WEBVTT 00:00:02.030 --> 00:00:03.028 Hey everybody. 00:00:03.028 --> 00:00:04.113 Thanks for checking back. 00:00:04.113 --> 00:00:08.655 Today we are going to talk about the five common misconceptions about Bipolar Disorder. 00:00:08.655 --> 00:00:10.028 So stay tuned. 00:00:19.468 --> 00:00:20.467 So like I said. 00:00:20.467 --> 00:00:24.160 Today we are going to talk about the five misconceptions about Bipolar disorder. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:30.613 Now the first one is that there are only manic or depressive episodes within Bipolar. 00:00:30.613 --> 00:00:32.925 And that is completely false. 00:00:32.925 --> 00:00:34.724 Because there are, 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, 00:00:40.378 --> 00:00:42.761 Never reach full blown mania. 00:00:42.761 --> 00:00:46.075 Instead they reach what we call Hypomania. 00:00:46.075 --> 00:00:48.898 Which is kind of a lower grade of Mania. 00:00:48.898 --> 00:00:50.334 But it's a totally different state. 00:00:50.334 --> 00:00:52.429 It can, it feels very different to the person. 00:00:52.429 --> 00:00:54.774 And it's just not Mania. 00:00:54.774 --> 00:00:58.143 And other people don't fully reach Depressive episodes. 00:00:58.143 --> 00:01:00.274 They'll just have a low grade depression. 00:01:00.274 --> 00:01:03.495 What, if it goes on for a long time we would call it Dysthymia. 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. 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. 00:01:15.602 --> 00:01:20.013 And this, as you can imagine, can make us feel very uncomfortable. 00:01:20.013 --> 00:01:21.799 Very frustrated and irritable. 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:23.964 Because not only do we have a ton of energy. 00:01:23.964 --> 00:01:27.401 And we have a lot of these grandiose thoughts and we are very excited. 00:01:27.401 --> 00:01:30.150 But we also feel really down at the same time. 00:01:30.150 --> 00:01:31.344 And very bad about ourselves. 00:01:31.344 --> 00:01:34.702 And it can make us feel very agitated. 00:01:34.702 --> 00:01:37.312 Having like two opposites happening at the same time. 00:01:37.312 --> 00:01:41.122 And to be truthful, it gives us an increased risk for suicide. 00:01:41.122 --> 00:01:43.250 So something as a clinician we have to look out for. 00:01:44.470 --> 00:01:47.342 The second common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 00:01:47.342 --> 00:01:51.391 Is that Bipolar Two, is a 'milder form' of Bipolar. 00:01:51.391 --> 00:01:53.935 Now that's completely false. 00:01:53.935 --> 00:01:59.192 Because the thing about Bipolar Two Disorder is that we don't reach full blown Mania. 00:01:59.192 --> 00:02:03.194 And we stay in Depressive episodes for much longer periods of time. 00:02:03.194 --> 00:02:08.221 We may reach a Hypomania, but because many people don't reach the Mania. 00:02:08.221 --> 00:02:10.240 They never go in to the hospital. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:12.298 Often times they go years without getting help. 00:02:12.298 --> 00:02:16.781 And because depression is such a prominent part of Bipolar Two Disorder. 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. 00:02:23.248 --> 00:02:26.281 And it can severely impair their functioning. 00:02:26.281 --> 00:02:27.510 And their ability to go to work. 00:02:27.510 --> 00:02:29.504 To interact with their loved ones. 00:02:29.504 --> 00:02:32.161 And just their overall level of functioning. 00:02:34.381 --> 00:02:37.600 The third common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 00:02:37.600 --> 00:02:42.394 Is that people who have mood swings during the day, have Bipolar. 00:02:42.394 --> 00:02:44.130 People will often say, 00:02:44.130 --> 00:02:47.354 'Oh, you know, she's on it again. She's so Bipolar.' 00:02:47.354 --> 00:02:50.416 Mood swings are not Bipolar Disorder. 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. 00:02:55.615 --> 00:03:00.092 In order to be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, whether it's One or Two. 00:03:00.092 --> 00:03:03.234 Now in One, we have to reach full blown Mania. 00:03:03.234 --> 00:03:06.831 That means that we have this grandiose sense of self. 00:03:06.831 --> 00:03:09.558 This extreme feeling of elation. 