Help me out here. Now Britney is bipolar? Every time some celeb does something bad (think Jean-Claude Van Damme or Mike Tyson), they later come out as diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So does "mental illness" have as symptoms throwing tantrums and partying? And does medication help with that really?
Dear HTB,
Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder has as symptoms significant ups and downs in moods and energy. The ups are called mania, and that's when the person is reckless, promiscuous, spends money, drinks too much or takes drugs. Sometimes they feel great and are really creative and productive; other times they are agitated and feel speedy and aggressive. The downs are characterized by a depression that can get bad enough to be suicidal. The shifting between ups and downs can be infrequent or "cycle" within minutes. This makes this particular illness very, very hard to medicate; however, mood stabilizers may help the downs from being too low and keep the highs from being so destructive. I can't say for sure as far as Britney is concerned--to me, her growing up as a child star puts her at risk for some personality disorders, her failed relationships and public performance humiliations for huge stress, and there is possible post partum depression from her two children back-to-back. Obviously her surroundings and lack of a good support system are factors, too. Here's the most recent website I've found with some good info on Bipolar Disorder.
My father and my grandfather are alcoholics. I like to drink, but wonder how much it runs in families. Should I be really worried?
Yes, it does run in families. It might have skipped a generation with you, but why gamble when it is something so very important that can really wreak havoc on your life? Given that it is present in both generations, I would steer clear. Getting sober is hard as hell and a gruesome uphill battle.
I keep having the same few recurring dreams. Why don't they change or just stop happening? And what does it mean when they are the same and just pop up after not having had them for months and months?
Recurring dreams tend to happen when you are faced with a situation or feeling that has come up before. So say you dream about leaving a cake out in the rain from time to time-- it may be that this dream occurs when you have had plans of some sort and they go awry. Though classic psychological theory would have some objects always represent certain objects (think cigars and penises), I find that the event or objects in the dream are very personal. And all recurring dreams need not be nightmares: I had one patient dream of skillfully rollerblading quickly around circuitous paths in the sunshine and breeze when things were going well, even though he had never put on blades in his life.
My husband keeps telling my son to "let it out" when he is angry, and it just seems he gets more upset. Is this the right technique?
Research on venting when you are angry doesn't show it's good for you; in fact, sometimes it can get you more riled up rather than helping you to calm down and get an understanding of the event intellectually. That being said, doing something physical when you are upset--like going for a run--can help you organize your thoughts and problem-solve better afterward.
However, when you get into the real hard-core mental disorders such as bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, and serious depression. It's hard to argue with the fact that the drug treatments of the past 20 years have had great benefits to many.
By the same token, there are too many antsy kids on add/adhd medications. There are too many people on tranquilizers who should just exercise more. Too many people taking sleep meds who just need to stop drinking coffee after 5 p.m.
Just a matter of good mental health care availability and good diagnoses.
did you say 'to govern the united states?
awwwwwwwwww!
Those who build a 'sitiuation' also command it's rule...
When we gew up and went to school ,there were certain teachers ......................................................./
Unless someone has either studied mental illness, suffered from mental illness or had a loved one suffer from mental illness...really...why in the world would you say such mean-spirited things about such a difficult topic for so many people?
Bipolar disorder is a real illness. If you don't think so, then I'm afraid it's only because you have never experienced it, either as a doctor, a patient or a friend or family member of someone who has it. Treating people who see doctors for an illness and take medications for an illness as if they are weak, foolish, "dupes" for pharmaceutical companies or people that you should feel free to lecture or even yell at is...well...it's really, really unfortunate. Please think about what you're saying here.
It's no ones business, what the diagnosis is. Isn't that why professionals are supposed to keep health records confidential?
Healing is done best in private, the only thing that happens in public is gawking.
Health professionals should not join the parade of those who want to capitalize on some else's misfortune, to tintilate the public, and of course cash in.
Along time ago the isurance companies decided that it was cheaper for people to get medication than go to a therapist. The cost of seeing a psychiatrist typically runs from $250 to $500 for two visits a year, versus $6,240 for a year of weekly therapy sessions at $120 a visit.
This is why people are on meds, because it's cheaper for their insurance company, whether it works or not is not the point.
I worry very little about "bipolar" celebs.
Look at what the head meds are doing for the Iraqi war vets...see the headlines here yesterday?
1000 vets a month attempt suicide...did anyone else read this title "VA Debated PR Plan on Vets' Suicides "?!?
