A person with bipolar syndrome might have a tough time even just going through the day. The chaotic highs and lows of their condition are unbearable sometimes. Do you know somebody struggling with bipolar syndrome? You should be aware of the fact they are prone to use substances. How come? They just want to feel better and want to be able to function normally. Some of them choose very dangerous substances, such as heroin. This is when their situation starts getting even worse. To help you understand this issue more deeply, We Level Up Lawrenceville NJ will explore the connection between heroin use and bipolar symptoms. Learn what you can do to help your loved one recover and be happier.
Is Your Loved Addicted to Heroin?
Heroin is very powerful. It is very easy to get addicted to it. It is an illegal substance and brings about many risks. You should know how to recognize whether your loved one is addicted to heroin. They might be addicted if they:
- Have small, constricted pupils, a dry mouth, and heavy limbs
- Start scratching a lot or have bruises from injections
- Become secretive and isolated
- Lie or steal
- Have frequent colds and infections
- Stop caring about their hygiene
- Lose weight
- Have scabs or sores on their skin
- Experience intense cravings such as nausea, muscle pain, and agitation when they stop using the substance
Does Your Loved One Have a Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These mood swings include emotional highs, called mania or hypomania, and lows, known as depression. It’s a lifelong condition that can disrupt your loved one’s life. There are different types of bipolar disorder, each with unique symptoms:
- Bipolar I disorder: This type involves severe manic episodes that last at least seven days or require hospital care. Depressive episodes typically last at least two weeks.
- Bipolar II disorder: It involves less severe manic episodes called hypomania, along with depressive episodes.
- Cyclothymic disorder: This type involves periods of hypomania and depression lasting for at least two years, but the symptoms are less severe than Bipolar I or II.
Common symptoms include:
- Manic/hypomanic episodes: Increased energy, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, impulsive behavior, and feeling overly happy or irritable.
- Depressive episodes: Feeling very sad, hopeless, or empty, losing interest in activities, changes in appetite or weight, and thoughts of death or suicide.
Impact of Bipolar Disorder on Daily Life
Bipolar disorder can significantly affect daily life. Your loved one might struggle to:
- Maintain relationships
- Hold a job or to perform well in school
- Stay on track with their goals because of mood swıngs
- Feel exhausted from emotional highs and lows
The Connection Between Heroin Use and Bipolar Symptoms
Heroin use can significantly worsen bipolar symptoms. This creates a dangerous cycle of bipolar symptoms and heroin use. Here’s how:
Bipolar symptoms and heroin use create a dangerous cycle. During manic episodes, your loved one might feel highly energetic. They usually become impulsive and make reckless decisions. What often happens is that people start using heroin to enhance their euphoric feelings. Or, they might use it to stay energetic. The decision to use heroin is the result of them being impulsive. This is why it can easily get out of hand and lead to increased dependence on the drug.
On the other hand, your loved one may start feeling sad and hopeless after the manic episode. They won’t be as energetic during their low. So much so that they will lose their interest in activities they would usually find enjoyable. This creates feelings of despair. To escape these numb feelings, your loved one may find relief in the short-lived happiness heroin brings. The problem is, that it is only temporary but false. They will be even more depressed once the effects of the drug wear off.
Going through highs and lows at all times may be unbearable. When combined with the effects of heroin use, it is even worse. This creates a volatile emotional environment. In this situation, it is very hard for a person to manage their bipolar symptoms successfully.
A person who uses heroin harms their health significantly. Brain damage, liver and kidney disease, and respiratory problems are some of the examples. This just creates more stress and makes it even more difficult to be stable.
Unfortunately, the link between heroin use and bipolar symptoms, and their combined effect on a person leads to suicidal tendencies. A person caught in depressive feelings will often think about taking their own life as the only escape possible. To stop feeling this way, your loved one will use heroin. Sadly, they will just end up feeling more hopeless and have suicidal ideation.
The Cyclical Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders
Mental health disorders and substance abuse often go hand-in-hand. This holds true for heroin addiction and bipolar disorder, too. Your loved one might use heroin to self-medicate, trying to ease their bipolar symptoms. For example, they might use heroin during manic episodes to calm down or during depressive episodes to escape sadness.
