I am bipolar.

Not the “Oh my God, you were so happy 2 minutes ago, why are you mad now” bipolar, I actually have type 2 bipolar disorder. From your girlfriend to the weather being bipolar, I am fed up with this mental disorder being brushed under the mat because a childish stereotype of being moody cannot be debunked. Well, that’s what I’m here for.

Myth #1: Bipolar disorder is for anyone who has mood swings. Last time I checked, severe depression and hypomania do not qualify as mood swings. While mood swings may cover a range of emotions such as happiness, excitement, frustration, and anger, the main two moods involved in bipolar disorder are mania and manic. Bringing me to myths #2 and #3.

Myth #2: Depression is just being sad. Mania can include feeling down, dull, and hopeless, having decreased energy, sleeping disruption, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, lack of appetite, and suicidal thoughts or actions. As a person prone to longer and more frequent mania episodes, this can completely halt your life. One day you'll be fine, going about your daily activities and within a week's time, you won't be able to pull yourself out of bed no matter the responsibilities calling. You won't have energy to get up and shower, to eat, to talk, to be awake.

Myth #3: Being manic means being happy. Well, being manic, is feeling as if you're on top of the world, having enough energy to run you 3 days without any sleep, talking, talking, and talking, and your thoughts? They're going faster than the speed of light. Here, you won't be able to stop, you'll be convinced you don't need to eat, sleep or do anything you normally do, well because, you're just invincible. Oh, and, can't forget about the impulses you'll be acting on, who cares if you spent €500 binge shopping or had sex with 3 total strangers.

Myth #4: Those with bipolar disorder can change mood within minutes. Having type 2 bipolar disorder, my mania episodes tend to last anywhere from two to eight weeks and can also range in severity. For example, this autumn, I struggled with a mania episode that lasted 6 weeks and had me bed-bound. I barely got out of bed to take showers or care for myself hygienically, I ate once or not at all throughout the day, and refused to talk to anyone showing any interest in my well-being.

On the other hand, my hypomanic episodes last much shorter, many times a week or less. This looks like me running on no to minimal sleep for about 3 days and completing more tasks than I have in the past weeks in a few hours. Here, I could probably hold a conversation for hours and my brain spins from topic to topic.

Myth #5: You'll know if you're bipolar. The age where symptoms of bipolar disorder being to show can range and it may not be clear to you at first. In fact, when the symptoms begin, you may think that, like the stereotypes states, you are just cycling through mood swings. Knowing you are bipolar takes a proper diagnosis from a physiatrist or psychologist. Distinguishing between your symptoms may yes, be indeed because of bipolar disorder, but they can also be due to everyday events and high levels of stress.

Myth #6: There is only one type of bipolar disorder. In fact, there are 3 main types of bipolar disorder. Type 1 bipolar disorder is characterised by having mainly manic symptoms that least at least a week and depressive episodes are less severe and may be mixed. On the other hand, type 2 bipolar disorder is characterised by longer and more severe depressive episodes, as well as hypomanic episodes (symptoms of manic, but not full blown). Finally, cyclothymic disorder are periods of both depressive and hypomanic episodes that do not fit into types 1 and 2.

Myth #7: There is no cure for this mental disorder. While there is truth to this statement, there are various steps that can be taken to ensure lack of relapse(s) and well-being. For instance, maintaining a proper sleep schedule, managing medication(s), taking part in therapy, individual and group, exercising regularly, managing stress, etc. It may be hard to keep up with at first, but a proper schedule with all the right things matters and can make a huge difference.

Myth #8: Medications kill your creativity. Again, like myth #7, there is truth to this, but hear me out. Not all meds will agree with you, some will be better than others, and some will be much worse than others. Part of a healthy schedule is working out what meds work for you and put you in the best state of mind. Personally, through trial and error, I have been able to figure out that fluoxetine makes me dull and does indeed kill my creativity. However, lithium, sparks it and helps me write and express creatively.

Myth #9: People with bipolar disorder are dangerous. Once again, if left unmedicated and completely untreated, then yes, someone may act out and and could do so violently if it is severe, but many will have it under control. I have struggled with bipolar disorder for 4 years now and there hasn't been an instance where I have been a danger to others. Even if I were to have a psychotic episode, that does not mean that - as a whole - I am violent. Sometimes, our chemicals just become a bit more unbalanced.

Myth 10: People with bipolar disorder can't live regular lives. I am a sophomore in college, declared as an English major, French minor. I am currently studying in Galway for the semester. I am a poet. I am a painter. I am a drawer. I am bipolar, but I am okay. There may be hills and valleys, but I live a healthy, successful, and productive life with the right steps.

Consider this bipolar disorder debunked.

Jess Ramtahal is a student from the US who is currently studying at NUI Galway