Lakeland Behavioral Health System helps individuals struggling with bipolar disorder build a strong foundation for long-term recovery. Serving Springfield, Missouri, Lakeland is the leading provider of psychiatric treatment for children, adolescents, and older adults.
Learn More About Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Learn More About Bipolar Disorder Treatment at Lakeland Behavioral Health System in Missouri
Bipolar disorder is a very serious mental illness in which an individual suffers through periods of mania, or extremely elevated moods, and periods of major depression. Living with bipolar disorder is often likened to living on a roller coaster as the unpredictable course of this disorder can leave devastation in its wake. Unlike the normal ups and downs associated with daily life, individuals who have bipolar disorder experience magnified emotional cycles. What would feel good to most of us feels intensely amazing – the best thing ever, like you’re on top of the world. On the flipside, what most of us would call a bad mood or bad week feels like the weight of the whole world is pressing down upon you. People who have bipolar disorder are unable to predict when their mood swings will strike, often living in a semi-anxious state nearly all of the time. It’s not surprising that many individuals who have bipolar disorder contemplate suicide.
It’s unclear what causes bipolar disorder, although it’s thought to be the combination of genetic, environmental, and biological influences working together. Bipolar disorder often begins in the teen years or early adulthood, but the symptoms may be so diverse that it is often misdiagnosed and untreated for many years – causing much unnecessary suffering. While once considered a brutal diagnosis, thanks to innovations and years of research, bipolar disorder is now considered a manageable mental illness. With the proper amounts of therapy, medication, and support, people who have bipolar disorder can – and do – live happy, healthy, and productive lives.
Why Consider Treatment
Why Consider Treatment for Bipolar Disorder at Lakeland Behavioral Health System in Missouri
Living with unmanaged bipolar disorder can feel like a nightmare. Between the cycles of mania and depression, it feels as though your world is spinning out of control. You may find that loved ones have pulled away from you, unsure of which mood state you’re in. The consequences of your behaviors during a manic episode may have left you in financial ruins, struggling to get by. In an effort to control your symptoms, you may have found yourself using drugs or alcohol, only to discover that self-medication only exacerbates your problems. Perhaps you’ve even become addicted in the process. You may feel alone, desperate, and as though there’s nowhere to turn. At Lakeland’s behavioral health clinic, we’ve helped many men and women just like you successfully learn to manage their bipolar disorder and go on to lead healthy, stable lives.
When you come to us for help, our compassionate multidisciplinary team of physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, nurses, behavioral health specialists, therapeutic and educational specialists, and social workers will work alongside you. We’ll work with you to create a plan of care for your stay with us that meets your needs – all of them. Lakeland in Missouri is a holistic treatment center, meaning that we’ll treat all of you – mind, body, and soul.
Our Philosophy
Lakeland Behavioral Health System’s Philosophy and Benefits
Lakeland Behavioral Health System offers care for all individuals from all walks of life. We offer dedicated units to provide treatment for individuals suffering from differing conditions, each staffed with experts in the field of behavioral health. We’ll work with you to determine the most appropriate level of care for your situation and make sure that your plan of care is specially designed for you, as we know that treatment of bipolar disorder is never a one-size-fits-all approach. Our empathetic and caring staff will provide you with the nurturing, eclectic care you need to successfully overcome your bipolar disorder. We’re always here when you need a shoulder or a guiding hand to help you on your road to recovery. Together, we can create a life that’s full of hope, happiness, and love.
Types of Treatment
Types of Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Offered at Lakeland Behavioral Health System in Missouri
When you come to us for help, you’ll first undergo a complete medical and psychiatric evaluation. Through our medical evaluation, we’ll learn if you’re physically dependent upon drugs or alcohol, if you’re struggling with a medical condition that’s exacerbating your symptoms, and diagnose and treat any medical problems that you may be experiencing. Our psychiatric evaluation will allow us to gain a better picture into the scope and severity of your bipolar disorder and the presence of any co-occurring mental illnesses, as well as other facets of your struggles that need to be addressed. We’ll take this information to help create a plan of care for your stay with us that meets your needs. We’ve learned that the best way to successfully manage bipolar disorder is through medication management and a variety of therapeutic modalities.
Medication is often used in treatment of bipolar disorder as it allows you to gain control of your mood cycles. Mood stabilizing medications prevent the manic highs and allow for better control over the lows of depression. Often, people who have bipolar disorder take a combination of medication to help manage their symptoms. The usage of medication will be determined by your treatment team. In addition to medication management, we offer a variety of therapeutic approaches.
Individual therapy allows for us to meet with you in an intimate setting to work through some of your problem areas. Topics for individual therapy may include relapse prevention, triggers of mood cycles, and identification of warning signs, as well as stress-management techniques.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy in which you will work with a therapist to identify negative patterns of thinking and learn to replace them with more positive, accurate ways of viewing the world. Through changing the ways in which you think, you’re better able to adjust your behaviors and worldview.
Group therapy is a very important part of treatment of bipolar disorder at Lakeland. At Lakeland, we offer 4 to 5 different groups a day which will allow you the opportunity to connect with others who are experiencing similar problems. You’ll work with your peers to address some of the issues surrounding bipolar disorder and learn new ways to cope with stress.
Family therapy is vital to recovery from bipolar disorder, as the support of your loved ones can make a world of difference for you on your recovery journey. Family sessions will be held to allow us to teach your loved ones about bipolar disorder, the treatments you are going through, and tips for continued recovery. We’ll also explore the ways in which bipolar disorder has impacted the lives of all involved and provide connections to community resources to allow for continued healing.
As Lakeland Behavioral Health in Missouri is committed to being a holistic treatment clinic, we also offer a variety of experiential therapies to allow for your continued healing. These methods may include:
- Art therapy
- Pet therapy
- Relaxation therapy
- Recreational programs
- Special events
- Group outings
- Play therapy (for our younger patients)
Continuing Care
Continuing Care and Levels of Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
As the time for discharge from Lakeland’s behavioral health clinic approaches, you’ll work closely with your treatment team and your loved ones to determine the next best steps in your recovery process. Some individuals may discharge into a residential program to allow for the similar structure and level of care as our inpatient program. Other individuals opt to step down into a less-structured environment, such as a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), which offer many similar programs as in our inpatient care. Still, others will have made enough progress to discharge to home with referrals to outpatient therapy and available community resources. At Lakeland Behavioral Health System, we understand just how hard it can be to take that first step and seek treatment for your bipolar disorder. We want you to know that we’ll be behind you every step of the way.
