World Bipolar Day: Myths & Facts

  •   Sun, Mar 30 2025
  •   By Dr Supriya Hegde Aroor

March 30, 2025

March 30 th is World Bipolar Day 

This day we try to raise awareness about this mental illness.

This years theme is Bipolar Strong 

Let’s do a myth and fact analysis? 

Myth 1 

Bipolar disorder means only mood swings! 

Fact 1 

In bipolar disorder there are episodes of mania and also of depression. There could be mixed episodes. It is much more than transitional mood swings. 

Myth 2

Bipolar disoder is caused by black magic and demonic possession! 

Fact 2

Bipolar illness has a genetic component. Life stresses, substance abuse, post-partum can unmask it. It has a biopsychosocial etiology. 

Myth 3

Females have more bipolar illness than men do

Fact 3

Females have more bipolar type II illness (depression and hypomanic episodes)in fact , men and women have similar prevalence of bipolar illness 

Myth 4

Bipolar patients are aggressive and dangerous

Fact 4

Patients in a manic episode can get violent especially when provoked. With treatment, aggressive behaviour can be treated. 

Myth 5

Bipolar disorder patients are all drug addicts and vice versa

Fact 5

Certain drugs of abuse can unmask an underlying bipolar illness. Substance abuse worsens the course of bipolar illness. It increases risk of suicide in bipolar patients 

Myth 6

Bipolar patients are given medications unnecessarily for long duration

Fact 6

Mood stabilizers are given to treat the index episode and also to prevent further episodes 

Myth 7

Bipolar medications are toxic to kidneys and addictive

Fact 7

Bipolar medications have to be initiated and continued under a Psychiatrist‘s supervision. Unscrupulous self-medication with continuous refills from pharmacies without monitoring of safety, is risky. 

Myth 8

Bipolar patients are not productive and cannot function in society.

Fact 8

A significant proportion of bipolar patients are useful, productive, settled members of society. Good drug compliance, abstaining from drugs, following a stable lifestyle helps to achieve it! 

Myth 9

Bipolar patients only threaten to kill themselves. They don’t actually do it!

Fact 9

20-60% of bipolar patients attempt suicide. Ultimately, 5-20% end up committing suicide. 

Myth 10

Stigma towards mental illness is increasing

Fact 10

With unrelenting efforts from the Psychiatrist fraternity, innumerable educative inputs from mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses), availability of effective medications, celebrity endorsements and reduced public ignorance-both acceptability of psychiatric illness and treatment seeking behavior has improved remarkably . The darkness of stigma is there. But there is a silver lining!

 

 

 

 
By Dr Supriya Hegde Aroor
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Comment on this article

  • Langoolacharya,, Belman / Washington, DC.

    Sun, Mar 30 2025

    Interesting and thought provoking article by Dr Supriya....hope she writes more to enlighten us....I am sure it helps Daiji readers knowledge base and helpful to ALL....Tak...Takk...


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