[MadRiverTurtle]

By John M Grohol PsyD
June 12, 2009

Bipolar disorder has been the focus of attention in recent years, as a new slew of psychiatric medications have been developed to help treat it. Such medications drive pharmaceutical marketing and increased educational efforts surrounding bipolar disorder (for better or worse).

But many myths surround bipolar disorder — what it is, what it means, and how it’s treated. Here’s to busting a few of the most common ones.

1. Bipolar disorder means I’m really “crazy.”

While bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder, it is no more serious than most other mental disorders. Having a mental disorder doesn’t mean you’re “crazy,” it just means you have a concern that is negatively impacting how you live your life. Left unaddressed, this concern can cause a person significant distress and problems in their relationships and life.

2. Bipolar disorder is a medical disease, just like diabetes.

While some marketing propaganda might simplify bipolar disorder into a medical disease, bipolar disorder is not — according to our knowledge and science at this time — a medical disease. It is a complex disorder (called a mental disorder or mental illness ) that reflects its basis in psychological, social, and biological roots. While it has significant neurobiological and genetic components, it is no more of a pure medical disease than ADHD or any other mental disorder. Treatment of bipolar disorder that focuses solely on its “medical” components often results in failure.

3. Manic depression is different than bipolar disorder.

Manic depression is simply the old name for bipolar disorder. The name was changed to more accurately describe the type of mood disorder it is — someone who experiences swings between two poles of mood (or emotion). Those two poles are mania and depression.

4. I’ll have to be on medications for the rest of my life.

While the default assumption by most mental health professionals is that most people with bipolar disorder will need to be on medications for the rest of your life, nobody can predict how exactly you, as an individual, will react to such medications or what the future holds for your specific needs. So it is a myth to say that all people with bipolar disorder will absolutely be on medications for the rest of their lives. As many people age with this disorder, they find their swings between mania and depression lessen significantly, and the need for medication may decrease, and may even be discontinued without any harmful repercussions.

5. I’m feeling better since taking my medications, which means I probably don’t need them any more, right?

Wrong. Once a person starts feeling better because of the medication, they often discontinue taking the medication, leading to an eventual relapse. This is a common problem in the treatment of bipolar disorder and is something professionals like to call “treatment compliance.” This is just a fancy way of saying that a person needs to continue taking their medication as prescribed, no matter how good they may be feeling. It is perhaps one of the most insidious issues in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and leads many people to greater distress than if they just kept taking their medications.

6. There’s no need for psychotherapy in bipolar disorder.

This varies from person to person (just as the need for taking medications does), but this is a myth insomuch that many people and professionals believe that psychotherapy doesn’t help much in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Psychotherapy can be very helpful and effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since medications alone can’t teach a person new coping skills or how to deal with feelings of an impending manic or depressive episode. Psychotherapy can help a person with bipolar disorder learn to live with the disorder in their lives without as much stress or upset. While many people with bipolar disorder forgo psychotherapy, it is usually a helpful treatment to consider when first diagnosed.

7. Atypical antipsychotics are only for schizophrenia.

In the U.S. in 1990, a new class of medications was introduced called “atypical antipsychotics.” These newer medications are not used to treat only psychosis (such as that found in schizophrenia), but also a wider range of psychiatric symptoms. One of their approved uses is in the treatment of bipolar disorder in adults. They may also be approved in short time for use in teenagers and children 10 years and older (although they are already sometimes prescribed by doctors for “off label use” in teens and children). So don’t let the name of the class of medications fool you — they treat far more than just psychosis.

8. Atypical antipsychotics have little to no side effects.

Atypical antipsychotics are often the primary drug doctors use to treat bipolar disorder. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has determined that such drugs are both safe and effective for this use. However, like all medications, atypical antipsychotics have their own set of risks and side effects.

These medications have a different side effect profile than the medications they replace. While initially marketed as a “better” side effect profile, research since 1990 has shown that the side effects they do produce in many people can be just as worrisome as older medications. Chief among the typical side effects are weight gain and metabolism problems, which can be precursors to type 2 diabetes, increased risk of stroke, and heart problems (including an increase in cardiac arrhythmias which can lead to sudden death).

