A large part of the bi-polar problem is the world’s ignorance to it. This includes insurance companies, social service agencies, and the everyday person.
Unless you have lived with a bi-polar person, most people simply don’t get it. They think that these people can control their moods and snap back to reality, but that is so far from the truth. These people can NOT control their moods (often despite medications and therapy), it’s a disorder that many people just don’t understand, nor do they care to understand it.
Until the disorder is given the proper attention and research that it needs and deserves, the struggles will continue to grow.

Bipolar people are a menace to those around them, especially if they aren’t taking their meds. They are hateful, antagonistic, and aggressive. It amazes me that some brag of their condition. I say we put them all on an island and let them drive each other crazy.

The peroson Mary should be locked up with a bio-polor person Instead of being stupid about the sickness maybe she would learn something about it.I think she is a cold cold person with not heart.-

I don’t believe that “Mary” woud say such a mean and hurtful comment if she actually knew first hand what bipolar disorder does to not only the person suffering from the disorder, but to their families. My huband SUFFERS from this condition and it has effected myself and our children. It’s a living hell. I feel like there is nobody out there for me to talk to about this.. . HELP

Luckily, some of us whom have been diagnosed with Bipolar have a loving support group around us who understand and want to learn more about the disorder. Unlike Mary, our “hatred” or anger comes with the disorder and is not something that can always be controlled with medication but can be managed through understanding and learning what my triggers are. For me, it is the ignorance of others like Mary that set me off. Probably why she should be put on an island with others like her, so that people like me don’t seriously hurt her. Mary, people like you, Hitler, the KKK etc. are a menace to society, not those that recognize there is a problem and working hard to correct it.

I have delt with being Bipolar most of my adult life. I never knew I had this condition. Thanks to the Veterans Administration Hospitial it is under control with the drug divalproex.

I can recall that all through out my adult people always asked me what kind of mood I am in. I always thought nothing of those questions, with hindsight I now understand why I was asked them.

I am a sufferer of bipolar disorder with more depressive episodes. It was not properly diagnosed until 5 or 6 years ago. My first primary care dismissed is as depression – medicated as necessary – My new physician thought I should see what I call “the nut doctor”. (Hey, you have to have a little humor) I put it off until I couldn’t take the side effects of the meds I was on. So I went to see him – got on Cymbalta, Lamictal, Prozac and Seroquel. I was good for nearly three years. Then I went down again to suicidal thoughts – got put in the hospital – reconfigured things around – higher doses, etc. Been good now for 19 months but the 6 months of unemployment got me down a little. You learn to recognize when your mood changes and get help right away. This was a partial cause to my divorce. My young kids don’t understand why daddy is tired. Medications take their toll on a body. Right now I am back employed, my mood is better, etc.

It has been hard for my exwife, kids, parents and other relatives who have helped care for me in my darkest hours. While those who live with someone with bipolar can understand to some degree, the really don’t understand the devastation that the medications due to the body, mind and spirit.

More research is needed for mental disease. A better understanding with people, and tolerance for mental illness in any form – be it mild to terrible. A lot of people still consider it a taboo subject – I know my mother said not to ever say anything to my friends, etc. But unless they know what to look for, they won’t be able to help you – and my friends have been wonderful.

Tell people about it, talk about it, write about it in newspapers and web pages – get the research going. Without better research and better medications, mental health in the future will NOT get better.

Mary,
It do not believe people choose to suffer with bipolar or any other mental or phisical illness.Try a little compassion.
life is hard enough

Too bad there isn’t a medication for stupidity, I would prescribe it for Mary who posted the comment 8/7 10:33 pm.

I am an educational consultant and advocate for people with disabilities. I rarely write in response to blogs or other commentary by reader, but I could not let Mary’s comment stand. As with other “hidden” disabilities (generally neurobiological ones), people only see the manifestations or behaviors, not the problem. Mary’s comment (8/7/2009 @ 10:33pm)displays the attitude that is the reason why our legislatures must provide laws and regulations to protect our citizens with disabilities from discrimination, and allow them access to the rights other citizens naturally enjoy each day. Time for mass education! Along with assistance to these folks in managing the disabling symptoms, our families and communities need to find the many abilities also hidden on first blush so that these folks find some peace and balance. Note for Mary: there are millions of hateful, antagonistic and agressive people in this world. Most of them do not have a bipolar disorder. Know of a good island for them too? Seems there have been many “purists” who have attempted to purge the world of those people they don’t understand or like. This country has been trying to move beyond that. You should too.

I have suffered with bipolar for years, and my wife has suffered with me. When I was diagnosed we both sat on the couch and cried. She said,”I am so sorry. I never knew what you were going through.” I said,”I am so sorry. I never knew what I put you through.” I can say only that we both went through torment unspeakable and we are still together because of her devotion to our marriage. Did anybody hear me? I said to our “marriage” not to me. There is a difference and we are now married 34 years. This is treatable, and maybe the most important thing the doc told me was “Remember, that if you were a jerk before you take the pill, you will be a jerk after you take the pill.” That means that we have work to do, not hide behind a diagnosis and a pill. I hope this helps someone…Hopefully you Mary.

