Myths and Facts About Bipolar Disorder
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and today I wanted to discuss a few misconceptions about a specific Mental Health Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is characterized by episodes of Mania, feelings of extremely high energy, requiring less sleep to feel rested, risk-taking behavior, and other symptoms and periods of depression. As with any Mental Illness, there are a lot of myths of misconceptions surrounding Bipolar Disorder today; we will look at a few different myths and the truths behind them, such as:
Bipolar Disorder is Just One Disorder: Bipolar Disorder is an umbrella term that covers four types of disorder these types are:
Bipolar I: People diagnosed with this type of disorder have manic episodes that last for a week or more or require hospitalization due to behavior during the manic episode.
Bipolar II: Patients with Bipolar II tend to have more frequent mood swings, but with less extreme manic highs than can be found in Bipolar I disorder.
Cyclothymic Disorder or Cyclothymia: An unstable mood disorder with relatively mild highs and lows but very little time in a stable mood state.
Unspecified: Bipolar disorder that doesn't meet the diagnostic criteria of any of the above but still resulting in manic episodes.
Highs and Lows have a Rhythm: Many people believe that the manic and depressive episodes of Bipolar Disorder occur in regular cycles. There is no way to predict when a person living with Bipolar Disorder will begin or end a manic or depressive episode. Rapid cycling is when a person has four or more manic or depressive episodes in a single year.
There is No Effective Treatment for Bipolar Disorder: This is an old rumor and patently untrue a treatment plan for Bipolar disorder may include medications, psychotherapy, even methods of stress management like Yoga to help even out manic episodes, and mood tracking.
Our goal at Dream On Youth is to help alleviate the stigma behind Mental Health Disorders so that the people who live with these illnesses can have the support, love, and understanding they need. People living with Bipolar Disorder face these myths and obstacles every day, often from the very people they depend on for support. I’m hoping with this post; we can help give some new understanding to a person living with the disorder or a person supporting someone with the condition.
These are just a few myths associated with Bipolar Disorder. If you would like to read further, please follow the links below.
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Bipolar-Disorder
https://medlineplus.gov/bipolardisorder.html
https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-myths-facts