1 00:00:02,030 --> 00:00:03,028 Hey everybody. 2 00:00:03,028 --> 00:00:04,113 Thanks for checking back. 3 00:00:04,113 --> 00:00:08,655 Today we are going to talk about the five common misconceptions about Bipolar Disorder. 4 00:00:08,655 --> 00:00:10,028 So stay tuned. 5 00:00:19,468 --> 00:00:20,467 So like I said. 6 00:00:20,467 --> 00:00:24,160 Today we are going to talk about the five misconceptions about Bipolar disorder. 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:30,613 Now the first one is that there are only manic or depressive episodes within Bipolar. 8 00:00:30,613 --> 00:00:32,925 And that is completely false. 9 00:00:32,925 --> 00:00:34,724 Because there are, 10 00:00:34,724 --> 00:00:40,378 If you remember from my old bipolar video I talk about how people with Bipolar Two disorder, 11 00:00:40,378 --> 00:00:42,761 Never reach full blown mania. 12 00:00:42,761 --> 00:00:46,075 Instead they reach what we call Hypomania. 13 00:00:46,075 --> 00:00:48,898 Which is kind of a lower grade of Mania. 14 00:00:48,898 --> 00:00:50,334 But it's a totally different state. 15 00:00:50,334 --> 00:00:52,429 It can, it feels very different to the person. 16 00:00:52,429 --> 00:00:54,774 And it's just not Mania. 17 00:00:54,774 --> 00:00:58,143 And other people don't fully reach Depressive episodes. 18 00:00:58,143 --> 00:01:00,274 They'll just have a low grade depression. 19 00:01:00,274 --> 00:01:03,495 What, if it goes on for a long time we would call it Dysthymia. 20 00:01:03,495 --> 00:01:09,230 And people can even, to make it even more complicated and complex, people can even have mixed episodes. 21 00:01:09,230 --> 00:01:15,602 Which is when a Manic or Hypomanic episode occurs at the same time as a Depressive episode. 22 00:01:15,602 --> 00:01:20,013 And this, as you can imagine, can make us feel very uncomfortable. 23 00:01:20,013 --> 00:01:21,799 Very frustrated and irritable. 24 00:01:21,799 --> 00:01:23,964 Because not only do we have a ton of energy. 25 00:01:23,964 --> 00:01:27,401 And we have a lot of these grandiose thoughts and we are very excited. 26 00:01:27,401 --> 00:01:30,150 But we also feel really down at the same time. 27 00:01:30,150 --> 00:01:31,344 And very bad about ourselves. 28 00:01:31,344 --> 00:01:34,702 And it can make us feel very agitated. 29 00:01:34,702 --> 00:01:37,312 Having like two opposites happening at the same time. 30 00:01:37,312 --> 00:01:41,122 And to be truthful, it gives us an increased risk for suicide. 31 00:01:41,122 --> 00:01:43,250 So something as a clinician we have to look out for. 32 00:01:44,470 --> 00:01:47,342 The second common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 33 00:01:47,342 --> 00:01:51,391 Is that Bipolar Two, is a 'milder form' of Bipolar. 34 00:01:51,391 --> 00:01:53,935 Now that's completely false. 35 00:01:53,935 --> 00:01:59,192 Because the thing about Bipolar Two Disorder is that we don't reach full blown Mania. 36 00:01:59,192 --> 00:02:03,194 And we stay in Depressive episodes for much longer periods of time. 37 00:02:03,194 --> 00:02:08,221 We may reach a Hypomania, but because many people don't reach the Mania. 38 00:02:08,221 --> 00:02:10,240 They never go in to the hospital. 39 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,298 Often times they go years without getting help. 40 00:02:12,298 --> 00:02:16,781 And because depression is such a prominent part of Bipolar Two Disorder. 41 00:02:16,781 --> 00:02:23,248 The deepness of their depression goes on for years before they get any help and they reach out for help. 42 00:02:23,248 --> 00:02:26,281 And it can severely impair their functioning. 43 00:02:26,281 --> 00:02:27,510 And their ability to go to work. 44 00:02:27,510 --> 00:02:29,504 To interact with their loved ones. 45 00:02:29,504 --> 00:02:32,161 And just their overall level of functioning. 46 00:02:34,381 --> 00:02:37,600 The third common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 47 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,394 Is that people who have mood swings during the day, have Bipolar. 48 00:02:42,394 --> 00:02:44,130 People will often say, 49 00:02:44,130 --> 00:02:47,354 'Oh, you know, she's on it again. She's so Bipolar.' 50 00:02:47,354 --> 00:02:50,416 Mood swings are not Bipolar Disorder. 51 00:02:50,416 --> 00:02:55,615 If you remember in my video back in the day that I talked about Bipolar Disorder and how we diagnose it. 52 00:02:55,615 --> 00:03:00,092 In order to be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, whether it's One or Two. 53 00:03:00,092 --> 00:03:03,234 Now in One, we have to reach full blown Mania. 