Bipolar Disorder & Substance Abuse Treatment Near You in New Jersey
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that often coincides with substance use. If you or a loved one needs substance use and bipolar treatment, turn to Rubicon Recovery Center, where we offer drug and alcohol addiction treatment plus dual diagnosis care for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs). We serve individuals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania with whole-person, evidence-based care. Learn more about our integrated SUD and bipolar disorder treatment near you in New Jersey.
Key Takeaways
- Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition that is characterized by cycles of manic episodes (high energy, grandiosity, impulsiveness) and depressive episodes (low energy, fatigue, hopelessness).
- Bipolar disorder often occurs alongside substance use disorders because of factors like self-medication, shared genetics, high impulsivity, and early life stress.
- Rubicon Recovery Center offers dual diagnosis care with 3 levels of programs, including our Partial Care program (Partial Hospitalization Program / PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program, and Outpatient Program.
- Whether insurance covers bipolar disorder treatment depends on your exact plan and benefits, but it is often covered under federal mental health parity laws.
What Are Bipolar Disorder Symptoms?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that is marked by intense, cyclical shifts in mood, energy, and activity. The cycle often alternates between periods of mania, which include extremely high moods and energy, and periods of depression, which cause sadness, hopelessness, and low energy. In between manic and depressive episodes, individuals may also have stable periods with normal moods, called euthymia.
Other symptoms of manic episodes in bipolar disorder include:
- A reduced need for sleep
- Upbeat or jumpy demeanor
- Racing thoughts
- Fast or loud speech
- An inflated sense of self (grandiosity)
- Impulsive or reckless behaviors
Other symptoms of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
- Fatigue or extreme tiredness
- Trouble concentrating
- Loss of interest in activities
- Changes in appetite or sleep
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
These symptoms can affect various areas of a person’s life, including their family life, relationships, career, schooling, and more. Therefore, professional treatment is often necessary to improve symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.
Why Do Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use Often Co-Occur?
Individuals with bipolar disorder have a roughly 40% to 60% chance of experiencing substance use issues during their lifetime. These co-occurring disorders occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Self-medication: Many people with bipolar disorder will use substances like alcohol, cannabis, or stimulants to self-medicate, either to numb intense negative feelings during depressive episodes or to chase the energy and feelings of manic episodes.
- Shared genetics and brain biology: Both bipolar disorder and SUD have intersecting neurobiological pathways and genetic risk factors, which affect the brain’s reward, motivation, and impulse-control centers.
- High impulsivity: Bipolar manic episodes increase risk-taking and impulsive behaviors, which can increase the chances of using or misusing substances.
- Early life stress: Childhood trauma or severe chronic stress in early life are major risk factors that can increase vulnerability to both mood disorders like bipolar disorder and SUDs in adulthood.
Many people with bipolar disorder may use drugs like marijuana or alcohol to help themselves feel better during episodes. However, substance use can significantly affect diagnosis and treatment by worsening symptoms, triggering episodes, or interfering with psychiatric medications. An integrated dual diagnosis approach is required to effectively treat both conditions concurrently.
How Do We Treat Bipolar Disorder at Rubicon Recovery Center?
At Rubicon Recovery Center, we specialize in providing dual diagnosis care for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. When a patient comes in for SUD treatment who also has bipolar disorder, we take an integrated approach to treat both conditions simultaneously. This approach ensures that one condition isn’t worsened while treating the other condition.
Our dual diagnosis care through our partnership with our sister center, Rubicon Mental Health Center, uses one coordinated treatment team that addresses both the bipolar disorder symptoms and SUD symptoms, avoiding gaps in care or conflicting messaging that can worsen one or the other. This approach provides better long-term outcomes than treating the mental health condition and the SUD separately.