Mary,
Your comment was down right mean and shows her intollerance. Hour thinking is not uncommon and is based on your own fear and ignorance. I have a daughter that has suffered for ten years and no one wishes this on anyone. I just finished a psych class at my local community college. When we covered psych disorders most of the students were fearful and discriminatory in their thinking. I base this on their lack of education that contributes to their own ignorance. Mary needs to learn the meaning of empathy.

My mother has Bi-polar Disorder. I haven’t talked to her since I was 18. I am 23 now. I am in the military, so I’ve at least sent her letters knowing I’m alive. People have no idea what it took for my grandmother to let my mother stay with her after my parents divorced. She would sometimes be on the street, sometimes back with my grandmother… My last summer visit (During my senior year of high school)… I’d decided I’d had enough of her.. My mother had 3 attempted suicides, doesnt take her medication, and i think she or at least used to prostitute herself… My father is a respectable engineer, so from what I described of her, dont picture my family as being ( a low income-cant do much about it-family). It’s really sad when you’re afraid to indtroduce your wife and kids to your own mother…

My guess is Mary feels she has been deeply wronged and or offended by someone with out of control actions towards her. Mary if you cannot control your own reactions to others who suffer beyond their control, perhaps you could at least be more sympathetic to those who you feel so uncomfortable to be around. I would prefer to be around anyone with bipolar disorder then one who goes out of her way to be consciously hateful.

My son fell in love with by polar woman, I can uderstand she could not help her condition, but she would not stay on her medication, or continue her treatment. She loved him wirh all she had in one minute, but wanted to destroy him in the next, this went on for years, she damaged him in so many ways. He stood by her every way he could, trying to HELP her, he thought he could save her from her, but she would not try…I realize this is not every bi-polar person…she controled my son in every way she could until she pushed him into suicide, because he could not live with her condition, but could not live without her. She still refuses treatment! She is the mother to my son’s children. I read and try to understand everything I can about the condition but what can I do if she won’t get the help?

I just put a comment online on this site at 6:50 a.m. and the time was changed to 4:2l p.m with the caveat that my “comment is awaiting moderation”….which means they will edit what I said because I gave my opinion on food additives and the problems they cause including mood disorders. So just go to the web site Truth in Labeling and educate yourself. This comment may get less editing!

Oh, get off Mary’s back, for Pete’s sake. She was writing from emotion. I live with a husband who is a sex addict and also has bipolar disorder. He refuses to get help and claims he doesn’t need it. His mother had BD as do two of his sisters. Another brother is an alcoholic, another a former heroin addict, and another has anxiety issues. Lots of history there. Yeah, it does make me angry. The roller coaster ride sucks and I plan to get off in the near future. Angry outbursts, compulsive spending, lying, denial. I’m fed up and plan to get away from it.

It is a horrible disease/disorder and has the potential to ruin the person’s life and the lives of those around them.

Just don’t be quick to judge someone who obviously has been through the wringer and feels angry, exhausted, bitter, etc. Those are HER feelings. Don’t try to invalidate them.

ENOUGH! (A very long post)

Can we stay “on topic?”

I think the topic is Bipolar Disorder.

I am a masters-level psychotherapist who has worked with patients diagnosed with this disorder for years. It has only been within the last 10ish years that I have been willing to admit that I also suffer (SUFFER) with this disorder.

I review my past in its entirety and chiefly recognize the depressive episodes. I now recognize that I was able to breeze through graduate school because of one of my first (FULL) manic cycles. I was able to keep my life “between the lines” until my life imploded with the premature death of my father. My existence has been a circus ever since that time – 10 years of this hell. My life is in shards at this time and it is only because of the unconditional love and understanding of one man that I am not homeless and under a bridge.

My own family refuses to admit that I am mentally ill and instead blames the medication I take to minimize the symptoms as THE CAUSE for the behaviors that they do not understand. My own family shuns me due to my illness – chiefly the depression. (I was born into a jovial family). My family thinks I can just “shake-off” the episodes of depression that paralyze me. I was always told that “happiness is a choice” and I simply was making the wrong choice.

When my first DESTRUCTIVE bout of mania hit me (after my father’s death) and I destroyed, a “perfect life” (married to a beautiful and wealthy man) my family shunned me.

Somehow, through the unlikely help of AA (although I do not have a substance disorder) I received the support and guidance I needed put my life back together and get a position as a psychotherapist. That was the pivotal moment when I was able to give the monster that inhabits my body and, at times, seems to control me, a name – Manic-Depression (bipolar disorder). I was educated in the diagnostic criteria for this disorder so I avoided it with my own psychiatrist and received treatment only for my depression.

I continued to diagnose the manic-depression in others and as noted by the comment from Sue on (8/8/09 @ 10:14 AM) behaved much like the author of “An Unquiet Mind.” Just as Dr. Jamison noted the behaviors and alarming rate of treatment/medication noncompliance in her own patients – I was guilty of the same behavior.

