3 Harmful Bipolar Disorder Myths ❤️‍🩹

Even before my Bipolar I Disorder diagnosis, I used to believe people with mental illness is dangerous and that they’re inherently broken. I don’t understand everything about my condition, but I can tell you several myths that you shouldn’t believe as it can be a big obstacle for people who are struggling to find answers for their misery (yes, even yourself).

1. Bipolar disorder is just ‘mood swings’, everyone has it

Fact: No. The highs and lows of bipolar disorder can cause extreme unusual changes in one’s energy, activity and sleep. Doctors will look for clusters of symptoms rather than emotions. It is not bipolar if you’re sad in the morning, happy in the evening and then get moody again at night, although it is always advisable to get professional help.

2. All bipolar is the same

Fact: No, actually there are four types of bipolar disorder:

📌 Bipolar I is diagnosed when a person has one or more depressive episodes and one or more manic episodes, sometimes with psychotic features.

📌 Bipolar II has depressive episodes as its major feature and at least one hypomanic episode (a less severe type of mania)

📌 Cyclothymia is defined by numerous

periods of hypomanic symptoms as well numerous periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least two years without meeting the severity requirements for a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode.

📌 Bipolar disorder otherwise not specified (BDNOS) does not follow a particular pattern and is defined by bipolar disorder symptoms that do not match the three categories listed above.

3. Mania is productive. You’re in a good mood and fun to be around.

Fact: In some instances mania can really look like happiness; you talk a lot, have no worries about anything in life, become active in sports, work, school and so much more. But without treatment or knowledge of one’s condition things can turn bad in a flash. You can be irritated because the world is too slow, you start telling people that you are a supreme being or you will found yourself in an airplane to go ‘save the world’. There are endless real-life examples where people who suffer from mania ended up hospitalized until they recover from it. They also tend to feel guilty as to what they had done during the episode.

Should I make a part 2? 🙆🏻‍♀️

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