss and chronic unemployment
- Injuries, legal trouble or health problems linked to impulsive, risk-taking behavior
- Mounting financial stress
- Development or worsening of other mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders
- Development of an addiction to drugs or alcohol
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Suicidal thoughts, self-harm or attempts to end one’s life
Outcomes like these can often be reduced or prevented entirely by receiving comprehensive, evidence-based care like the inpatient bipolar disorder treatment offered at our hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Benefits of Receiving Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Seeking professional bipolar disorder treatment offers benefits that go beyond symptom relief. One of the most powerful is the simple realization that you are not alone in what you’re going through.
At our Council Bluffs hospital, you will work alongside experienced clinicians who understand bipolar disorder and know how to help. You will also have the opportunity to connect with peers who have walked a similar path. Sharing experiences, setbacks and successes with others who truly understand can be a turning point on a person’s healing journey.
Through partnership with our staff and fellow patients, you can begin to address the symptoms you’re experiencing, build practical coping skills and take back control of your emotional, relational and physical health.
Additional benefits of receiving inpatient bipolar disorder treatment can include:
- Stabilization of acute manic, hypomanic, depressive or mixed episodes
- Medication evaluation and adjustment in a closely supervised setting
- A reduction in how often and how severely future episodes occur
- Education about bipolar disorder, episode triggers and early warning signs
- Learning skills and gaining tools to support steady, healthy functioning after discharge
Learn About Bipolar Disorder Treatment at Our Hospital
What works for one patient may not work for another, and age plays a major role in shaping the right approach to delivering bipolar disorder treatment. We have structured our inpatient services around this reality, creating separate units where treatment teams can focus on the distinct concerns that come with each stage of life.
The populations we serve include:
- Children and adolescents ages 5-17 (coming soon)
- Adults ages 18-64
- Senior adults age 65 and older
Our Council Bluffs hospital has 96 beds and was purpose-built for behavioral healthcare. From quiet common spaces to secure room layouts, the environment is designed to lower stress and invite patients into the therapeutic process. Most rooms accommodate two people, with pairings determined through careful consideration of who will room well together.
Patients receiving inpatient bipolar disorder treatment with us can expect:
- Careful prescribing and monitoring of effects of psychiatric medications
- Private sessions with a psychiatrist for evaluation and ongoing review
- Therapeutic groups that meet daily
- Collaborative care from professionals across multiple disciplines
- A structured road map for transitioning out of treatment
Taking the First Step at Our Bipolar Disorder Treatment Center
From our hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, we extend care to people throughout western Iowa and eastern Nebraska who are working to get bipolar disorder symptoms under control and rebuild their lives. The people on our staff don’t just do their jobs — they invest in each patient’s progress and work hard to make the hospital a place where healing is possible.
Living with bipolar disorder, or watching someone you love struggle with it, can be exhausting and frightening. The good news is that effective treatment exists, and getting started is just a phone call away. At Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health, we are here to help whenever you’re ready.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical team at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health.
