Bipolar Disorder Treatment Center in Alexandria

Learn more about bipolar disorder treatment at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that affects nearly 3% of the adult population in the United States and is the sixth leading cause of worldwide disability. Those diagnosed with this condition cycle through periods of extreme mania (highs) and bouts of depression (lows) at varying intervals. This drastic change in energy and mood will take its toll on a person’s emotional, mental, and physical health in a variety of ways. Left untreated, this condition can rob you of your ability to succeed at home, work, or school, and can make maintaining healthy relationships difficult, if not impossible.

Children, adolescents, and adults can all suffer from bipolar disorder, however, this condition is more often diagnosed in late adolescence or early adulthood. While each person will experience this condition in a unique way, it is likely that you will need a combination of therapeutic and medical interventions in order to live a healthy life with bipolar disorder.

If you feel trapped in an endless loop of shifting emotions that have interrupted your ability to function to potential, there is hope. Longleaf Hospital is ready to help you successfully learn the coping skills necessary for reclaiming control of your life and managing this illness. Our empathetic staff is ready to help you on your journey toward recovery from bipolar disorder at our center in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Helping a loved one get treatment for bipolar disorder

Watching your loved one struggle with bipolar disorder, trying to find the right combination of medication and therapies, and succumbing to cycles of mania and depression can be overwhelming. You may want to help your loved one but don’t know where to begin. However, your support can make all the difference. As you consider encouraging a loved one to seek treatment at a hospital, center, or clinic, please consider the following:

• Learn all that you can about bipolar disorder and the effects that it has on different people. While your loved may not have all of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, you may be able to recognize some of his or her behaviors as symptoms of the disorder.
• When you do talk, be sure you approach the subject of treatment openly and without judgment. Be ready to listen to what your loved one has to say.
• Sometimes, when people are struggling mightily, they are unable to even begin to try and help themselves. Call some local therapists and treatment centers, and find one who specializes in treating people with bipolar disorder. He or she may be able to work with your loved one to find an inpatient placement at a clinic nearby.
• It can be hard for individuals struggling with bipolar disorder to realize that there are others out there who love them in spite of their symptoms. Many people with bipolar disorder feel alone and isolated and a simple offer to spend some time together and talking openly can make a huge impact.
• Offer to take your loved one to appointments or assessments, and take notes for him or her, asking the appropriate questions when needed.
• As inpatient care is often the first step in recovery from bipolar disorder, it can be calming for you to call a treatment facility and arrange for you and your loved one to take a tour. Be sure to ask questions about their treatment methods, the way they treat bipolar disorder, and what to expect during an inpatient stay.

During this time, make sure that you’re getting the care and rest you need as well as having an outlet for your own emotions. Don’t be afraid to contact a local therapist or join a support group for families of those who have bipolar disorder as having a safe place to share your feelings can be vital as you try to help your loved one into treatment.

Why consider treatment for bipolar disorder at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Many individuals who have bipolar disorder can be resistant to treatment as they have come to enjoy the highs of the manic phase of this illness. It’s during the depressive cycles of bipolar disorder that most people seek treatment, as this can be the time in which they realize the magnitude and consequences of their behaviors during a manic session. Without the proper care, the symptoms of bipolar disorder can worsen over time, and this condition can at times become life-threatening if professional treatment is not sought.

An inpatient treatment program for bipolar disorder has been shown to be one of the best ways in which a person can seek comprehensive treatment that addresses all of their needs. The ability to get away from everyday life and stresses, and focus on recovery from bipolar disorder makes inpatient treatment one of the best ways to begin your journey toward recovery. Through a professional treatment center, you’ll be able to work one-on-one with therapists, seek the therapies you need, and develop ways to cope with the cycles of bipolar disorder.

Longleaf Hospital has helped countless children, adolescents, and adults successfully recover from some of life’s greatest challenges and emerge on the other side victorious. Our staff of dedicated health experts, including doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and support staff, will be there to guide you or your loved one through every step of recovery from bipolar disorder.

Types of bipolar disorder treatment offered at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Located in Alexandria, LA, Longleaf Hospital is the area’s leading provider of individualized psychiatric care for children, adolescents, teens, and adults who are suffering from bipolar disorder and a host of other conditions. Having recently completed a full upgrade of clinic facilities in 2015, Longleaf offers a tranquil setting in which to heal. Our hospital is set amongst a peaceful wooded area, but is easily accessible off of highway 28 near the Alexandria Coliseum.