54 00:03:03,234 --> 00:03:06,831 That means that we have this grandiose sense of self. 55 00:03:06,831 --> 00:03:09,558 This extreme feeling of elation. 56 00:03:09,558 --> 00:03:13,026 And Mania has to occur for at least one week. 57 00:03:13,026 --> 00:03:18,066 And those symptoms have to permeate each of those days almost completely. 58 00:03:18,066 --> 00:03:19,394 Meaning there is no real breaks. 59 00:03:19,394 --> 00:03:22,067 We feel this way continuously for a week. 60 00:03:22,067 --> 00:03:25,595 And in order to be diagnosed with a Major Depressive episode. 61 00:03:25,595 --> 00:03:27,730 If we had Bipolar Two. 62 00:03:27,730 --> 00:03:30,231 If we've never reached Mania and we had a Depressive episode. 63 00:03:30,231 --> 00:03:32,147 In order to get that. 64 00:03:32,147 --> 00:03:34,519 We have to be in a depressive episode, 65 00:03:34,519 --> 00:03:37,994 Meeting at least five of the depressive criteria. 66 00:03:37,994 --> 00:03:41,498 And it have to last for at least two weeks. 67 00:03:41,498 --> 00:03:46,689 So you can see that someone's mood shifting during the day, is definitely not Bipolar Disorder. 68 00:03:46,689 --> 00:03:48,256 Those are just mood swings. 69 00:03:49,746 --> 00:03:52,599 The fourth common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 70 00:03:52,599 --> 00:03:55,138 Is that all Bipolar patients have Mania. 71 00:03:55,138 --> 00:03:58,234 And as you remember from my old video, and what I talked about previously. 72 00:03:58,234 --> 00:03:59,983 That's not true. 73 00:03:59,983 --> 00:04:04,364 Because Bipolar Two patients never reach full blown Mania. 74 00:04:04,364 --> 00:04:08,524 They reach Hypomania, a very, a lower grade version of mania. 75 00:04:08,524 --> 00:04:10,713 And they spend a lot of their time. 76 00:04:10,713 --> 00:04:13,364 I would almost venture to say a majority of their time. 77 00:04:13,364 --> 00:04:15,374 In Depressive episodes. 78 00:04:15,374 --> 00:04:17,726 Therefore not all Bipolar patients have Mania. 79 00:04:20,656 --> 00:04:23,626 The fifth common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 80 00:04:23,626 --> 00:04:27,944 Is that those who have been diagnosed with Bipolar are unreliable. 81 00:04:27,944 --> 00:04:29,544 Or can't function. 82 00:04:29,544 --> 00:04:33,607 Now you and I both know that that is completely untrue. 83 00:04:33,607 --> 00:04:35,892 That's a false accusation. 84 00:04:35,892 --> 00:04:40,300 People who have mental illness are not hindered. 85 00:04:40,300 --> 00:04:42,494 We can overcome. 86 00:04:42,494 --> 00:04:45,560 If we get the help and the support that we need. 87 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,842 We can do whatever we want. 88 00:04:47,842 --> 00:04:49,462 Just because we are diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, 89 00:04:49,462 --> 00:04:51,825 Doesn't mean that we can't achieve great things. 90 00:04:51,825 --> 00:04:57,544 Many people who have Bipolar Disorder are doing wonderful things in our world. 91 00:04:57,544 --> 00:04:59,942 They are actors and actresses. 92 00:04:59,942 --> 00:05:00,799 Business owners. 93 00:05:00,799 --> 00:05:02,301 There are artists. 94 00:05:02,301 --> 00:05:04,050 They're doing whatever they want. 95 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:08,747 So don't think that having a diagnosis means that you can't do what you want. 96 00:05:08,747 --> 00:05:14,125 I just encourage each of you to reach out and get the support and the help that you need. 97 00:05:14,125 --> 00:05:16,272 In order to function in your life. 98 00:05:16,272 --> 00:05:18,431 And do whatever it is you dream to do. 99 00:05:18,431 --> 00:05:20,273 Because we can all do what we dream. 100 00:05:20,273 --> 00:05:20,996 Right. 101 00:05:20,996 --> 00:05:22,813 And don't forget to subscribe to my channel. 102 00:05:22,813 --> 00:05:25,032 I put out videos five days a week. 103 00:05:25,032 --> 00:05:26,537 And each day is a different topic. 104 00:05:26,537 --> 00:05:28,238 And you never know what the questions are going to be. 105 00:05:28,238 --> 00:05:29,483 So you don't want to miss out. 106 00:05:29,483 --> 00:05:31,500 And don't forget to follow me on twitter. 107 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:32,552 I'm on tumblr. 108 00:05:32,552 --> 00:05:33,897 I'm on instagram. 109 00:05:33,897 --> 00:05:34,713 I'm on facebook. 110 00:05:34,713 --> 00:05:35,763 Wherever you are looking for me, 111 00:05:35,763 --> 00:05:36,941 There I am. 112 00:05:36,941 --> 00:05:38,559 And as always, leave your comments below. 113 00:05:38,559 --> 00:05:40,234 And feel free to share this. 114 00:05:40,234 --> 00:05:41,228 Because the more we 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