9. I may just have depression.

Many times, bipolar disorder mimics clinical depression, because one of the primary symptoms of bipolar disorder is clinical depression. Up to 25 percent of people who have bipolar disorder are initially misdiagnosed with depression. Why does this occur? Because many people first go to their primary doctor for a diagnosis, and primary doctors do not always ask enough questions to make the proper diagnosis. This can occur with mental health professionals who also fail to probe enough when a person presents with clinical depression in their office.

An incorrect initial diagnosis can lead to incorrect treatment, such as the prescription of antidepressant. Generally, antidepressants are not used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and in fact, can make the disorder worse in the person. So if you’ve ever had an episode of increased energy for no particular reason (not because you just drank a liter of Coke), make sure you share that information with your mental health professional.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...olar-disorder/

[silvercloud]

Spot on Article ,MRT ~ me thinks best way to define "BP" ~ 'emotionally unstable' ~ works for me ~ that is all

[goddess91]

Thanks for this.

[420Attraction]

Originally Posted by MadRiverTurtle

By John M Grohol PsyD
June 12, 2009

Bipolar disorder has been the focus of attention in recent years, as a new slew of psychiatric medications have been developed to help treat it. Such medications drive pharmaceutical marketing and increased educational efforts surrounding bipolar disorder (for better or worse).

But many myths surround bipolar disorder — what it is, what it means, and how it’s treated. Here’s to busting a few of the most common ones.

1. Bipolar disorder means I’m really “crazy.”

While bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder, it is no more serious than most other mental disorders. Having a mental disorder doesn’t mean you’re “crazy,” it just means you have a concern that is negatively impacting how you live your life. Left unaddressed, this concern can cause a person significant distress and problems in their relationships and life.

2. Bipolar disorder is a medical disease, just like diabetes.

While some marketing propaganda might simplify bipolar disorder into a medical disease, bipolar disorder is not — according to our knowledge and science at this time — a medical disease. It is a complex disorder (called a mental disorder or mental illness ) that reflects its basis in psychological, social, and biological roots. While it has significant neurobiological and genetic components, it is no more of a pure medical disease than ADHD or any other mental disorder. Treatment of bipolar disorder that focuses solely on its “medical” components often results in failure.

3. Manic depression is different than bipolar disorder.

Manic depression is simply the old name for bipolar disorder. The name was changed to more accurately describe the type of mood disorder it is — someone who experiences swings between two poles of mood (or emotion). Those two poles are mania and depression.

4. I’ll have to be on medications for the rest of my life.

While the default assumption by most mental health professionals is that most people with bipolar disorder will need to be on medications for the rest of your life, nobody can predict how exactly you, as an individual, will react to such medications or what the future holds for your specific needs. So it is a myth to say that all people with bipolar disorder will absolutely be on medications for the rest of their lives. As many people age with this disorder, they find their swings between mania and depression lessen significantly, and the need for medication may decrease, and may even be discontinued without any harmful repercussions.

5. I’m feeling better since taking my medications, which means I probably don’t need them any more, right?

Wrong. Once a person starts feeling better because of the medication, they often discontinue taking the medication, leading to an eventual relapse. This is a common problem in the treatment of bipolar disorder and is something professionals like to call “treatment compliance.” This is just a fancy way of saying that a person needs to continue taking their medication as prescribed, no matter how good they may be feeling. It is perhaps one of the most insidious issues in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and leads many people to greater distress than if they just kept taking their medications.

6. There’s no need for psychotherapy in bipolar disorder.

This varies from person to person (just as the need for taking medications does), but this is a myth insomuch that many people and professionals believe that psychotherapy doesn’t help much in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Psychotherapy can be very helpful and effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since medications alone can’t teach a person new coping skills or how to deal with feelings of an impending manic or depressive episode. Psychotherapy can help a person with bipolar disorder learn to live with the disorder in their lives without as much stress or upset. While many people with bipolar disorder forgo psychotherapy, it is usually a helpful treatment to consider when first diagnosed.

7. Atypical antipsychotics are only for schizophrenia.

In the U.S. in 1990, a new class of medications was introduced called “atypical antipsychotics.” These newer medications are not used to treat only psychosis (such as that found in schizophrenia), but also a wider range of psychiatric symptoms. One of their approved uses is in the treatment of bipolar disorder in adults. They may also be approved in short time for use in teenagers and children 10 years and older (although they are already sometimes prescribed by doctors for “off label use” in teens and children). So don’t let the name of the class of medications fool you — they treat far more than just psychosis.

