If you live with bipolar disorder, then you know how misunderstood and stigmatized your illness is. Whether it be in movies, TV, or in real life, bipolar disorder is often seen as being “happy one minute and then sad the next.” But that is definitely not what it’s like for most people that live with the disorder. Like any illness, it is complicated and varies from person-to-person, making it difficult to sum up bipolar in one definition. Here is a list of 7 things people with bipolar disorder need you to know.

1. Bipolar isn’t an adjective, it’s a disorder.

Have you ever heard someone call someone else “bipolar” just because they’re moody? Have you ever heard someone call the weather “bipolar?” Unfortunately, these occurrences are very common and these comments honestly annoy people who actually live with the disorder.

By definition, bipolar disorder is a mental illness in which a person experiences interchanging mood episodes of Major Depression and Mania/Hypomania. These episodes typically last from days to weeks to months, depending on the individual.

So, to put it bluntly, bipolar is not being happy one moment and then sad the next. It’s a lifetime full of intense emotions, anxiety, and other hardships.

2. There is more than one type of bipolar disorder.

This is something that most people find surprising. There are generally three types of bipolar disorders and each one is different from person-to-person. Here are some examples:

Type 1—Intense manic episodes that sometimes include psychosis and hallucinations, followed by a mild episode of Major Depression.

Type 2—Intense and prolonged Major Depression episodes followed by a hypomanic episode that includes racing thoughts, excessive energy, and increased productivity.

Cyclothymic Disorder—A milder form of bipolar disorder that’s not intense enough to meet diagnostic standards. A person with this disorder has never had a Major Depressive episode or a Manic/Hypomanic episode.

3. There’s more to mania/hypomania than feeling happy.

Hypomania/Mania is typically thought of as intense happiness by most people. But in reality, there is so much more to hypomania/mania than just happiness. Sometimes it includes extreme anxiety, panic attacks, reckless behavior, racing thoughts, impulsivity, and distractibility. These symptoms can interact with everyday functioning and make it hard to live a consistent life.

4. Our goals and aspirations may shift suddenly.

With mania, there comes an intense desire to take on several projects and goals and when the depression finally hits, you may lose the passion and goals that once kept you going every day. This is especially frustrating in school and work. Although this is unfortunately common in people with bipolar, staying on track in therapy will help to keep your life consistent and stable.

5. We’re still the same people behind mania and depression.

Bipolar disorder may make someone’s personality seem fluctuated or fluid, but that doesn’t take away who they are as a person. It doesn’t change their morals or their beliefs. They still know who they love and what they care about.

6. Medication doesn’t solve everything.

Everyone with bipolar disorder who takes medication will still experience ups and downs, but taking medication may slow down mood swings and stop their intensity. Most people with bipolar disorder take two or more medications and those include anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antidepressants (when paired with other medications) and most famously-known, lithium. Although two people may have the same diagnosis, their medication treatment could differ completely.

7. Talking openly about your diagnosis isn’t attention-seeking, it’s something remarkable.

Whether you choose to be open or not about your bipolar diagnosis is up to you, but those who share their diagnosis are helping to fight the stigmas and spread awareness about the disorder. Celebrities including Carrie Fisher and Demi Lovato are just a couple examples of people taking initiative with their bipolar diagnosis to make a change in the mental health community. Being open about your diagnosis could potentially open doors for others who are struggling and it will spread awareness for those who are uneducated.