Myths and Facts About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar is a word that gets tossed around, often used to describe the mood swings that most of us experience at some point during our lives. Actually, though, bipolar disorder is a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition that encompasses a lot more than rapid mood shifts. 

Fortunately, here at Ascension Psychiatric Services in Fayetteville, Georgia, Anthony J. Hall, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, and our team help people living with bipolar disorder. If you feel like you swing between high highs and low lows, you could be dealing with this mental health condition. In that case, don’t hesitate to set up an initial conversation with Anthony.

Should you get in touch? To help you decide, we want to bust a few misconceptions about bipolar disorder. 

Myth #1: There’s only one type of bipolar disorder

People often think bipolar disorder always looks like swinging between manic episodes and depressive episodes. Actually, though, for most people, one side of the pendulum is more pronounced. 

For people with bipolar I disorder, manic episodes usually last a week or are severe, but depressive episodes may or may not come into play. People with bipolar II experience depressive episodes paired with hypomania, a less severe type of mania. 

If neither the manic nor the depressive episodes are severe enough or last long enough, you can also be diagnosed with ​​cyclothymic disorder.

You can learn more about the different types of bipolar disorder here. 

Myth #2: You always swing between high and low

People often think about bipolar disorder in terms of the rapid swing from depression to mania and back again. In reality, bipolar disorder usually isn’t so cut-and-dried.

In fact, people — especially those with bipolar I — can experience both mania and depression at the same time. 

What’s more, your symptoms may come and go. You may have a week of mania, followed by more regulated mood and energy levels for months afterward. In other words, you don’t have to be constantly or regularly moving between depressive and manic episodes to get diagnosed with bipolar disorder. 

Myth #3: You’re stuck with your symptoms

Here at Ascension Psychiatric Services, Anthony, our board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, can diagnose your bipolar disorder and develop a personalized treatment plan for you. Our team’s goal is to help you find relief from your symptoms.

Usually, people achieve this with a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and talk therapy. Anthony continually works with you to ensure you’re getting the right level of support and treatment to maintain a healthy balance in your life. 

To explore what could work for you, call our office or book an appointment online today.