Really liked this. You must go to the original article, there are beautiful pictures there.
http://themighty.com/2016/01/12-myths-people-with-bipolar-disorder-want-to-see-busted/Sarah Schuster
Bipolar Disorder
If you’ve ever heard someone say, “The weather is so bipolar!” you know there’s a lot of misconception about what bipolar is, what it isn’t and what it’s like for the 3 percent of American adults who live with it each year. To clear some things up, The Mighty teamed up with the International Bipolar Foundation and asked people with bipolar disorder what myths they’d like to see busted.
Here’s what they had to say:
Myth #1: Mania is the “good part” of bipolar disorder.
“There’s a myth that mania just feels all happy. Actually, it’s frantic and nerve-wracking. It can cause intense anger and anxiety. It can feel like I want to jump out of my own skin. Both sides of the coin can be hell.” — Pressley Kieran Fields
Myth #2: People with bipolar disorder are just “moody.”
“Just because you had a bad day or had a high-energy day doesn’t mean you’re bipolar.” — Dana C Hutchins
Myth #3: Everyone with bipolar is violent.
“The only time you hear about bipolar disorder in the media is when someone committed a crime. Not when a person is dealing with their bipolar successfully and being productive in society. We need to all come forward.” — Heidi Long
Myth #4: If you have bipolar, you’re “crazy.”
“It’s not a synonym for ‘crazy.’ Nor is it a word to be thrown around about things that change constantly (i.e. ‘The weather is like, bipolar or something.’).” — Lacey H-l K
Myth #5: People with bipolar disorder cannot maintain healthy relationships.
” My best friend is bipolar. With patience and understanding, it’s possible. You have to be willing to learn and ask questions as I did. When we first met I asked, ‘What can I do to better understand you? Tell me what I can do to support you.’” — Belinda Heflin
Myth #6: You can’t be a good spouse or parent with bipolar disorder.
“My husband had bipolar disorder. He was brilliant and the kindest, most unselfish man I have ever known. I was married to him for 49 happy, happy years. Sure, there were bad times because he had bipolar. But because I understood he had no choice in it, we were able to have a wonderful marriage.” — Glenda Austin Thompson
Myth #7: Every bad day is an episode.
“Having bipolar disorder doesn’t mean you can’t experience regular emotions — negative and positive; any emotional response to something isn’t always linked to your mental illness.” — Nikki Fox
Myth #8: People with bipolar disorder are weak because they can’t “control their emotions.”
“Even people who are inherently strong can have bipolar disorder. Every day can be a challenge. We can look outwardly normal, while going through immense internal struggles.” — Shilpa Ugrankar Caldeira
Myth #9: People with bipolar disorder are just being dramatic.
“‘You are overreacting. Just stop being that way.’ Um, no. We try our best to control our emotions. We cant help the way we feel sometimes. We just want support and to not be judged.” — Lauren Eubanks
Myth #10: Having bipolar disorder means you have a “split personality.”
“I beg to differ. I feel more like two extremes of the same person.” — Jamilla Casteel
Myth #11: When you start taking medication for bipolar disorder, you’re “cured.”
“It’s never going away. It’s the medication that makes us feel better. It helps me to live. To work. To lead an almost ‘normal’ life. And I would not have it any other way. Medication is not bad. It’s my lifeline.” — Suzie Lang
Myth #12: People with bipolar disorder can’t be successful.
“Heck, I have bipolar 2 and I graduated as valedictorian of my high school and I graduated summa cum laude from a private university. It does not mean I haven’t been successful in life.” — Jenna Renee Gillit
Thanks for sharing this!
Totally true.
The other I don’t know if it’s a myth… Or if it fits but I’ve often heard people telling me my condition simply “doesn’t exist” because they don’t believe in it. It’s very tough having to explain to someone that you didn’t make up your psychosis.
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Thanks you do much for reading and becoming a member! Ha! The psychosis exists, the cast of characters in it very well may not have existed. How about if we say your cataracts, high blood sugar, joint pains, asthma, etc. doesn’t exist!
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As a read through these myths I noticed with most of them you could replace bipolar with depression, psychosis, schizophrenia or other mental disorders and the myths would be just as common, and just as stigmatizing.
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Yes, so true. Mental illness in general, and we as people with a mental illness are often misunderstood or not understood at all. Why is the fact that mental illness is a disease of the brain, our most complicated organ, again not acknowledged? Can I shout this from the rooftops?
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Reblogged this on itsgoodtobecrazysometimes and commented:
Love these
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“IT’S THE MEDICATION, STUPID! TAKE YOUR MEDICATION!” Well, it’s not always that simple, is it? But I’ll tell you what, if it weren’t for Depakote, …. Forget that article and study about the old-fashioned lithium treatment. Doesn’t work for everyone. Thanks for this piece.
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So glad Depakote works for you! It was awful for me. Lithium works like a charm 😊 And that’s ok. We’re all different. Thanks for the comment! Cheers.
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I have to tell that I am old now: 75. I was weaned off the Depakote, if you can believe that. I am on a regimen of gabapentin and buproprion. Still monitored by a psycho-MD-doc. I am blessed. . ., but oh so cautious. Old people get terribly depressed.
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So glad all is well! True about depression in the elderly, although good life choices can prevent it I think.
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