Every year, teens across the country are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This is a mental health condition that can be challenging to diagnose but responds well to treatment. At Kiwi Recovery, we offer mental health treatment services to help you stabilize. Learn more by calling 617.751.6610.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes severe mood swings, including emotional lows (depression) and highs (mania). It also causes changes to your energy levels and mood and affects your ability to function.
You can experience these mood changes in mood episodes that can last days or weeks.
There are different types of bipolar disorders, including:
- Bipolar I disorder
- Bipolar II disorder
- Cyclothymic disorder
For a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, you must have experienced at least one manic episode, preceded or followed by hypomanic or depressive episodes.
Bipolar II disorder is not a milder form of bipolar disorder I. For this diagnosis, you must have experienced at least one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode, but not a manic one.
For a cyclothymic disorder diagnosis, you must have experienced many periods of hypomania and depressive symptoms in one year.
Bipolar disorder can occur to anyone, but it is usually diagnosed in a person’s late teen years.
Bipolar Disorder Treatment for Teens
Young adult bipolar disorder treatment involves a combination of day treatment and medications. At our center, we offer full-day treatment programs and intensive outpatient treatment programs.
Behavioral Therapy
Bipolar disorder therapy has to include behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you change the distorted thinking patterns that can arise during a mood episode. It can help improve depressive symptoms, reduce the severity of mania, and improve psychosocial functioning.
CBT can also help during future episodes because it allows you to learn stress-reduction techniques.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another helpful type of behavioral therapy because it targets emotional dysregulation. It can also help reduce negative coping behaviors and vulnerability to strong emotions. DBT helps you label your emotions and teaches you how to be present in the moment.
Holistic Therapy
Teen bipolar disorder therapy can also include holistic therapies. Holistic therapies are non-medical therapies, including exercise, meditation, nutrition therapy, yoga, art therapy, and more.
Holistic therapies, like meditation, can help with stress management, while options like art therapy allow you to express your emotions in healthier ways.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is another bipolar disorder treatment for teens. It allows you to meet others who are going through similar mental health challenges. You can see what the different stages of recovery can look like while also getting the chance to apply techniques you learn during individual therapy sessions.
Family therapy is another important component of young adult bipolar disorder treatment. Family therapy helps you and your loved ones communicate with one another in more productive ways and can offer education to the whole family on what bipolar disorder is.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Many teens and young adults with bipolar disorder resort to substances like alcohol and drugs to cope with the symptoms of their condition. If you have a substance use disorder, we can help treat that at the same time we treat bipolar disorder.
Trust Kiwi Recovery for Bipolar Disorder Treatment for Teens
Living a productive and happy life with bipolar disorder is possible. By learning how to manage mood episodes and relying on behavioral therapy and holistic therapies, you can help yourself live a stable life.
At Kiwi Recovery, we offer teen bipolar disorder therapy options to help you better manage your mental health conditions. Call Kiwi Recovery at 617.751.6610 or reach out to us online for more information.