At Longleaf Hospital, we seek to provide the highest level of psychiatric care while treating each child, adolescent, and adult. Our program’s mission is to support long-term success for patients both during treatment at this clinic and after they return home. This is accomplished through the work of our expert team of highly qualified mental health and medical staff who are committed to providing dignity in treatment and to empowering patients to lead healthy, productive lives.

Patients who come to Longleaf may be struggling with a wide variety of psychiatric concerns, and treatment for bipolar disorder will consist of various supports that are tailored to address each patient’s unique strengths and challenges. For adult patients who are struggling with a co-occurring substance use disorder in addition to bipolar disorder, Longleaf is pleased to provide comprehensive care to address chemical dependencies of many types, including addictions to alcohol, benzodiazepines, heroin, opioids, marijuana, PCP, methamphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogenic, synthetics, and more.

Options for treatment at our clinic span the continuum of care, and include several options in order to provide the ideal treatment environment for every patient. We are also proud to offer specialized supports for active and retired military personnel and their dependents.

Upon admission, each patient is thoroughly assessed prior to beginning services at Longleaf, and a personalized plan of care is devised to encourage the most beneficial outcomes possible, no matter what level of care the patient is engaged in.

Short-term acute inpatient care is offered for children and adolescents ages 11-17 and adults ages 18 and above. In this setting, patients can receive a variety of supportive services designed to help them overcome symptoms of bipolar disorder, including:

• Medically assisted, supervised detoxification programming
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
• Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT)
• Medical services from nurse practitioners and doctors
• 12-Step based services
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

In addition to the treatment modalities listed above, all children, adolescents, and adults who seek care at Longleaf will have access to the following therapies:

• Individual therapy: Master’s level social workers provide this one-on-one service to allow all patients to process issues from the past and present that have contributed to the onset of symptoms of bipolar disorder. In this private, confidential setting, individuals can discuss the challenges and successes that arise in treatment, and make a plan for continued success after leaving Longleaf.
• Family therapy: Family therapy is offered twice weekly and is designed to engage a patient’s loved ones in his or her recovery journey, to heal damaged relationships, and to increase the functionality of the family unit.
• Medication management: If an individual’s symptoms can be effectively treated with prescription medications, our team can include medication management services into his or her personalized treatment plan. All medication decisions will involve the input and consent of the individual in treatment and/or his or her parents or guardians.
• Group therapy: All patients at Longleaf will have many opportunities to participate in group therapy. Offered daily, this intervention is used to help patients learn from each other, and to combat the sense of isolation that is common amongst those suffering from the symptoms of mental illness, including bipolar disorder. Group discussions are varied but could include topics such as anger management, impulse control, coping skills, and discharge planning.

At Longleaf Hospital, we are proud to have a long history of providing superior service to active duty military members, veterans, and their families. Our military support efforts are led by our medical director, a retired Army colonel who works closely with all military members who heal at Longleaf. We do not have a specialized treatment track for military members, but we ensure that the unique issues and challenges that are experienced by members of the military community are addressed in each patient’s personalized treatment plan, and we place a premium on ensuring that all military-affiliated patients receive the customized care that will best prepare them for long-term success.

In addition to Longleaf Hospital’s acute inpatient care program, the partial hospitalization program (PHP) is another option for support that is available to adult patients ages 18 and above. PHP at Longleaf, which typically spans a time period of 2 to 6 weeks, has been proven successful in addressing bipolar disorder. This option is suitable for patients who require a high level of support, but who are able to return to their home environments in the evening.

Programming within this level of care is based on 12-Step ideology, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing. Medication management is also available within PHP at Longleaf, and patients can meet with a psychiatrist twice per week while in this program. Individual, family and group therapies are also provided, as well as thorough discharge planning.

The least acute option for care for bipolar disorder at Longleaf Hospital is the intensive outpatient program (IOP). This form of support can be used as a step-down level of care from other programs, or for adults ages 18 and above who do not require a higher level of care. Typically lasting 8 to 12 weeks, IOP at Longleaf consists of medication management services and various time-tested therapeutic techniques designed to address symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Get more information about treatment for bipolar disorder

The admissions staff at Longleaf is available to speak with referral sources and prospective patients and their families 24/7. Upon contacting Longleaf, a licensed intake counselor can provide an initial assessment, and answer any questions that you may have about healing at our hospital. The decision to seek care for bipolar disorder may be a difficult one, but the compassionate, professional team at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, is here to ensure that you find the very best support for yourself or a loved one.