Also known as a manic-depressive disorder, the disease is a collective category of mood disorders mostly with one or more episodes of depression. Despite the fact that there are a number of preventive techniques to get over the disease, there are certain myths surrounding the disease. Some of them are enlisted here.
Bipolar disorder is a medical disease.
People misconceive bipolar disease as a medical disease, but modern science deviates from this widely spread myth. Bipolar disorder is a complex disorder that develops from social, psychological and biological factors. Not many people would realize this but there are certain significant factors that stem from psychological, emotional, mental, and social facets. Eventually, the above stated aspects have been observed to contribute to and influence an individual’s overall outlook and the ability to deal with stressful situations in life. While some genetic and neurobiological components persist in this mental disorder, bipolar disorder is no more a medical disease than ADHD.
Bipolar disorder means being insane.
People customarily tend to believe that developing bipolar disorder or having the stated mental condition is equivalent to being a lunatic. However, it is not a serious disorder. Also, having a mental disorder does not signify that an individual is crazy, it rather implies that they have a condition which is influencing their life in a significantly negative manner. Such a condition can further induce noticeable problems and distress in the sufferer’s relationships and overall life if left untreated.
Bipolar disorder means usual mood swings.
Bipolar disorder is not just another name for mood swings. Though an individual with bipolar disorder experiences mood swings, the changes in moods however differ from mood swings that are experienced by people without the disorder. According to Matthew Rudorfer, AD of Treatment Research at National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorders are rather long lasting, more severe, and may intervene with the patient’s ability to lead a normal life and other usual activities. Thus, experts suggest that it’s crucial to seek medical help or discuss with family and friends if changes in temperament or mood swings begin influencing the lifestyle in a negative manner.
Patients of bipolar disorder need to live with medications.
There has been a misconception that most bipolar disorder sufferers will require to be on medications for their entire life. Nonetheless, it cannot be assumed or predicted how exactly the bipolar disorder patient will react to such medicines. It may be unfounded to presume that bipolar disorder requires medications for the rest of life. On the contrary, the mental condition may subside with time if advice and treatments are executed stringently and medicines may be discontinued without any possibly harmful repercussions.
Bipolar disorder needs no psychotherapy.
This is another mistaken belief that bipolar disorder does not get treated or receive much help from psychotherapy. But, this may not be the same for every disorder patient. In fact, psychotherapy could be of immense assistance and efficacy in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Some medical professionals even believe that introducing psychotherapy in the treatment may improve the condition dramatically as medications alone cannot help an individual to learn coping skills and how to manage difficult situations in life. Therefore, people with bipolar disorder should ensure that they receive psychotherapy as it can be a great medium to learn how to lead a life without much stress or feelings of disappointment.
Bipolar disorder does not require long term medications.
The most common myth about bipolar disorder is that once an individual starts feeling better after taking medications, the need to continue them further does not exist. This is thoroughly untrue. Rather, people with bipolar disorder must take their medicines for as long as they have been prescribed by their medical care practitioner, else there might develop a potent possibility for the disorder to come back as an eventual relapse. For that reason, no matter how good or better a person is feeling after taking their medicines, it is significantly important for them to continue their medicines as prescribed to lessen the possibility of an eventual relapses.
Bipolar disorder may be a depression.
In several cases, bipolar disorder appears to be similar to clinical depression since one of the primary symptoms for the disorder is clinical depression. In fact, up to 25 percent of patients with bipolar disorder are diagnosed incorrectly with depression during the initial stages. That’s where an incorrect medical diagnosis during initial phase leads to an incorrect treatment, such as the prescription for an anti depressant. Since anti depressants are not used for bipolar disorder treatment, it may just worsen the condition. Therefore, to avoid such unfortunate incidences, it is very important to seek medical help and consult mental health professionals.
Bipolar disorder means being insane
People customarily tend to believe that developing bipolar disorder or having the stated mental condition is equivalent to being a lunatic. However, it is not a serious disorder. Also, having a mental disorder does not signify that an individual is crazy, it rather implies that they have a condition which is influencing their life in a significantly negative manner. Such a condition can further induce noticeable problems and distress in the sufferer’s relationships and overall life if left untreated.
Bipolar disorder is a medical disease
People misconceive bipolar disease as a medical disease, but modern science deviates from this widely spread myth. Bipolar disorder is a complex disorder that develops from social, psychological and biological factors. Not many people would realize this but there are certain significant factors that stem from psychological, emotional, mental, and social facets. Eventually, the above stated aspects have been observed to contribute to and influence an individual’s overall outlook and the ability to deal with stressful situations in life. While some genetic and neurobiological components persist in this mental disorder, bipolar disorder is no more a medical disease than ADHD
Bipolar disorder means usual mood swings
Bipolar disorder is not just another name for mood swings. Though an individual with bipolar disorder experiences mood swings, the changes in moods however differ from mood swings that are experienced by people without the disorder. According to Matthew Rudorfer, AD of Treatment Research at National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorders are rather long lasting, more severe, and may intervene with the patient’s ability to lead a normal life and other usual activities. Thus, experts suggest that it’s crucial to seek medical help or discuss with family and friends if changes in temperament or mood swings begin influencing the lifestyle in a negative manner.
Patients of bipolar disorder need to live with medications
There has been a misconception that most bipolar disorder sufferers will require to be on medications for their entire life. Nonetheless, it cannot be assumed or predicted how exactly the bipolar disorder patient will react to such medicines. It may be unfounded to presume that bipolar disorder requires medications for the rest of life. On the contrary, the mental condition may subside with time if advice and treatments are executed stringently and medicines may be discontinued without any possibly harmful repercussions.
Bipolar disorder needs no psychotherapy
This is another mistaken belief that bipolar disorder does not get treated or receive much help from psychotherapy. But, this may not be the same for every disorder patient. In fact, psychotherapy could be of immense assistance and efficacy in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Some medical professionals even believe that introducing psychotherapy in the treatment may improve the condition dramatically as medications alone cannot help an individual to learn coping skills and how to manage difficult situations in life. Therefore, people with bipolar disorder should ensure that they receive psychotherapy as it can be a great medium to learn how to lead a life without much stress or feelings of disappointment.
Bipolar disorder does not require long term medications
The most common myth about bipolar disorder is that once an individual starts feeling better after taking medications, the need to continue them further does not exist. This is thoroughly untrue. Rather, people with bipolar disorder must take their medicines for as long as they have been prescribed by their medical care practitioner, else there might develop a potent possibility for the disorder to come back as an eventual relapse. For that reason, no matter how good or better a person is feeling after taking their medicines, it is significantly important for them to continue their medicines as prescribed to lessen the possibility of an eventual relapses.
Bipolar disorder may be depression
In several cases, bipolar disorder appears to be similar to clinical depression since one of the primary symptoms for the disorder is clinical depression. In fact, up to 25 percent of patients with bipolar disorder are diagnosed incorrectly with depression during the initial stages. That’s where an incorrect medical diagnosis during initial phase leads to an incorrect treatment, such as the prescription for an anti depressant. Since anti depressants are not used for bipolar disorder treatment, it may just worsen the condition. Therefore, to avoid such unfortunate incidences, it is very important to seek medical help and consult mental health professionals.