What Are the Levels of Care for Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder presents differently in different people, so treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we offer three levels of programs for individuals with co-occurring bipolar disorder and SUDs. Each program uses evidence-based therapies and holistic methodologies to provide whole-person healing. They include:
- Partial Care program (Partial Hospitalization Program / PHP): This is our most intensive program, which runs for 6 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week. It typically lasts 30–45 days.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): This is our mid-level program, which runs for 3 hours a day, 3 to 5 days a week. It generally lasts 10–12 weeks.
- Outpatient Program (OP): This is our lowest-level program, which runs for 2 to 3 days per week, with an hour of treatment each day. The program length varies. This program is typically reserved for current patients who need to transition out of IOP or PHP.
As long as a patient’s main reason for entering treatment is a substance use disorder, we can also treat their mental health disorder. When a patient comes to Rubicon Recovery Center, they’ll receive a comprehensive clinical assessment to help our team understand their substance use history, mental health history, and treatment goals. This assessment helps us pinpoint the best treatment program for their needs.
What Insurance Covers Bipolar Disorder Treatment at Rubicon Recovery Center?
If you’re wondering whether your insurance will pay for dual diagnosis treatment, you’re not alone. Insurance coverage is often a major factor in pursuing mental health and substance use treatment. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we want to make treatment as accessible as possible. Therefore, we accept most major insurance providers, including:
- Aetna
- Anthem
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Government Employees Health Association (G.E.H.A.)
- Meritain Health
- UnitedHealthcare
- TRICARE East
Although coverage will depend on your specific plan and benefits, dual diagnosis care is often covered at least partially under federal mental health parity laws. These laws mandate that health insurance plans must treat mental health conditions at the same level as physical health conditions. Therefore, most insurance plans will cover at least part of the cost of treatment. To help you better understand your insurance coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs, we offer a convenient insurance verification process. Simply call 908-274-0015 or fill out our online form to speak to a professional who will clearly explain your benefits.
Get Dual Diagnosis Care for Bipolar Disorder and SUDs Near You in New Jersey
When you’re seeking comprehensive treatment for substance use disorder and bipolar disorder, trust Rubicon Recovery Center. We provide dual diagnosis treatment near you in New Jersey, serving individuals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Each of our three levels of programs features evidence-based therapies, holistic methodologies, and coordinated care from a team of addiction counselors and mental health professionals. They also have a convenient outpatient design that helps patients access structured support while still maintaining daily responsibilities. Contact us today to learn more about our SUD and bipolar disorder treatment in New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions About SUD and Bipolar Disorder Treatment
What are the signs of bipolar disorder?
The biggest sign of bipolar disorder is a cyclic pattern of depressive and manic symptoms. Depressive symptoms include low energy, fatigue, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating, while manic symptoms include high energy, insomnia, feelings of grandiosity, recklessness, and racing thoughts.
Does bipolar disorder cause substance use?
While bipolar disorder does not definitively cause substance use, the two conditions are often linked. Many people with bipolar disorder will use substances to self-medicate, while people with SUDs who already have a predisposition for mental health disorders may trigger episodes by abusing substances.
Can bipolar disorder and addiction be treated together?
Yes, bipolar disorder and addiction can and should be treated together with a coordinated treatment plan and care team. This prevents contradicting information or one condition improving while the other worsens.
Does insurance cover bipolar disorder treatment?
Insurance coverage for bipolar disorder treatment depends on your specific plan and benefits, but it is often covered at least partially under federal mental health parity laws.
How long does bipolar disorder treatment take?
Treatment length will depend on the program you enter. Our PHP program typically takes 30 to 45 days, while IOP can take 10 to 12 weeks. OP length varies depending on the patient and their needs.
Will I need medication?
You may need medication for bipolar disorder or your substance use disorder, depending on your symptoms and what substance you use.
Does Rubicon Recovery Center offer medication management?
Yes, we offer medication management for people with bipolar disorder and SUDs.
What types of therapies does Rubicon Recovery Center use?
At Rubicon Recovery Center, we utilize a wide range of therapies to treat patients, including:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Family counseling
- Group therapy
- Holistic therapies like breathwork, mindfulness, and meditation