“Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder where people experience two distinct episodes: depression and mania/hypomania,” Isabelle Morley, a licensed clinical psychologist, tells Parade.com. “People with this disorder can have significant mood shifts where they feel and behave very differently. However, the symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary widely, and this leads to misinformation.” The public perception of bipolar disorder is one that is very skewed and misunderstood. Here are nine myths and facts about bipolar disorder.
Myth: Bipolar disorder is rare
Fact: While many believe bipolar disorder to be a fringe illness, this condition affects 2 million adults in the United States alone.
Myth: Children cannot be diagnosed with bipolar disorder
Fact: There is a myth about bipolar disorder that it only affects adults. But that is not the case, Angila Liam, a psychologist from the EzCare Medical Clinic, tells Parade. “In reality, kids can also face this disorder.” However, it is harder to identify and diagnose bipolar disorder in children than in adults. “Children can have bipolar, but it is often difficult to diagnose since there is not as much data on the subject,” Morley explains. What’s more, “children do not have the same ability to communicate their emotional experience, and other disorders may present similarly (such as the hyper-focus and hyperactivity of ADHD being mistaken for mania).”
Myth: Individuals with bipolar disorder are dangerous
Fact: People with mental illness are often labeled as violent, unhealthy, unstable and (by default) unsafe; however, these assumptions could not be further from the truth. “The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else,” MentalHealth.gov states. “Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.”
Myth: Bipolar disorder is an excuse for mood swings
Fact: Everyone experiences mood swings, it’s a normal part of life. But the mood shifts which accompany bipolar disorder are more pronounced and extreme. “While everyone experiences mood swings, individuals with bipolar disorder experience extreme changes in their character and behavior,” Jason Strauss, the chair and chief of psychiatry at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, explains. What’s more, the highs and lows of bipolar disorder are very different from common mood swings, i.e. people with bipolar tend to experience drastic changes to their energy levels. Sleep disruptions are also common.
Myth: All people with bipolar disorder have the same symptoms
Fact: One of the reasons why bipolar disorder is so difficult to diagnose is because patients with bipolar will experience a wide array of symptoms. According to the Cleveland Clinic, manic episodes may include symptoms such as excessive happiness, hopefulness and excitement, restlessness, rapid speech, increased energy and less need for sleep. Depressive episodes, on the other hand, include symptoms such as sadness, loss of energy, feelings of hopelessness, and more. There are also four types of bipolar disorder:
Bipolar 1Bipolar 2CyclothymiaBipolar disorder otherwise not specified
Myth: The only treatment for bipolar disorder is a medication
Fact: While most individuals with bipolar disorder will need to be treated medicinally, there are other ways to mitigate and manage symptoms. “Medicine can really help in generating a positive outcome, but that’s not all,” Liam tells Parade. “Small and positive changes in life can prove beneficial. A healthy diet and workout routine, for example, maybe helpful, and psychotherapy can be a great treatment.” Cognitive-behavioral therapy works wonders. That said, the benefits of medication cannot be overstated. “Bipolar is very treatable with a number of excellent and well-studied medications,” Strauss says. Medication options include mood stabilizers and antidepressants.
Myth: People with bipolar disorder are always manic or depressed
Fact: While bipolar disorder can cause mania/hypomania and/or depression, most individuals do not exist in constant crisis. “People with bipolar disorder are not always either manic or depressed,” Strauss explains. “They often have long periods during which they experience a balanced mood called euthymia.”
Myth: Individuals with bipolar disorder cannot work
Fact: There is a common misconception that individuals with bipolar disorder cannot hold stable employment but that is not the case. According to Here to Help, a mental health and substance use resource, with “proper medical treatment and good support… most people (more than 75%) with bipolar work and [are] successful.
Myth: Mania is fun
Fact: While mania and hypomania may seem fun, at least at first, both can be dangerous. Mania, for example, can lead to thoughts and/or feelings of grandiosity, and these thoughts can become scary and life-threatening. Recklessness is also common, i.e. some people with mania and/or hypomania over-drink or overspend, and some will experience auditory or visual hallucinations. Losing touch with reality is common. “While mania may initially seem productive, the mood and behavior change that people experience while manic lead to poor decisions and impaired reality testing that can cause significant difficulties in functioning and with relationships,” Strauss explains. Next up, is schizophrenia genetic? Here’s everything you need to know.
Sources
Isabelle Morley, licensed clinical psychologist"Bipolar Disorder," National Institute of Mental Health.Angila Liam, a licensed clinical psychologist “Mental Health Myths and Facts,” MentalHealth.gov.Jason Strauss, the chair and chief of psychiatry at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center"Bipolar Disorder," Cleveland Clinic