I am making this self-disclosure for a reason. Bipolar disorder is perhaps the most evil, insidious disease I have ever encountered professionally – and (unfortunately) personally. Patients with this disorder have the highest rates of SUCCESSFUL suicides. Although I am trained in its diagnosis and treatment, I am unable to battle it successfully on my own.

*For the record, I am considered a successful psychotherapist based upon treatment protocols established at my facility. My colleagues brought me to my own self-disclosure and diagnosis.

After acknowledging the possibility of bipolar to my psychiatrist, my medication regime was altered accordingly. I immediately gained 60 pounds. I was young, single, and a formerly attractive female. I did not come to obesity naturally – it was a side effect of the medication. I would not (nor could I blame another female in our society) remain on any medication that caused me to blow-up like the Hindenburg. Thus began my own personal battle with treatment noncompliance.

As stated earlier, I am writing to educate the willing from a front row seat about this disease. I will also provide information for the saints who remain at our sides while we battle this demon at this message’s conclusion.

EDUCATION: This disease is evil and alluring to its captives. We are captives – unable to escape the push and pull of a torrent of emotions equal to that of Katrina. Mania encompasses your every sensation – the ends of your hair tingle with excitement. Your mind needs only to choose from the endless array of exciting possibilities that are laid out before you like a winning hand of cards. I am superwoman. I can do absolutely anything during these episodes. Nothing can stop me. Secondary to my religious upbringing, I have personally been imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish many spiritual tasks and right the wrongs of society. My life has a meaning and a purpose. The air about me sparks with energy. I am the very real center of all attention in every situation. I lead all discussions and have all the correct responses. Everyone laughs at my quips and the timing of my jokes – perfection.

These episodes may last for months (hence a speedy masters degree) or simply until noon when the thick velvet veil of depression brings my world to a crashing halt. The transition period is the most gruesome to those in my presence. I become pure hatred as the joy slips from my grasp. I return to the real world, which is in a disaster due to my inability to “will” the energy of my manic endeavors to completion. I exist in a world of unfulfilled promises and shattered careers. I am a vessel filled to the brim with my own self-loathing. My plans for suicide become comforting to me. Suicide becomes my constant companion as I withdraw from the world about me – my fallen house of cards.

A MESSAGE TO THOSE FEW WHO REMAIN AT OUR SIDES:

A word does not exist to express the gratitude we owe you. During our moments of clarity – between the push and pull of the disease – we may be able to peer out at you and recognize your sacrifice and loyalty. During the torrents of emotions, we are not at the helm of our minds/body.

I described it this way to my one remaining support person. I feel like I am on the back of a wild stallion, galloping at top speed into the wilderness. My only option is to hold on tight to the horse’s mane until the energy drains from his body and then, and only then (MAYBE), I can assert some control over my own emotions and destiny.

I offer a most sincere thank you to those of you who remain beside us through the tides of this potentially fatal disease.

My “Angel” has emotionally and physically carried me through the intoxicating highs and the near fatal lows of manic depression. He has seen me through multiple treatment and therapy regimes. He has loved me at a size 20 and a size 6. It is to him I owe my life.

I make this “confession” as a way of thanking him for the unconditional love he has given me through the course of this disease. It is my hope that my confession may offer insight, understanding, hope and most importantly “thanks” to those of you who are also “Angels” because you have remained by the side of your loved one battling this disease.

Bless You!

Maria

The challenges related to BPD are endless- as clearly indicated in the range of responses to this article. Beginning with difficulty in diagnosis, the problems often stack up from there as friends, family, and doctors weigh in on the true diagnosis or cause of the issues. My best advice here is to consult multiple professionals- especially in the beginning. Look for professionals who specialize in BPD. There are a lot of counselor directory sites and therapist finders out there. One that I use is austin.feelgoodtown.com, or “Feel Good Austin”. It has a search tool, in the “Counselors” section, and you can choose “Bipolar Disorder” as the Presenting Issue to view the local wellness professionals who work specifically with BPD cases. Nearly all of the members on this site offer a free phone consultation to assist people in finding a right-fit counselor. The danger of misdiagnosis is BPD cases are tremendous. I hope anyone struggling with what might seem to be BPD will take the time to consider all options in terms of diagnosis, ongoing treatment, and counseling.

Oh Mary how sad of you. Perhaps there is a bi-polar person in your life as well and that is why you have so much distain for this condition and those poor unfortunate folks that live with it. The person effected and the families and friends around them.
My family and I have seen our share of the bi-polar condition
with our brother. When he was younger -we would call it his ”
seasonal depression”
Unless you have lived with someone who is bi-polar; Mary, you have no idea.

I have been married twice. Both were Bi-polar. In my case neither would accept help or accept they were Bi-polar.
This is a devistating disease. I am a single father with two wonderfull daughters that hate their mother. I wish this on no one.