00:03:09.558 --> 00:03:13.026 And Mania has to occur for at least one week. 00:03:13.026 --> 00:03:18.066 And those symptoms have to permeate each of those days almost completely. 00:03:18.066 --> 00:03:19.394 Meaning there is no real breaks. 00:03:19.394 --> 00:03:22.067 We feel this way continuously for a week. 00:03:22.067 --> 00:03:25.595 And in order to be diagnosed with a Major Depressive episode. 00:03:25.595 --> 00:03:27.730 If we had Bipolar Two. 00:03:27.730 --> 00:03:30.231 If we've never reached Mania and we had a Depressive episode. 00:03:30.231 --> 00:03:32.147 In order to get that. 00:03:32.147 --> 00:03:34.519 We have to be in a depressive episode, 00:03:34.519 --> 00:03:37.994 Meeting at least five of the depressive criteria. 00:03:37.994 --> 00:03:41.498 And it have to last for at least two weeks. 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. 00:03:46.689 --> 00:03:48.256 Those are just mood swings. 00:03:49.746 --> 00:03:52.599 The fourth common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:55.138 Is that all Bipolar patients have Mania. 00:03:55.138 --> 00:03:58.234 And as you remember from my old video, and what I talked about previously. 00:03:58.234 --> 00:03:59.983 That's not true. 00:03:59.983 --> 00:04:04.364 Because Bipolar Two patients never reach full blown Mania. 00:04:04.364 --> 00:04:08.524 They reach Hypomania, a very, a lower grade version of mania. 00:04:08.524 --> 00:04:10.713 And they spend a lot of their time. 00:04:10.713 --> 00:04:13.364 I would almost venture to say a majority of their time. 00:04:13.364 --> 00:04:15.374 In Depressive episodes. 00:04:15.374 --> 00:04:17.726 Therefore not all Bipolar patients have Mania. 00:04:20.656 --> 00:04:23.626 The fifth common misconception about Bipolar Disorder, 00:04:23.626 --> 00:04:27.944 Is that those who have been diagnosed with Bipolar are unreliable. 00:04:27.944 --> 00:04:29.544 Or can't function. 00:04:29.544 --> 00:04:33.607 Now you and I both know that that is completely untrue. 00:04:33.607 --> 00:04:35.892 That's a false accusation. 00:04:35.892 --> 00:04:40.300 People who have mental illness are not hindered. 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:42.494 We can overcome. 00:04:42.494 --> 00:04:45.560 If we get the help and the support that we need. 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:47.842 We can do whatever we want. 00:04:47.842 --> 00:04:49.462 Just because we are diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, 00:04:49.462 --> 00:04:51.825 Doesn't mean that we can't achieve great things. 00:04:51.825 --> 00:04:57.544 Many people who have Bipolar Disorder are doing wonderful things in our world. 00:04:57.544 --> 00:04:59.942 They are actors and actresses. 00:04:59.942 --> 00:05:00.799 Business owners. 00:05:00.799 --> 00:05:02.301 There are artists. 00:05:02.301 --> 00:05:04.050 They're doing whatever they want. 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. 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. 00:05:14.125 --> 00:05:16.272 In order to function in your life. 00:05:16.272 --> 00:05:18.431 And do whatever it is you dream to do. 00:05:18.431 --> 00:05:20.273 Because we can all do what we dream. 00:05:20.273 --> 00:05:20.996 Right. 00:05:20.996 --> 00:05:22.813 And don't forget to subscribe to my channel. 00:05:22.813 --> 00:05:25.032 I put out videos five days a week. 00:05:25.032 --> 00:05:26.537 And each day is a different topic. 00:05:26.537 --> 00:05:28.238 And you never know what the questions are going to be. 00:05:28.238 --> 00:05:29.483 So you don't want to miss out. 00:05:29.483 --> 00:05:31.500 And don't forget to follow me on twitter. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:32.552 I'm on tumblr. 00:05:32.552 --> 00:05:33.897 I'm on instagram. 00:05:33.897 --> 00:05:34.713 I'm on facebook. 00:05:34.713 --> 00:05:35.763 Wherever you are looking for me, 00:05:35.763 --> 00:05:36.941 There I am. 00:05:36.941 --> 00:05:38.559 And as always, leave your comments below. 00:05:38.559 --> 00:05:40.234 And feel free to share this. 00:05:40.234 --> 00:05:41.228 Because the more we share. 00:05:41.228 --> 00:05:43.426 The more we break through the stigma together.