If you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, inpatient treatment can be a powerful step toward stability and healing. The emotional highs and lows of bipolar disorder can feel overwhelming, and it’s not uncommon to feel hopeless at times. But recovery is possible—with the right support, you can learn to manage your symptoms and regain control of your life.
With many treatment options available, it’s important to choose both a provider and a level of care that align with your needs. To help you make an informed decision, we’ll walk you through what inpatient treatment for bipolar disorder looks like at Royal Life Centers. If our program feels like the right fit, we’ll guide you through the next steps to get started.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a complex mood disorder marked by extreme shifts in mood, energy, behavior, and cognition. These fluctuations range from emotional highs (mania) to deep lows (depression), with some individuals also experiencing periods of relative stability in between. Because of these intense and unpredictable shifts, people with bipolar disorder may seem like different versions of themselves depending on the phase they’re in, making it difficult to self-regulate, maintain a consistent sense of identity, and build stable relationships.
Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder or manic depression—names that reflect the hallmark symptoms of the condition. Manic episodes are characterized by elevated energy, rapid speech, restlessness, reduced need for sleep, and increased productivity. In more severe cases, individuals may experience hallucinations, impulsivity, and distractibility. These are the “highs.” Conversely, depressive episodes involve a drop in mood, motivation, energy, and social engagement. During these “lows,” individuals may withdraw from others, sleep excessively, lose interest in once-enjoyed activities, and experience changes in appetite.
Everyone experiences bipolar disorder differently. Some people alternate between manic and depressive episodes, while others may have neutral or balanced periods in between. Understanding these patterns is key to managing the condition and finding long-term stability.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is split into three different diagnoses under the overarching condition. These specifications outline a more accurate picture of the individual’s condition so they can receive the best treatment. Markedly, the types of bipolar disorder can be fluid, meaning a person’s diagnosis can shift from one to another. Commonly, this occurs when a less severe version of bipolar disorder becomes more severe (a risk of going without any form of treatment).
Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I is the most extreme and concerning version of the disorder. Individuals will shift between intense mania and extreme depression, making the difference from one to another feel especially dramatic. Not only does the individual feel a sense of whiplash in themself, but others may find bipolar I symptoms to be too much. Typically, manic episodes last one week or longer and depressive episodes last two weeks or longer in bipolar I. However, it depends on the person.
Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II’s main difference from bipolar I is the reduced severity of the timeline and symptoms. Although a person will still shift between highs and lows, they experience hypomania instead of mania. To explain, hypomania is less extreme and more manageable. Typically, depressive episodes last two weeks or longer, and hypomanic episodes last around four days.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic disorder, or cyclothymia, mimics the same patterns of highs and lows, but it falls outside of traditional bipolar diagnoses. Symptoms may be less intense, shorter-lasting, or brought on by outside scenarios. It’s important to understand that cyclothymia can develop into bipolar I or II if left untreated.
What Is Inpatient Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?
With roughly one in 200 people developing bipolar disorder, there are a large number of people who need treatment. However, a common misconception is that bipolar disorder can’t be managed or improved. It’s simply not true! Professional help that includes therapy and medication makes a huge difference in the lives of those with bipolar disorder.
Inpatient treatment is one recovery program offering intensive healing with a flexible timeline. Simply, inpatient treatment is a level of care where individuals live in-center for daily healing work. Those in residential inpatient settings have 24/7 support available for any concerns that arise, including health issues and triggers. The time a person spends in inpatient care is based on their condition and their treatment plan. What remains the same for everyone is the intensive programming they’ll undergo to gain tools to manage their disorder.
Signs Someone Needs Residential Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can cause a person to exhibit concerning symptoms that are out of their control. Along with dramatic mood, behavior, and energy shifts, it can cause diverse symptoms of both highs and lows. Both mania and depression can lower your quality of life and cause confusion. For example, you may experience hallucinations, trouble sleeping, recklessness, and self-endangering behavior. If you feel out of control and unable to pursue your real desires, it’s time to seek treatment to help you regulate your symptoms. Additionally, if your condition may be placing you in danger, there’s no time to waste in getting help. Both therapy and medication will allow you to achieve a baseline of health in the midst of bipolar disorder.
