10 Common Myths About Bipolar Disorder
People who have
bipolar disorder face a lot of misunderstandings by the public,
adding with the everyday strains of life with a very serious
condition. Due to unfairly widespread misconceptions of what bipolar
actually means as well as the stigmas attached with it, many may run
in fear from the help they need.
1. Bipolar
disorder is merely mood swings: While it is true that bipolar
disorder is, in fact characterized by mood swings. It count as a
potentially dangerous mental illness due to their extreme intensity. unlike normal people who mood are fluid, transient, people who suffer from bipolar disorder experience uncontrollable
surges into forceful, severe episodes of mania, depression,
irritability, lethargy, or an inexplicable blending of many vastly
different emotions call Mixed states. Mentally healthy individuals do not experience emotions with this degree of sheer, occasionally disruptive force.
2. Manic
episodes are characterized by extreme happiness: Manic episodes
do not necessarily always involve a wholly positive and uplifting
euphoria. Irritability, hyperactivity, racing thoughts, and other
trait of mania also factor into the equation as well. Those in a
manic state can also be liable to give-in to id-driven impulses such as making poor finance choice, reckless spending, or ill-advised business prospects as well,
occasionally brought on by delusions and hallucinations in severe
cases. Mania certainly includes happiness, but it shown more of a
jittery, rash, and almost uncontrollable blur of overwhelming mental,
emotional, physical, and external stimuli that remains extremely
difficult to slow down.
3. Bipolar
shifts happen very quickly: Not so much, The reality is that the
shifts vary from individual case to individual case, some obviously
more severe than others. Some can shifts between Manic and depressive
phase in as little as a few hour, some shifts every few day, some
every few weeks.
4. It is okay to quit taking medication during
manic episodes: quitting medication without the approval and care
of an experienced psychiatrist can potentially result in even mild
cases of bipolar growing ever more severe, and worsen symptoms of
depression, cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and result in more
pronounced, intense, and rapid mood swings than usual. But many
people enjoy the mania and feel they only need their medication
during depressive phases and depressive phases alone.
5. Bipolar
disorder is very rare: 2.3 million Americans, or .747% of the
population, suffer from bipolar disorder. While not as big as anxiety
disorders, eating disorders, or clinical depression, bipolar disorder
still affects a serious number of individuals every year.
Unfortunately, because it shares symptoms with other mental
illnesses, a proper diagnosis may sadly take years – thus making it
entirely possible that many who struggle with bipolar disorder may
not be fully accounted for.
6. Bipolar
disorder is not an illness: bipolar disorder is listed in an
officially recognized diagnostic manual in the field of professional
medicine. Because of this, it fits the profile of an illness and
should be treated as nothing less.
7. People with
bipolar disorder are inherently unstable or violent: Like all
other mental illnesses, bipolar disorder comes packaged with its own
set of stereotypes stemming from society’s perceptions of the most
dangerous cases. Many perceive bipolar disorder as characterized by
highly erratic behavior, even violence. While the illness itself does
involve worse mood swings than average, milder cases may be difficult
to detect when an individual does not display severe outward signs.
The truth is, elements such as instability vary from patient to
patient.
8. Most people
with bipolar disorder are women: Bipolar disorder manifests
itself about equally between men and women. the root cause of the
mis-thinking of this is the fact that hormonal disorders in women
share a few common symptoms as the bipolar spectrum. In actuality,
hormone balances play no role in the onset of the mental illness.
Genetics and brain chemistry, shape, and activity stand as the true
source of bipolar disorder.
9. Prolonged
substance abuse can eventually lead into bipolar disorder: Not
true you can not get bipolar disorder from an addiction to alcohol or
drugs. the thing is those suffering from bipolar disorder, mostly
people who are left undiagnosed with bipolar disorder end up resorting to
abusing drugs or alcohol as a means of controlling the symptoms. It
is true that extended periods of substance abuse may eventually
worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and they do enhance the
symptoms in a highly negative way.
The roots of the
disorder stem from genetic factors as well as abnormal brain
function, shape, and/or chemistry.
10. People with
bipolar disorder cannot hold down jobs: Another misconception
about bipolar disorder stems from the same source as the one which
touts its inherent instability and violence. Only individuals
suffering from the most severe instances of bipolar cannot function
well enough to work a steady job. It is entirely possible for the
disordered to pursue and excel in their elected career path. However,
doing so most frequently requires a disciplined adherence to an
appropriate medication routine as well as regular psychotherapy
sessions. those with bipolar disorder can secure and thrive within an
industry provided they stick to the principles of hard work,
integrity, and determination both inside and outside the office.
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