Bipolar disorder is a disease characterized by severe disturbances in mood. People who suffer from bipolar disorder typically experience periods of extreme excitability, called mania, accompanied later by periods of depression. During the mania phase, people with bipolar disorder often experience some of the following symptoms:

• Racing thoughts
• Rapid speech
• Distractibility
• Disorientation
• Decreased sleep
• Restlessness
• Impaired judgment
• Financial extravagance

Let’s talk specifically about the last two. During the manic phase, people with bipolar disorder often go on lavish spending sprees. This may include buying outrageous amounts of goods and/or buying things that serve no purpose (like things for a pet you don’t even have).

As you can imagine, this can lead to some serious financial problems including huge amounts of debt, bankruptcy, loss of property and destruction of relationships.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, it is important that you seek help as soon as possible. Many patients don’t even realize they have the disorder because their moods seem to change constantly based on their life circumstances. But you need to know: Bipolar disorder is actually caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, which means it can be treated.

In addition to seeking professional help, there are a few things you can do to help limit spending sprees. First, don’t get any credit cards. Credit cards can empower you to pile up debt quickly. If you must have one, leave it at home. Also, in more extreme cases, you can give durable power of attorney to someone else, such as a spouse or loved one. This means that they will have to approve any of your purchases before vendors will accept your card.

Contact Solace Counseling for help with treating bipolar disorder. We can create a customized treatment plan to help get you or a loved one back on track. Also, be sure to look for us on Facebook and Twitter.