There are probably some misconceptions spreading around about bipolar disorder thanks to Katy Perry. Bipolar symptoms are a lot more complicated than being hot and cold, yes and no, and “love bipolar” is an utterly bizarre phrase. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, isn’t about being exasperatingly indecisive. It’s a mood disorder in which a person can cycle between episodes of “highs” and “lows,” which is where “Hot N Cold” might have gotten its idea of going back and forth.

Bipolar disorder symptoms depend on which type of bipolar disorder, type I or type II, and the symptoms are different depending on whether the individual is experiencing a high or a low. The presence of highs and lows to begin with is a general overall symptom that is associated with bipolar disorder. The high refers to a manic episode in which a person with bipolar disorder may exhibit symptoms like speaking fast, having racing thoughts, not needing to sleep, being impulsive, and having grandiose ideas. Sometimes people can be extremely creative and productive during mania, but they can also take big risks and act irrationally. The low refers to a depressive episode in which a person can have low mood, loss of pleasure, thoughts of suicide, fatigue, eating and sleeping problems, and impaired concentration. The bipolar disorder symptoms that a patient experiences determines the diagnosis. In bipolar I, the patient has to have had a manic episode. In bipolar II, the patient has to have had a depressive episode, and often has hypomanic episodes, which are a milder form of manic episodes.

Common treatments for bipolar disorder symptoms are medications that help stabilize the patient’s mood or function as antipsychotics. Lots of times bipolar patients have to take a combination of medications, and unfortunately they might be reluctant to take them because of the unpleasant side effects. Psychotherapy or psychoeducation can be administered in addition to medication so that the patient can learn to cope with the episodes and learn about their symptoms. For example, sometimes patients like the feeling of being in a manic episode because it feels like “being on top of the world,” but going to therapy and learning about bipolar disorder symptoms can help them realize the negative effects of mania on themselves and others. Bipolar disorder can’t be completely cured, but patients can learn to live with it by treating its symptoms.