Bipolar disorder and alcoholism: Are they related?

Chronic diseases are conditions that require ongoing medical attention, limit daily activities, and subside for a year or longer. Due to AUD’s progressive nature that requires treatment, and how it interferes with the user’s daily life, the answer to this question is yes. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act , people who abuse alcohol may be considered disabled if the person is an alcoholic or a recovering alcoholic. According to an experienced employment lawyer, different states also consider alcoholism to be a disease. Research suggests that there are significant genetic factors and hereditary elements of alcohol addiction.

People who abuse alcohol, or have a history of previous alcohol dependence, may also be four times more likely to experience a major depressive episode than those who do not abuse alcohol. If so, you may be one of many Americans whose alcohol abuse is linked with mental illness. The comorbidity of alcohol and antisocial personality disorder , bipolar disorder, depression, and several other conditions increases the risk of receiving a partial diagnosis or perhaps an incorrect one altogether. At this point, the drinker has become ever more dependent on alcohol both physically and psychologically.

What Are My Options For Getting Help For Alcoholism?

Even though the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Medical Association identified alcohol addiction as a chronic medical disease in 1956, alcohol addiction continues to be viewed by many as a weakness or moral failure. Call our 24-hour confidential helpline to speak with a recovery expert. Alcohol withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe to go through at home. At Northbound’s accredited detox and alcohol treatment facilities in Orange County, patients can safely detoxify in a comfortable, secure environment with around-the-clock access to clinical staff and psychiatric care. A mental disorder like alcoholism can be managed with addiction treatment, but there is no cure. Like chronic diseases, alcohol abuse develops gradually over a period of time.

• Even if symptoms of one disorder appeared before symptoms of the other, it is not a telltale sign that one disorder developed before the other.
• At Northbound Treatment, we offer fully integrated alcohol and drug recovery programs at our treatment centers based in the Orange County region of California.
• The stages include problematic drinking, severe alcohol abuse, and obsessive alcohol abuse.
• For those who suffer from both disorders, the problem is that much more complex.
• If you feel your depression symptoms improve when you stop drinking, the chances are that alcoholism is behind your mental health condition.
• Alcohol use disorder is the clinical term to describe excessive alcohol use and may be used interchangeably with the term ‘alcoholism’ in non-medical settings.

This results in tolerance, which means an increasingly higher level of alcohol is needed to achieve the desired effect. Recent scientific studies have confirmed that continuing alcohol use causes changes to the brain and that those changes may be permanent. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Dual Diagnosis

The is alcoholism a mental illness Institute on Drug Abuse urges all people, including healthcare workers, to use the terms alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder rather than addiction, to avoid stigmatization. End-stage alcoholism is characterized by serious distress to a person’s physical and mental state4. Due to liver damage and neglect for proper nutrition and personal hygiene, alcoholics often experience a range of medical issues, including some severe and fatal diseases, like cirrhosis. Substance use disorder is a broader term that includes drug abuse and alcohol abuse. SUD and AUD are behavioral health conditions that can benefit from treatment by addiction medicine experts.

Alcohol is a depressant, slowing mental and physical responses, and affecting mood, energy, coordination, concentration, and decision making. Those under the influence of alcohol are more likely to engage in risky or violent behavior and to exhibit suicidal ideation. Alcohol treatment is available in many formats, including inpatient and outpatient programs. A qualified admissions representative can help you identify the right kind of alcohol treatment.

My Loved One Needs Help

Furthermore, under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, health insurance companies are legally required to cover treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders, including alcoholism. In 2014, the Affordable Care Act expanded on this law, requiring insurance carriers to cover mental health and substance abuse treatment at the same level as other essential medical services. To answer these questions, it’s important to recognize that there are countless types of diseases and mental illnesses, all of which can manifest very differently in different people. So, while AUD doesn’t look like many other types of chronic disease, such as cancer or heart disease, it’s still considered a medical condition. Not only that, but treatment for alcoholism involves both physical and psychological components. As with alcohol–induced depression, it is important to differentiate alcohol–induced anxiety from an independent anxiety disorder.

Detoxification is usually the first phase of a comprehensive treatment plan. Once detox is complete, a person will be able to enter an inpatient or outpatient treatment program to continue their recovery journey. Described as a manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder involves irregular mood swings that fluctuate from extreme highs to severe lows.