These drugs aren't a little bad, they're real bad and everyone is on them starting out in ...what...KINDERGARTEN now?...wasn't that the "Bush's School Drug Testing Initiative" strateegery.
Our society should be the most unbipolar, sane and stable place in the world thanks to all the meds we're on........but....oops....thanks a lot Big pHarma!
Heckuva job GSK!....
Depression is a Nutritional Disorder
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html
Yeah right! I know that this is what you want to believe, but it is not the truth.
Don't be shy.
and the inability to stop hitting your wife or girlfriend. The meds just make
all the above worse. Never drank so much as when I was on antidepressives.
Almost as bad as the guy in "Sideways" who, not for nothing,
was also on antidepressives. Anti-psych meds are worse. You think you
are getting restful sleep on Seroquel until you go outside and find your
hostility factor is off the charts leading you to believe you hadn't really
slept at all.
You think it's anti-depressant medication that's causing these vets to attempt suicide? You know, not their being forced to kill other human beings? And to risk death, and even see their friends die, gruesomely, for no goddamned reason?
Get out of the fucking health food store and into the real world. Your words are an insult to the capabilities of the human mind. Go read a book that wasn't published by a money-grubbing nutritionist.
There is real science behind the study of nutrition, and the shit you're reading isn't representing it.
What happened to the Recurring dreams?
What is the purporse of linking them to bipolar disorders and genetic alcholism in a mish mashed title and then ignoring them? Is there a link? Maybe....however, even as a layman, I think there's a big 'maybe not' here too.
From the title of this blog, it could have had chapters...never mind 3 haphazard paragraphs.
My advice from reading this: find another therapist.
you must have skipped over this part of the post...
"I keep having the same few recurring dreams. Why don't they change or just stop happening? And what does it mean when they are the same and just pop up after not having had them for months and months?"
I found it ok.
EVER WORNDER HOW THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS EXPLORED AND SETTLED BY OUR FORE FATHERS WHEN SO MANY MUST HAVE BEEN MENTALLY ILL.
THE EXTERNALS OF LIFE HAVE CHANGED BUT DEEP INSIDE PEOPLE HAVE NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH.
MAYBE IT IS THE DRUG PUSHERS PEOPLE ALLOW IN THEIR LIFES INSTEAD OF BITING THE BULLET AND STOPPING YOURSELF FROM DOING THE WRONG THINGS.
GETTING WILD AT A PARTY????? IF PEOPLE GO TO A PARTY WHERE THEY KNOW DRUGS ARE BEING USED THEY KNOW PEOPLE GETTING WILD WILL HAPPEN. THATS WHY THEY GO!!!
MAYBE IT IS THE PARENTS THAT ARE THE PROBLEM!!!!!!! TOO LAZY TO BE PARENTS AND DISCLINPLINE THE KIDS. IT TAKES GUTS TO DISCPLINE A KID WHEN THEY START GETTING MEAN!!!!!!
BUNCH OF COWARDS SCREWING UP GOOD KIDS BECAUSE YOUR FEARFUL OF BUSTING THEIR BUTTS!!!!!
DRUG YOUR KIDS NOW !!!! SOME FAMILYS HAVE 3 OR 4 KIDS AND ALL ARE ON A ANTI-DEPRESSANT AN ADHD DRUG OR BIPOLAR DRUG. EVEN THE PARENTS ARE ON DEPRESSION MEDS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PARENT PUT THIER MINDS TO SLEEP AND KILL THEIR IMAGITATION TILL THEY ARE 18 THEN LET THE WORLD DEAL WITH THEM!!!!!!
Thanx.
Folks with true depression, bipolar and ADD are that way because of a hormone imbalance (dopamine, seratonin, etc.) in their brain. Medications can be very helpful in correcting that imbalance and helping these people lead productive lives. People with other hormone related disorders like thyroid and diabetes, take medications because the respective hormones related to those disorders are out of whack. Just as depression and ADD, thyroid and diabetes disorders usually come from a genetic predisposition. Medications help these people. But that's okay because these are considered medical conditions and not "mental" conditions like depression and ADD? Those families with "mental" disorders are taking these drugs for the fun of it or because they're just looking for a crutch? Is that what you're saying?
I don't care if the founding fathers went without medication.......my family shouldn't suffer because they did. I wish I was diagnosed and treated with medication as a child. My life would have been a lot easier.... Lastly, my medication doesn't kill my imagination. It helps me channel my thoughts and ideas into goals that I can finally accomplish!