7 Myths About Bipolar Disorder

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Myth #2: Bipolar disorder is a fancy term for mood swings

Often, bipolar disorder gets dismissed as another term used to describe mood swings. However, the mood swings accompanied by bipolar disorder are very different.

According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, these mood swings “can last hours, days, weeks, or even months.”

These moods alternate from depression and mania, with depression being an extremely “down” mood and mania being an extremely “up” mood.

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We have come a long way from early beliefs that mental illness was a result of supernatural phenomena, and resorting to brutal treatments.

However, to this day, we sometimes fall into negative attitudes and misconceptions about mental illnesses that can make it harder for people to reach out for help. One such example is bipolar disorder.

Check out our slideshow on some common myths about bipolar disorder.

Sources:

Living and Coping with Bipolar Disorder. Helpguide. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-support-and-self-help.htm

Rapid Cycling and its Treatment. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_brochures_bipolar_disorder_rapid_cycling

True or False? The Top 10 Myths About Bipolar Disorder. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
http://www2.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=bipolar_disorder&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=35167

8 Myths About Bipolar Disorder. WebMED. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/features/8-myths-about-bipolar-disorder?page=1

Reviewed March 2, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith