More Bipolar Myths Debunked

Hello everyone! I hope I'm finding you in good spirits today. I wanted to cover some more myths about bipolar disorder that society perpetuates. When individuals fall prey to these myths patients are not as compliant with treatment and they do not work as diligently to recover, family members may often distance themselves and offer less-than-optimal support, and mental health professionals negatively impact progress by failing to motivate their patients and by not engaging in comprehensive treatment. Todays information comes from the BP magazine and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).

Myth: There's no cure for bipolar
Reality: There may be no cure in theory, but there are many strategies to use to successfully manage your life. The fact is that there’s no cure for life itself. When difficult situations arise, you either confront them or seek help from others. The same is true in dealing with bipolar disorder.


Myth: Bipolar disorder is all in your head.
Reality: Conditions like bipolar disorder are real, biological medical conditions that can be diagnosed and treated. There are many outspoken individuals who have made a career of misinforming the public about the true nature of bipolar disorder. While they argue that the illness cannot exist because the exact biological defect has not been discovered, they fail to recognize that the same is true for high fever, yet it is no less an ailment. A wide variety of medical tests including brain scans (MRIs, CTs) reveal the difference between a bipolar brain and a normal, healthy one. To ignore or distort the science behind bipolar disorder is simply irresponsible.


Myth: Bipolar disorder is a personal problem not a societal problem.
Reality: Bipolar disorder is everyone’s problem. In fact, the impact bipolar disorder has on society is shown in the following statistics:

• Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability worldwide with more than 5.7 million people affected. (World Health Organization)
• People living with bipolar disorder spend as much as one-fourth of their adult lives in the hospital, live one-fourth of their adult lives disabled, and lose as many as 14 years of cumulative productivity. Bipolar disorder results in 9.2 years reduction in estimated life span, and as many as one in five living with bipolar disorder commits suicide. (National Institute of Mental Health)
• The unemployment rate for people with severe and persistent mental disorders, including bipolar, is close to 90 percent. (U.S. Surgeon General Report on Mental Health, 1999)
• Bipolar disorder costs the U.S. economy $45 billion annually. (Wyatt and Henter, 1995)
• The combined indirect and related costs of mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, including costs of lost productivity, lost earnings, and societal costs, are estimated to total $148 billion. (National Institute of Mental Health, 1999)

Indeed, society pays a huge price, both financially and in terms of human suffering.


Myth: Medications that treat mood disorders are habit-forming. They can change a person’s personality. A person can’t be “clean and sober” while taking medication.
Reality: When properly prescribed and used, medications are not addictive and do not change a person’s true personality. Medications help a person’s mood become more stable and even. They are not “happy pills” and should not be compared to street drugs. They do not cloud a person’s judgment or give a false sense of courage.


Myth: I haven’t found the right medication yet.
Reality: There’s more to recovery than finding the right medication. Today, in an increasingly scientific-based psychiatric community, it can be difficult to remember that drugs are not a panacea. Medication does nothing to change a person’s underlying assumptions, false beliefs, or negative thinking. A prescription does not teach anyone effective behaviors nor can it generate positive reinforcers. Finding the right medication that yields results with minimal side effects is an essential ingredient in recovery, but it alone is not the answer.


Myth: People with bipolar are dangerous.
Reality: Research shows that people with mental illness do not commit significantly more violent acts than people in the general population. However, people with mental illness are twice as likely to be victims of violence.


Myth: People with bipolar disorder shouldn't have children.
Reality: People who have been treated for mood disorders can parent as well as anyone else. They are also more likely to recognize symptoms, treat their children early and understand their children’s struggles if their children have mood disorders. Personally, I am not going to have bilogical children because I would never wish this disroder on anyone.


Myth: People with depression or bipolar disorder are not stable enough to hold positions of authority in fields like law enforcement or government.
Reality: People with mood disorders can and do hold positions of authority

everywhere. When properly treated, a person’s mood disorder does not have to affect job performance. Persoanlly, I have tried to reenter the workforce and was not able to. My symptoms are too severe to allow me to enter the workforce. I also have a long unexplainable gap in my work history.

 

 

I hope some of these debunked myths have been brought more to light for you and you can share this information with friends who are unfamilar with the disorder. Education is the key. The more people know about bipolar, the less stigma there will be. Have a wonderful day!