However, heroin use worsens mental health. It disrupts brain chemistry, leading to more severe mood swings. After the heroin high fades, your loved one might crash into deeper depression, making their bipolar symptoms harder to manage.
As their mental health worsens, they may use more heroin, developing a tolerance and needing higher doses for the same effect. This cycle of self-medication, worsening symptoms, and increased drug use is tough to break without professional help.
The cycle impacts physical health too. Heroin use can cause infections, organ damage, and overdose. Socially, your loved one might become isolated, lose their job, or damage relationships.
Breaking the cycle of heroin addiction and bipolar disorder requires professional help. Integrated treatment centers can address both heroin addiction and bipolar disorder, providing the comprehensive care needed for recovery.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Creating a comprehensive treatment plan is essential for success in dual diagnosis treatment centers NJ residents trust. This plan addresses the physical aspects of withdrawal, the psychological connection with drug use, and underlying mental health disorders.
A thorough mental health analysis identifies the best treatment options. Meeting with mental health counselors and medical care providers gives access to behavioral therapy and medication treatment, leading to healthier living.
Our treatment centers use therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma therapy to help people change their lifestyles and cope with heroin addiction and bipolar disorder. Group meetings offer feedback, advice, and support, while family therapy provides the support needed to stay sober after rehab. Proper treatment leads to real, positive change.
Treatment Options for Heroin Addiction and Bipolar Disorder
With the right care and correct approach, heroin addiction and bipolar disorder can be treated. Your loved one needs support from experienced people and a well-designed treatment plan.
Heroin Detox and Rehabilitation
Treating dependence on heroin starts with a detox. During this process, we will clear the drug from the body. Can your loved one do this on their own? It sounds simple – they just need to stop using heroin. However, they will face many withdrawal symptoms. Some of them are very uncomfortable. Some of them are very risky and even life-threatening. Quitting heroin use can make a person:
- Get nauseous
- Have muscle pain
- Crave it strongly
That is why your loved one needs support from medical professionals at our heroin detox New Jersey center. They need to get rid of the drug from their body, do it safely, and be successful, so that they will be ready for further therapy. Once they don’t use the drug anymore, they will have to learn how to live soberly.
Holistic Addiction Treatment
It is not enough to deal with just the addiction. We need to take the whole person into account. That is the main idea of our holistic addiction treatment. Your loved one will do yoga and meditate. This will teach them how to deal with stress. Also, it will put them in a better mood. Yoga will strengthen their body, too. When combined with healthy eating, they will have what they need for a calm mind and healthy body.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Treating heroin addiction and bipolar disorder will be complete with medication assisted treatment. We use methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This will make treatment easier to deal with. Also, to stabilize your loved one’s emotional state, we use mood stabilizers or antipsychotic medications.
Is Heroin Use Prevalent in New Jersey?
In 2021, New Jersey had many substance abuse treatment admissions. Heroin was a major issue, with 33,587 people admitted for heroin use. This made up 38% of all substance abuse treatment admissions in the state.
Do you know somebody with an addiction to heroin? Make sure to reach out for help immediately. Early intervention will increase the success of treatment, especially if there are co-occurring conditions such as bipolar disorder.
Finding the Right Treatment Facility
You need to get help for your loved one, but you also need to get the right help. Look for:
- Facilities that integrate heroin addiction and bipolar treatment. With comprehensive care, they will address these issues at the same time
- Mental health counselors, medical professionals, and addiction specialists with experience and compassion
- Centers that use different therapeutic approaches can help create a strong support system
- Aftercare programs that will support your loved one’s efforts to stay sober after treatment
Motivate Your Loved One to Get Treatment for Heroin Addiction and Bipolar Disorder
You want to be there for your loved one and see them feel good. You want them to be happier and live in health. It is not always clear how to do it. Educate yourself and learn about their condition. That is a good start. Learn about the connection between heroin use and bipolar symptoms. Talk to them about treatment and motivate them to seek help. Get support from New Jersey drug rehab centers. Explain why they need a healthy body and good mental health to thrive in life. We Level Up Lawrenceville NJ will help them change their life and live more happily.
Source:
- https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/statistical/Substance%20Abuse%20Overview/2021/statewide.pdf
Images:
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