8. Atypical antipsychotics have little to no side effects.

Atypical antipsychotics are often the primary drug doctors use to treat bipolar disorder. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has determined that such drugs are both safe and effective for this use. However, like all medications, atypical antipsychotics have their own set of risks and side effects.

These medications have a different side effect profile than the medications they replace. While initially marketed as a “better” side effect profile, research since 1990 has shown that the side effects they do produce in many people can be just as worrisome as older medications. Chief among the typical side effects are weight gain and metabolism problems, which can be precursors to type 2 diabetes, increased risk of stroke, and heart problems (including an increase in cardiac arrhythmias which can lead to sudden death).

9. I may just have depression.

Many times, bipolar disorder mimics clinical depression, because one of the primary symptoms of bipolar disorder is clinical depression. Up to 25 percent of people who have bipolar disorder are initially misdiagnosed with depression. Why does this occur? Because many people first go to their primary doctor for a diagnosis, and primary doctors do not always ask enough questions to make the proper diagnosis. This can occur with mental health professionals who also fail to probe enough when a person presents with clinical depression in their office.

An incorrect initial diagnosis can lead to incorrect treatment, such as the prescription of antidepressant. Generally, antidepressants are not used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and in fact, can make the disorder worse in the person. So if you’ve ever had an episode of increased energy for no particular reason (not because you just drank a liter of Coke), make sure you share that information with your mental health professional.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...olar-disorder/

I just recently allowed myself to be put on meds after being untreated for a lonnnnggg time and its doing me alot of good.. Im finally happy but it is good to know that maybe 1 day I wont have to take them(#4) but if I do.. ITS WORTH IT!!

[LAstoney]

good list...not so sure about that third-eye comment though! In the Bipolar thread i'd have to consider that manic thinking- any other thread it would just be hippie-talk haha ;)

[Puff Now Pay Later]

I was diagnosed Bi-Polar back in '96. The Dr.'s have given me so many different types of drugs to no avail. Anti-depressants only gave me suicidal thoughts. Anti-psychotics only make sleep 20+ hours a day. Everything else was like being in an emotional straight-jacket, or like living life underwater.

I only use MMJ as medication for my Bi-Polar these days. I have my "UPS" and "DOWNS" but staying medicated is the only thing that makes my symptoms bearable.

Thanks for the post MRT.

[ScottyBDub]

Well written. Wish more people were able to view the information.

[420Attraction]

Did you know that OVER half the people "diagnosed" with bipolar disorder were misdiagnosed and actually have BPD.. which is Borderline Personality Disorder.. shocking well not really lol there are soooo many persoanlity disorders now adays.. the mental health community doesnt know much about BPD cause its only been around for 20-30 years.. hopefully they will learn more about it and make CORRECT diagnoses..

[chrondon1989]

everyones a lil bipolar its just how much control u have over it.

[fish2find]

Thanks for posting this up, great topic starter.

I do think there are many MANY misdiagnosed people, and many docs would rather medicate then teach coping mechanisms. We have pills for everything now days and sometimes its just about learning to deal with stress in new ways.

[stanleyk]

Originally Posted by chrondon1989

everyones a lil bipolar its just how much control u have over it.

I agree with the thinking that everyone has their issues, for sure. To say that everyone is a little bipolar is not really accurate. Bipolar has genetic, physiological, and chemical components to it that people who do not have bipolar do not have.

Certainly life has ups and downs. Individuals with the most intense cases of bipolar only have two speed, 0 and 10. There is nothing in between.

Everyone has their issues for sure, but that's called personality. :-)

[MadRiverTurtle]

Originally Posted by stanleyk

Everyone has their issues for sure, but that's called personality. :-)

+1

On a semi-related note...

As someone who actually has chronic BPD I get irritated with people who use serious mental illnesses as a descriptor of themselves. I have a friend that does this from time to time, "I'm so OCD about cleaning my house....Just freak out if things aren't in order!". No, in no way does she have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder- she's simply anal about cleaning and that's it. Using these phrases tends to water down the legitimacy and seriousness of MIs and I hate the skew that causes. We have enough ignorance on the subject and don't need people to distort what's already been distorted for decades.