It’s estimated that up to 45% of people with bipolar disorder also experience symptoms of alcohol use. That figure can sound alarming, but having bipolar disorder doesn’t mean alcohol use is inevitable.
The relationship between the two is complex, shaped by a range of risk factors — including the motivations behind drinking. Let’s take a closer look at how these conditions interact.
Please note: Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center offers residential mental health treatment, including dual diagnosis care for stable co-occurring substance use. We do not provide detox or addiction (SUD) treatment, but if that’s what you need, our team can refer you to a trusted provider. Call (844) 563-2563 to talk through your options.
Co-Occurring Conditions Deserve Coordinated Care
Living with both a mental health condition and co-occurring substance use can feel like fighting on two fronts. Here at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center, our dual diagnosis program brings psychiatric care, therapy, and medication management together in one coordinated plan, so progress on one condition supports the other. Reach out today to learn how we can help — contact our team or call (844) 563-2563.
Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center provides residential mental health and dual diagnosis care for stable co-occurring substance use. We don’t offer medical detox or supervision for active addiction, but we’re glad to refer you to a trusted provider.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by extreme shifts in mood. It doesn’t affect everyone the same way, and its classifications depend on the nature and severity of symptoms.
Bipolar I Disorder is the most intense form, characterized by episodes of mania — high energy and intense feelings that can, at times, cause a person to lose touch with reality. Manic episodes don’t have to recur; a single lifetime episode is enough to meet this classification.
Bipolar II Disorder involves similar highs and lows but without full mania. The emotional highs are less pronounced, so a person doesn’t lose touch with reality. Because of this, bipolar II is often misdiagnosed as depression, and it’s defined by at least one episode of severe depression.
Cyclothymia is a milder form than bipolar I and II, with greater stability between mood swings and less pronounced highs and lows.
Rapid Cycling doesn’t fall neatly into the other categories. It involves rapid fluctuation between manic and depressive states — four or more episodes within a single year.
Symptoms of mania:
- Anger and irritability
- Less need for sleep
- Heightened energy levels
- Aggressive impulses
- Rapid thoughts and speech
- Elaborate thinking
Symptoms of depressive episodes:
- Fatigue
- Sad or negative thoughts
- Indifference
- Anxiety
- Lack of concentration
- Lack of joy
- Withdrawal from social environments
- Thoughts of death or self-harm
About 12 to 24 percent of people with other types of bipolar disorder will eventually develop rapid cycling.
The Relationship Between Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol
A bipolar diagnosis doesn’t make drinking impossible, but it does place a person at higher risk for developing co-occurring alcohol use. Here are several factors worth considering.
Genetic Tendencies
The risk of both alcohol use and bipolar disorder is higher when they appear in other family members. This doesn’t mean a bipolar diagnosis will inevitably lead to alcohol use — only that someone with bipolar disorder and an affected family member should be mindful, since genetics alone can raise the risk. Some studies suggest the two conditions may share genetic risk factors, though the evidence isn’t yet conclusive.
Impulsive Behavior
Alcohol can worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder may be more prone to impulsivity, and alcohol increases the severity of manic symptoms — including irrational or risky behavior. Even someone who intends to drink responsibly should consider the potential for losing control.
Mixing With Medications
Many people take medications to manage bipolar disorder, and not all of them mix safely with alcohol. It’s important to check labels for warnings — alcohol can reduce a medication’s effectiveness or interact dangerously.
Motivation
The reason behind the desire to drink matters. Enjoying a drink with a meal or at a celebration is one thing; drinking to escape is another. People with bipolar disorder may drink to numb difficult emotions, relieve symptoms, or intensify the elation of a manic episode. These patterns raise the risk of impulsive decisions and of developing co-occurring alcohol use. When emotions begin to feel uncontrollable, it’s important to seek professional support.
Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder
Like bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder ranges in severity and can escalate from mild to severe. It’s marked by patterns of uncontrolled drinking. Common symptoms include:
- Inability to limit drinks
- Binge drinking
- Strong cravings to drink
- Drinking in dangerous situations, such as while driving
- Abandoning obligations and hobbies
- Feeling a need to “cut back”
People with severe alcohol use disorder often experience withdrawal when they stop drinking and may find it difficult to function without alcohol at first.
Treating Co-Occurring Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Use
There are different approaches to treating these conditions together:
- Separate treatment addresses each condition on its own. This can help, but treating them in isolation often leads to gaps in care and slower progress.
- Parallel treatment addresses both conditions at the same time, but separately.
- Integrated treatment acknowledges and treats both conditions together, as connected parts of the same picture.
Integrated approaches continue to grow in use because they tend to support more durable recovery — though every person responds differently and results may vary.
Here at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center, our dual diagnosis program is designed to treat bipolar disorder and co-occurring alcohol use together within our residential mental health setting, combining psychiatric care, medication management, and therapy in one coordinated plan.
Living With Bipolar Disorder
Managing bipolar disorder can feel overwhelming, and it’s common to feel isolated. But while many factors raise the risk of co-occurring alcohol use, the two don’t have to go hand in hand. Being mindful of your relationship with alcohol — understanding the motivation behind a drink and avoiding alcohol during manic or depressive episodes — can make a real difference.
There are many treatment and support options for people living with bipolar disorder. Contact us today, or call (844) 563-2563 to learn more.
