Among two of the common mental health conditions, anxiety and bipolar disorders impact thousands of Texan lives every day. In 2020, 73,794 Texans were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, while 80,964 were diagnosed with anxiety. These numbers do not account for the people with both conditions facing increased difficulty finding stability and peace.
At SUN Behavioral Health Houston, we help our patients understand the impact the condition or conditions they are diagnosed with have had on their lives and how treatment can improve their circumstances. Today, we are discussing the interactions that bipolar disorder and anxiety has and how you can find proper relief.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition involving shifting periods of extreme "up" and extreme "down" periods. These shifts impact a person's energy, concentration, activity levels, and mood. The "up" periods are known as manic or hypomanic episodes, depending on severity. In contrast, the "down" periods are known as depressive episodes. This condition has many symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to accomplish responsibilities at school or work, complete everyday tasks, or maintain relationships with others. Symptoms associated with manic episodes include elation, increased energy, and irritability. Depression episodes might consist of intense feelings of sadness, indifference, and hopelessness.
Anxiety disorders are also a type of mental health condition that someone might have. Several types can come with their unique experiences and symptoms. The common thread through all of the types of anxiety is intense feelings of fear, uneasiness, and dread. Anxiety is a usual response to stressful circumstances most of the time. For people with anxiety disorders, this fear is not a temporary emotion and might get worse over time. Like bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders impact a person's quality of life and hinder their ability to accomplish tasks, maintain relationships, and achieve responsibilities required of them at home, work or school.
It is very common for people to have both bipolar disorder and anxiety. Those who have bipolar disorder are 3 to 7 times more likely to be also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder than people without either condition. Having both conditions at the same time results in bipolar symptoms worsening, having a decreased ability to function in their daily life, and being more likely to need mental health treatment to find a sense of stability.
Anyone can develop bipolar disorder and an anxiety disorder together. Both conditions might be the result of genetics or environmental factors. However, some circumstances might lead to someone having a higher risk than the average person. These include:
Someone who has both anxiety and bipolar disorder will experience symptoms that reduce their quality of life and make both conditions more difficult to manage. Primarily, anxiety often makes the symptoms of bipolar disorder worse. For example, it might result in someone having episodes that are a mix of both manic and depressive symptoms. Suppose they are only experiencing manic or depressive symptoms during an episode. In that case, they might be more severe than for someone who does not have both conditions.
Additionally, people who have both anxiety and bipolar disorder are more likely to experience extreme psychological distress leading to symptoms like psychosis, suicidal thoughts or actions, or other symptoms that require stabilization at a 24/7 crisis care center. Because of the stressful symptoms, some people might turn to substances as a way to cope, resulting in an increased chance of developing a substance use disorder.
Both anxiety and bipolar disorder often come with unique symptoms that are distinct to each condition. People with both conditions might find that some symptoms overlap or certain ones are intensified because of the presence of the other. As an example, excessive worrying or panic attacks may be more intense during manic or depressive episodes than they are when neither episode is present. A common symptom of both mania and anxiety is sleep concerns. During manic episodes, this symptom may be heightened. Still, it is also possible that it continues to persist when not experiencing mania due to the presence of anxiety.
While any type of anxiety disorder can occur at the same time as bipolar disorder, some are more likely. The 3 most common anxiety disorders are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Below, we will discuss their relationship with bipolar disorder in more depth.
OCD is an anxiety disorder that is made up of obsessions and compulsions. These debilitating symptoms take up a significant portion of a person's time. When it comes to its relationship with bipolar disorder, people might only experience or have a heightened sensation of their OCD symptoms during depression episodes. During manic or hypomanic episodes, symptoms associated with OCD may still exist, or they might not be as noticeable. A common obsession that people with both conditions might have, though it isn't the only possibility, is thinking about the safety of their loved ones. To attempt to cope with these obsessive thoughts, they might frequently perform compulsions or rituals that their OCD believes will reduce the chances of their loved ones being harmed.
GAD is an anxiety disorder categorized as having intense feelings of worry about things that are not necessarily specific or easily identifiable. The presence of bipolar disorder and GAD leads to a risk of suicidal thoughts or actions, which often require immediate stabilization. Symptoms of GAD are usually connected to depression episodes, but treating GAD and/or the depression episode by itself without taking into consideration the bipolar disorder increases the risk of the person suddenly switching to a manic episode.
Sometimes referred to as bipolar disorder with anxious distress specifier, these conditions existing together lead to a significantly decreased quality of life. The presence of bipolar disorder and PTSD results in people having an increased risk of suicide attempts and psychosis when compared to either condition by itself. During depression episodes, anxiety symptoms associated with PTSD might lead to intensified depression symptoms, more frequent depression episodes, and longer episode durations. Symptoms associated with PTSD that are prominent during depression episodes of bipolar disorder include:
Hope is not lost for those who have both anxiety and bipolar disorder. It is possible to treat both conditions together to ensure that complications do not occur. Attending anxiety treatment and bipolar treatment together increases the odds that both conditions receive the proper care.
Depending on the person's treatment plan, this might incorporate medication, therapy, or a combination of both. Because anxiety disorders and bipolar disorders require different medications, a doctor may prescribe someone both a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant to treat both conditions. Therapy for both anxiety and bipolar disorder most frequently takes the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This treatment allows people to observe and acknowledge their thoughts and emotions. It provides them with the necessary tools to change them into helpful and productive ones.
Some lifestyle changes, 3 of which are discussed below, also help with managing both anxiety and bipolar disorder. These techniques and more are often practiced during treatment. Implementing them into your day helps reduce symptoms or prevent them from becoming more debilitating.
Physical activity –This can be as simple as taking a short walk daily. Regular exercise improves mood and sleep while also reducing stress. Together, these elements result in a decreased intensity of symptoms from both conditions.
Establishing a routine – Both anxiety and bipolar disorder come with feelings of being out of control and unstable. Creating an easily attainable routine that considers a consistent sleep schedule, regular meals, and exercise and makes room for your responsibilities and times for rest and socialization can bring a sense of control back into your life. While you might not be able to control when an episode occurs, knowing you have this routine to lean on can help keep symptoms for both conditions minimal. Some people find writing their complete routines in a calendar or planner helpful.
Mindfulness techniques – Mindfulness can help you become fully engaged in your present surroundings as you understand and acknowledge any thoughts and emotions that you have. The purpose is not to judge or try to correct them but to be aware that they exist. With practice, this can make many symptoms of anxiety or bipolar disorder feel less overwhelming.
Having anxiety and bipolar disorder together is not a journey you have to take by yourself. Finding the right treatment plan that considers your needs enables a life full of peace and balance. While these conditions can sometimes feel overwhelming, healing is possible, and treatment for both can open the doors to a healthier and more fulfilling life.
SUN Behavioral Health Houston solves unmet needs for adults and adolescents with anxiety and bipolar disorder in Houston, TX. Those who have both of these disorders are at an increased risk of requiring stabilizing mental health care, which is why our crisis care center is open 24/7. This ensures you receive the appropriate stabilization no matter when a crisis occurs. To learn more about our services, call us today at 713-796-2273.