Life can be a burden for people combating mental health issues. They experience several challenges while fighting with a particular mental health issue. However, it can be alarming if a person is diagnosed with two mental health disorders simultaneously.
This blog is a complete guide to understanding the astonishing link between two of the most common mental health issues “Bipolar disorder and OCD.”
What Is A Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health illness that affects the brain. The identifying symptoms of this mental health disorder are two types of mood swings: the manic phase and the depressive phase. The manic phase consists of ecstasy, while the depressive phase is defined by long periods of states of low mood. There is another mood phase known as hypomania, but this phase is not as severe as a mania episode.
The Common Signs Of Bipolar Disorder
The distinguishing signs of bipolar disorder are based on the types of it. Some of the common ones are as follows:
Bipolar I Disorder:
This type is identified by the presence of at least one manic episode before or after the hypomanic or major depressive episodes.
Bipolar II Disorder:
Bipolar II is characterized by at least one major depressive disorder and a hypomanic episode in the absence of a manic episode.
Cyclothymia:
If an affected individual experiences multiple hypomania and depression episodes but with lesser severity, then this indicates they are suffering from cyclothymia.
What Is OCD?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental health disorder whose essential characteristic is that it modifies your thought processes by producing unremitting unwanted thoughts, ideas, obsessions, and sensations. To eliminate such obsessions, such a person can be seen engaging in compulsive behaviors. Some common compulsions are hand washing, repeated checking of things, and mental acts like counting. This can hinder the affected person’s daily routine and reduce their socializing.
Can Bipolar Disorder And OCD be Comorbid?
Yes, a person can be diagnosed with both mental health disorders simultaneously. The only difference between bipolar and OCD lies in the symptoms. Researchers have not studied this comorbidity in-depth, but there are a few astonishing factors that are experienced by the affected person when suffering from both mental health disorders.
Firstly, Bipolar disorder and OCD are linked together when a person experiences a depressive episode while being in the OCD state. This only worsens the severity of OCD signs. And when the person experiences a manic episode, the scenario is the opposite. It aids in reducing the signs of OCD.
Additionally, another correlation between these mental health disorders is the history of a higher number of mood disorders in the family and a lesser number of OCD. When these mental health conditions combine, they indicate bipolar disorder, which develops in a way that is similar to OCD and leads to OCD with bipolar.
Can Bipolar Disorder Trigger The Onset Of OCD?
The best experts in mental health believe that OCD is one of the symptoms of mood disorder, and bipolar is classified under mood disorders.
Furthermore, the affected person exhibits OCD signs more often while experiencing a depressive episode as compared to manic phase.
Moreover, the affected people exhibit OCD symptoms more often when they are experiencing depressive episodes as compared to manic episodes. They exhibit OCD signs in between periods of depression and mania.
Learn More: Bipolar disorder: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Causes & Treatment
The Prevalence Rate Of Bipolar Disorder and OCD
Almost 2.3 million people in the United States have Bipolar Disorder. In contrast, OCD has been diagnosed in nearly 2.2 million adults in the United States. Moreover, proven medical evidence shows that people with bipolar disorder are at a high risk of developing other mental health issues as well such as OCD.
Therefore, it is best to seek professional help for the correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder and OCD in case of the manifestation of both mental health disorders simultaneously. An accurate diagnosis is developed by observing the mental health signs a patient shows and the extent to which the daily life functioning of the affected person is disrupted.
Some Common Mental Health Treatments for Bipolar Disorder And OCD
Treating a mental health disorder without worsening the current mental health condition of the person sometimes becomes challenging. The need to seek professional assistance is that when one has a coexisting psychiatric condition, the treatment of one condition may precipitate the other disorder. An example of such a case includes the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). OCD is treated using this category of psychiatric medications, as discussed in this article. On the other hand, they can worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder:
Some of the common mental health treatment options are as follows:
Psychiatric Medications:
The first intervention towards treating OCD and Bipolar Disorder is to address the current symptoms by prescribing bipolar disorder medications that are specifically designed to treat bipolar disorder symptoms such as mania, depression, and OCD. Among them are mood stabilizers, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as Atypical antipsychotics.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the best psychotherapies used to challenge the negative thoughts of a person suffering from OCD and Bipolar and convert them into healthier ones. A mental health professional collaboratively teaches the patient various coping skills, which ultimately help in managing the negative signs of bipolar disorder and OCD.
Psychoeducation:
Familiarity with a mental health disorder holds great importance. Therefore, the main focus of psychoeducation is to help the patient and their family understand the signs and effects of bipolar disorder and OCD. In this way, they learn to identify the signs and ways to manage these signs with the help of professional assistance.
Lifestyle changes:
A person’s lifestyle can have numerous effects on overall well-being. Therefore, a healthy routine with regular exercise, nutritious food, and socialization is advised. This will eventually reduce the signs of bipolar disorder and OCD. Furthermore, techniques like mindfulness, yoga, and meditation can be beneficial in such cases.
Concluding remarks!
Bipolar disorder and OCD are some of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders. An interesting fact is that both of these unique signs of disorder can co-occur. Bipolar disorder disturbs a person’s mood level and causes the onset of manic and depressive episodes. In contrast, OCD comprises constant, intrusive thoughts with compulsive actions. These mental health conditions can be the reason for the deterioration of existing signs, as OCD signs often aggravate when the patient undergoes depressive episodes and may significantly reduce in manic episodes. Some of the common mental health treatments best for treating both mental conditions simultaneously are psychiatric medications and cognitive behavioral therapy.
So, if you have bipolar disorder and OCD and you desire to get rid of the signs, then now is the ideal time for you to get in touch with the leading mental health platform, Inland Empire Behavioral Group. We have a team of mental health experts with proficiency in treating bipolar disorder and OCD. So, wait no more and consult with us today!
