Treatment Center SUN Behavioral Houston Stresses Importance of Identifying Bipolar Disorder Early

Houston, Texas — SUN Behavioral Houston, a mental health and substance use disorder treatment center, recently published a new blog post explaining the importance of identifying bipolar disorder early. A person with bipolar disorder has mood swings that go from extreme highs to extreme lows, and it's vital to break this cycle to have a more balanced and productive life.

A serious problem with bipolar disorder is that teens and young adults who are affected by it may talk or think about suicide or harming themselves, the post says. Teenage and young men tend to have symptoms of bipolar disorder earlier compared with women. In fact, 2.6 percent of teenage men ages 13 to 18 are diagnosed as bipolar, with the disorder occurring primarily in the age range of 16 to 18. For men ages 18 and up, 2.9 percent are diagnosed with bipolar, with the most common occurrence of 4.7 percent among those ages 18 to 29, and then the disorder declines exponentially in older age.

Young people with bipolar disorder also tend to have other problems, such as misuse of drugs and alcohol, anxiety disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is important to detect bipolar disorder as early as possible because it can affect a person’s daily life regarding job or education responsibilities; the ability to care for self and for dependents; financial issues that can lead to eviction, bankruptcy, or repossession of a car; the possible loss of social connections; and dysfunctional family relationships resulting in resentment, divorce, or family estrangement.

Typical warning signs of bipolar disorder are when three or more of the manic symptoms and three of the depression symptoms are evident during an episode. Manic symptoms include racing thoughts, extreme agitation, little need for sleep, risk-taking, jumpiness, a heightened sense of well-being, or easily being distracted. Depression symptoms include feeling very sad or hopeless, feeling lonely or isolating themselves from others, eating too much or too little, having little energy and no interest in usual activities, and sleeping too much.

Bipolar disorder may be treated with certain medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of treatments. Medications may include some mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotic drugs to control the symptoms. Lithium, or other mood stabilizers, may be used to help in preventing episodes or at least in minimizing their severity if they do occur. Additional medications may be provided to focus on sleep problems or anxiety. However, it's important to note that it's dangerous to suddenly stop taking these medications because there may be serious side effects. It is vital to always ask for a doctor’s guidance to reduce the medication intake properly and safely.

Psychotherapy may help a person in modifying troubling thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Therapy with family may also help because the symptoms of bipolar disorder can have a significant impact on the overall dynamics of a family’s day-to-day function.

Founded in 2015, SUN Behavioral Houston works closely with communities to offer behavioral health services and solve the unmet needs of patients. They are focused on providing respectful and compassionate care through their psychiatric services to help save lives and enhance the quality of life of patients and their families. To ensure a seamless continuum of care to meet the specific needs of patients, they work closely with hospitals, doctors, and behavioral health service providers, including the local schools and community organizations.

Those who would like to know more about the services offered by SUN Behavioral Houston can visit their website or contact them via phone or email.