In this article
Bipolar disorder is related to episodes of mood swings that are not similar in intensity to what a normal person feels, they range from depressive lows to manic highs(with periods of normal mood in between). It affects up to 1-2% of the population and usually begins in early adulthood.
On the other hand, Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic condition in which an individual can’t stop consuming alcohol despite the circumstances and its harmful effects.
This chronic condition varies in severity, for instance: one can show mild to severe symptoms, and these symptoms can affect mental and physical well-being while may also affect relationships and day-to-day functioning.
Both AUD and Bipolar disorder often occur together and are more common than any other disorder occurring with alcoholism such as unipolar depression. If you misuse alcohol then you are at a higher risk of developing bipolar disorder. In a 2013 review, it is highlighted that around 45% of people with bipolar disorder also have AUD.
Despite this, the reason these two disorders are linked remains unclear. There are different explanations, including the possibility of a genetic connection. However, more research is needed to understand the relationship fully.
Overview of Alcohol Use Disorder
This chronic condition varies in severity, for instance: one can show mild to severe symptoms, these symptoms can affect mental and physical well-being while may also affect relationships and day-to-day functioning.
Here are the major symptoms associated with a person with AUD:
- People with AUD often find themselves drinking for long times and they generally can’t control their drinking despite the circumstances.
- Thinking about alcohol all day and planning when and where to drink it all day long, basically making alcohol the central part of their lives.
- Once you do something often you develop tolerance towards it, a person having AUD develops tolerance of small doses and drinks until they get the same effect as before.
- Withdrawals and cravings are inevitable when someone with AUD stops consuming alcohol suddenly.
- Reducing social activities, involving risky behaviors, and not caring about others such as getting in a fight with someone, ruining a relationship, and getting fired from a job.
READ MORE: Can Stress Cause a Stroke? Everything You Should Know
Overview of Bipolar Disorder:
Cyclothymia: This is a milder form of this disorder, people suffering from cyclothymia experience frequent mood swings, from mild mania to low-level depression.
Bipolar II Disorder: Patients experience hypomania (manic episodes that are not severe) and depressive episodes that last for around 4 days.
Bipolar I Disorder: It is characterized by severe manic episodes that last for around a week and extreme depressive episodes lasting for almost 2 weeks or so. A condition called mixed mania(a mixture of depression and mania) can sometimes be experienced.
Is there a link between Alcohol Use Disorder and Bipolar Disorder?
Research has shown that these two conditions occur more often than expected by chance. The exact connection between the two is still not fully understood but several factors are likely to contribute to their co-existence.
According to research, people who develop AUD first before bipolar disorder are more likely to heal quickly from this condition than people who develop bipolar disorder first because managing alcohol use and symptoms both at the same time can be tough which makes the recovery process long and tiring.
Here are some potential links between bipolar disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder:
Consuming alcohol recklessly may trigger bipolar disorder although more scientific research is required in this theory.
- Experts are strong believers in the theory that both bipolar disorder and AUD may share common genetic factors. In simple words: if someone has a family member with either of these disorders they are more likely to develop it because these genetic factors affect the brain chemistry, influencing how someone experiences mood changes in bipolar disorder or how their brain responds to alcohol in AUD.
- Many individuals with bipolar disorder turn to drugs and alcohol for coping and self-medication. During manic episodes especially consuming alcohol may help them manage symptoms such as agitation, impulsiveness, or heightened energy.
- However, while alcohol might provide temporary relief, it often worsens the overall course of bipolar disorder in the long run, leading to a harmful cycle.
- People with bipolar disorder often indulge in reckless behaviors without considering the consequences and actions. Impulsivity is the root behind many of these reckless actions. The reckless decisions made during manic episodes may include increased alcohol use, making it more likely for someone with bipolar disorder to develop AUD.
- People with bipolar disorder experience the lowest lows and highest highs which often leads to severe anxiety and depression, so to cope with these episodes they turn to alcohol which may help them with temporary relief but as time passes alcohol worsens the symptoms.
Key Takeaways:
Although the connection between bipolar disorder and AUD is still not known, constant research has been going on to study the link between the two, and the connection between them is significant.
While the exact reasons these conditions often occur together remain unclear, several factors such as shared genetic risks, reckless behavior during manic episodes, and self-medication to cope with mood swings may contribute to their co-existence.
