Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people alternate between extremes of depression and elevated moods. Someone with bipolar disorder may barely get out of bed for months, then spend days or weeks with lots of energy and little need for sleep. Bipolar is a difficult condition to live with, both for the person who has it and for the people close to her. It is also a major risk factor for addiction. More than half of people with bipolar disorder struggle with some form of substance use, typically alcohol. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about bipolar disorder that make it harder to diagnose and treat. Here are some of the biggest ones.
Bipolar disorder is rare.
Bipolar is not as rare as most people think. About 5.7 million American adults have bipolar disorder. By comparison, about 16 million American adults had an episode of major depression in the past year. That seems like a pretty big disparity, but keep in mind that depression is the most common mental health issue worldwide. Also, the National Institute of Mental Health classifies bipolar as a depressive disorder, meaning the disparity between major depression and bipolar disorder is closer to four million. Finally, bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as depression, so many of the cases diagnosed as major depression are really bipolar disorder.
If you have bipolar disorder, you know it.
As noted above, bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed because it often presents as major depression. People go to the doctor when they feel depressed, not when they feel pretty good. If they don’t mention manic episodes to the doctor, the doctor has no way of knowing about a key symptom. Complicating things further, manic episodes are often short and relatively mild. Few people experience the kind of intense manic episodes that lead to hospitalization. Many people mistake mild manic episodes, or hypomanic episodes, for the depression lifting. It takes an average of 10 years to correctly diagnose bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is mood swings.
Some people say someone who experiences mood swings is bipolar in much the same way that they might say someone who is very clean and tidy has OCD. There are various kinds of mood disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, that can lead to mood swings, but those are not the same as bipolar disorder, which is characterized by episodes of depression lasting sometimes for months, broken up by manic or hypomanic episodes that might last days or weeks.
Manic and depressive episodes change frequently.
Bipolar disorder is sometimes thought of as an emotional rollercoaster, where someone is depressed one day and manic the next. In reality, depressive episodes can last for months. Manic episodes are often shorter. They may be very short, and often they are not even recognized as manic episodes.
Mania means happiness.
Mania is often characterized by euphoria and grandiosity, which may strike some people as similar to happiness. However, manic episodes mainly involve high energy and little need for sleep. People in manic episodes are often restless and irritable and may have delusions of persecution. These moods are often intense and involve confusion and racing thoughts, which few would describe as happiness.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and bipolar disorder, we can help. Recovery Ways is a premier drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility located in Salt Lake City, Utah. We have the resources to effectively treat a dual diagnosis. Our mission is to provide the most cost-effective, accessible substance abuse treatment to as many people as possible. Request information online or call us today at 1-888-986-7848.
