Bipolar disorder

Luba · 09-25-2007, 09:14 AM

NIMH · Bipolar Disorder · Complete Publication

I watched Oprah's show for yesterday and found how prevalent and how many different symptoms there are to this frightening disorder.

Do any of your friends have this disorder and don't know it as such?
How, as a friend, do you approach this subject with them?
According to the doctor on the show, it can be hereditary.
How do you tell a person that resists any form of medication that it might be the best thing for them to lead a full life?

Duke · 09-27-2007, 02:05 AM

Isn't the Earth Bi-polar?

Nah I don't know anyone who's bipolar, oh wait, um, nope, oh there is that..., um no, nobody.

All kidding aside, a part of me wonders if the human race has turned "label happy". These days it seems like most of us have some affliction or are suffering on one level or another.

I also believe much of what we are susceptible to is hereditary (isn't most everything?).

Lastly, these days it's cheaper to medicate than actually take the time to understand the problem. I think this is the root of why it's so damned hard to find a good doctor.

Vautrin · 09-27-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

Nah I don't know anyone who's bipolar, oh wait, um, nope, oh there is that..., um no, nobody.

I thought you knew me.

Quote:

All kidding aside, a part of me wonders if the human race has turned "label happy". These days it seems like most of us have some affliction or are suffering on one level or another.

Label happy is definitely true. See the amounts of medication your average, apparently healthy citizen is taking per year. Some afflictions (some cancers, HIV/Aids, etc.) depend on people taking their meds, to be treated. Others are more addictive, but barely show effects. If smoking needs to be banned, most sleeping pills should be banned as well (hell, placebo's have a high effectivity as well).

Bi-polar is one of the most well-documented mental illnesses in existence. Interestingly enough, some conditions as being left handed (and the differences in the brain related to that) seem to increase the chances that you will suffer a mental illness.

Quote:

I also believe much of what we are susceptible to is hereditary (isn't most everything?).

It is a combination of hereditary factors and environmental factors. e.g. a lot of Asian don't have the gene to succesfully downgrade cow milk or alcohol. However, in an environment in which neither of these products is used in abundance, it is not an issue at all.

However, if you overuse then the hereditary factors actually play a role. That the sensible position for use of these products is that moderate use (at most) is the healthy way of using these substances should not be ignored.

In short, barring a few conditions (Marfan's syndrome, hereditary bowel conditions) , simply blaming it on genetics is indeed often diverting blame.

Quote:

Lastly, these days it's cheaper to medicate than actually take the time to understand the problem. I think this is the root of why it's so damned hard to find a good doctor.

Yup. Medication is way cheaper. Admittedly some afflictions can't be properly treated without medication. A doctor / psychologist / psychiatrist cannot treat a lot of afflictions, even if they were available 24/7.

Meanon · 09-27-2007, 09:53 PM

I didn't know you had Bipolar Vautrin. Does it cause you a lot of problems or is it relatively well controlled? There was a really excellent series on Bipolar by Stephen Fry, did they show it over there? It was a personal perspective and he's such a fascinating man, but he also met others with the condition.

The article was good but I agree it overplayed the genetic link, the medical model and the frequency with which psychosis occurs (it's quite rare I thought).

Duke · 09-27-2007, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meanon

I didn't know you had Bipolar Vautrin. Does it cause you a lot of problems or is it relatively well controlled?

I like to think I've come to know a lot about you Vautrin but learning your bi-polar comes as a surprise to me to be perfectly honest.

Vautrin · 09-28-2007, 01:15 AM

I only mentioned it twice, in passing. Can't really blame anyone if they did not know.

According to the DSM-IV-TR, I classify as Bipolar-I. Which makes it a lot easier, even moreso as I am on medication. Without the medication I would indeed run the risk of developing it substantially further.

Still, I am prone to some serious mood swings; most common in settings where I expect competence or clarity, and none is given. Bureaucratic institutions are always a good place for me ...

But at least it is manageable.

Duke · 09-28-2007, 04:13 AM

I think I missed it Vautrin because it isn't obvious and I will admit that I can't catch every topic.

Anyway, I've formed my own opinion of you a long time ago and to this day I'm still in awe of how observant you are when testing the limits of software I setup. Quite honestly, you are by far one of the best beta testers and bug finders I've ever met online so this is at the forefront of my opinion of you.

In other words, I respect you and that is the basis of how I know you

Luba · 09-28-2007, 08:56 AM

I totally admire and respect you, too, Vautrin!

Vautrin · 09-28-2007, 01:53 PM

The occurence of psychosis and bipolar is quite rare. It is a lot easier to
"set off" bipolar; sometimes not getting sleep for a night is enough.

That is probably the hardest for me to deal with. Sleep. Sometimes, I don't need more than 4 hours for weeks, and that is when I am on medication. Problem is of course, that my gf is "normal" and needs her sleep.