But what about OCD?

According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, “Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts. To get rid of the thoughts, a person does the same tasks over and over. For example, you may fear that everything you touch has germs on it. So to ease that fear, you wash your hands over and over again”.
Here are a few symptoms of OCD:

•    Constant, irrational worry about dirt, germs, or contamination.

•    Excessive concern with order, arrangement, or symmetry.

•    Fear that negative or aggressive thoughts or impulses will cause personal harm or harm to a loved one.

•    Preoccupation with losing or throwing away objects with little or no value.

•    Excessive concern about accidentally or purposefully injuring another person.

•    Feeling overly responsible for the safety of others.

•    Distasteful religious and sexual thoughts or images.

•    Doubting that is irrational or excessive

NorthShore University HealthSystem writes that although the cause of OCD is unknown, researchers suggest that there may be a problem with the way one part of the brain sends information to another…Not having enough of a brain chemical called serotonin may help cause the problem.

Treatment options include medicines and counseling. Using both often works best. Antidepressant medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most commonly used. Examples of these medicines include Prozac and Zoloft.

Myth 1: Bipolar disorder is a rare condition

Not true. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million Americans a year. Recently, researchers looked at the number of office visits with a bipolar disorder diagnosis in 1994-1995 and 2002-2003 in the U.S. They found that the number of office-based visits quadrupled for children and nearly doubled for adults from the first time period to the second.

Myth 2: Bipolar disorder is just another name for mood swings

Not true. The mood swings associated with bipolar disorder are very different than those of people without the condition. The mood swings associated with bipolar disorder are more severe, longer lasting and pose a heavy strain on the patient’s day to day life.

Myth 3: People with bipolar disorder shift back and forth from depression to mania very often.

Not true. This myth refers to the Jekyll and Hyde scenario in which an individual will shift from an extreme manic state to an extreme depressive state on a dime. This is the oldest and most popular myth associated with Bipolar disorder. There are patients that shift back and forth more quickly than others, but that is not a typical pattern. Generally, the medication a patient takes not only controls the severity of their states but also the transition period between them; ensuring a subtle, if at all noticeable, change.

Myth 4: When they’re in the manic phase, people with bipolar disorder are often very happy

True for some. A person with bipolar disorder may enter the manic phase happy but not stay that way. Additionally, manic phases vary from to person to person; one’s manic phase may seem as another’s depressive phase. The article also discusses multiple other factors that contribute to the level of a patient’s manic state. Some of these include: alcohol, drugs, diet and exercise but all effects are completely based on the individual patient.

Myth 5: There is a bipolar test

Not true. A diagnosis of bipolar disorder depends on the physician taking a careful patient history, asking about symptoms over time and trends in the patient’s family.

Myth 6: Bipolar disorder can’t be diagnosed until age 18

Not true .In fact, many adult patients report having symptoms before age 18. But it is true that it’s more difficult to diagnose it in children, because of varying patterns of the disorder. Typical childhood behavior – such as having a tantrum and recovering quickly– can also make it difficult to diagnose the condition in children.

Myth 7: People with bipolar disorder should not take antidepressants

Not true.  The myth originated from a unique cases in which regarding individuals who were diagnosed with both depression and bipolar disorder. The concern is that if they take antidepressants they could flip into an extreme state of mania. In a study published by The New England Journal of Medicine, a group of doctors randomly assigned 366 patients with bipolar disorder to a treatment of mood stabilizer drugs and placebo or to mood stabilizer drugs and an antidepressant. After following up with them 26 weeks, they found absolutely no difference between groups of patients in regards to a shift from depression to mania. Some people just need drugs, it is crucial however, to consult a physician to attain accurate dosages and types

Myth 8: Aside from taking medication and engaging in psychotherapy or “talk therapy,” a person with bipolar disorder has few options for controlling the condition

Not true. Medications and therapy is important, but paying attention to lifestyle choices can also have a large impact. Ken Duckworth, MD tells WebMD that “Active strategies, such as getting regular aerobic exercise, keeping a regular bedtime, eating a healthful diet, and paying attention to personal warning signs that a shift to depression or mania is coming can all help a person manage bipolar disorder.”

Bipolar is a very serious disorder, but thanks to technological advances, it does not have to be as much of a hindrance on a patient’s life as it once was. To find out more about bipolar disorder and all psychiatric disorders visit NorthShore University HealthSystem’s neuroscience department.