How Long Is Inpatient Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?
As noted, the exact timeline of inpatient treatment for bipolar disorder is largely dependent on each person. In fact, flexibility and customization are a core facet of treatment at Royal Life Centers. As a person-centric treatment provider, we base every element of treatment around the individual. You will create a custom service plan with your therapist to outline your goals, treatment methods, and timeline.
What Happens During Inpatient Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?
Inpatient treatment is a residential level of care where individuals can attend daily sessions and meetings because they live on-site. Your schedule will include individual therapy, group sessions, holistic experiences, mealtimes, and free time. Above all, each element of your schedule is entirely tailored to your needs and goals. Here are some of the benefits you’ll enjoy as a guest of Royal Life Centers.
Individualized Treatment Plan
The first step in recovery is an initial assessment with a therapist, where together you outline treatment goals. If you need an official diagnosis of your disorder or co-occurring disorders, we can provide one as part of intake. Taking into account info about your background, condition, obligations at home, and finances, you’ll receive an individual service plan (ISP). Throughout the duration of inpatient treatment, you will follow your care plan, modifying it as needed.
Safe and Supportive Environment
Living full-time in our comfortable Royal Life Centers is an enjoyable experience. We offer state-of-the-art amenities, chef-catered meals, 24/7 support, and beautiful locations. Plus, we understand your desire to rest and heal in a safe and private environment, which is exactly what inpatient care provides. Rest assured, all of our staff are prepared to aid you through whatever you’re going through.
Individual and Group Therapies
Every guest of Royal Life Centers participates in a mixture of therapy offerings, including both one-on-one sessions and group therapy. This is because there is value in both approaches. In individual sessions, you can dive deep into your unique experience of having bipolar disorder. But in group sessions, you benefit from the stories and challenges others have also lived through.
Supportive Therapies for Bipolar Disorder at a Mental Health Center
A key part of the bipolar disorder treatment process is traditional evidence-based therapy. Every guest also participates in holistic therapy to address their whole self. Notably, there are ample therapy techniques used to heal mental health disorders like bipolar disorder. Because there’s no one-size-fits-all in healing, our guests work with their therapists to find the right therapy methods. As such, throughout inpatient treatment, you might engage with multiple therapeutic practices. One thing is for sure: you will participate in a mixture of traditional therapy and holistic therapy to receive the best support.
Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder
Psychotherapy is talk therapy that uses assessment, conversation, goal-setting, and therapy techniques to achieve growth. Behavioral therapy is one of the most popular psychotherapy methods. For bipolar disorder, we often recommend our guests try cognitive behavioral therapy, radically open dialectical behavioral therapy, or supportive therapy.
Holistic Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
Holistic therapy is the whole body healing approach that treats the mind, body, and spirit together. Bipolar disorder can cause dysregulation throughout your entire system and sense of well-being, which is why holistic healing matters. At Royal Life Centers, you can experiment with a great number of holistic therapies, including tai chi, sound therapy, equine-assisted therapy, and meditation.
Professional Help for Bipolar Disorder Near Me
Living with bipolar disorder doesn’t have to feel like a life sentence of instability and distance from others. In fact, you are far from the only person experiencing the symptoms of bipolar disorder! However, your experience of having bipolar is unique and complex. At Royal Life Centers, we will treat you like a person with individual needs, not a disorder. Our treatment programming will never place you into a box; instead, we want to create you a custom treatment plan.
If bipolar disorder is causing problems in your life, it’s time to seek help. You can rise above your symptoms with professional assistance. Take the step to enter inpatient treatment for bipolar disorder to change the trajectory of your life!
