Bipolar and its effects on Society

[HIGHERBEAM]

Bipolar disorder affects one out of every 83 individuals in the United States. Considered a neurological mood disorder, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are often debilitating and can often lead to an
impairment in daily living activities, affect familial relationships and job performance and even impair the bipolar sufferer to such an extent that physical health is affected. However, in some cases of bipolar disorder, the outcome may be positive and lead to such a degree of creativity so as to allow the individual to make a significant impact on the world around them. Bipolar disorder crosses all genders, races, creeds and colors with examples of individuals who made an impact on society through the exhibition of their bipolar symptoms:

Robert Downey, Jr:
Born in 1965, to celebrity parents, Robert Downey, Jr. and worked in a variety of television and movie debuts including "Saturday Night Live". Robert Downey, Jr. suffers from bipolar symptoms which attribute to a historical use of alcohol and drugs.

Robin Williams:
Born in 1952, Robin Williams began his early career on the television show "Mork and Mindy". Most notably considered a comedian full of excitable energy. Although not openly acknowledged, Robin Willliams is believed to be a sufferer of bipolar disorder as exhibited through his creativity and impulsivity. In this scenario, bipolar disorder may attribute to what we call a positive side effect as it has allowed Robin Williams to function in society and make a significant contribution in terms of comedic and improvisation.

Ben Stiller:
Born in 1965, to parents who also suffered from bipolar disorder, Ben Still is a well known for many movie debuts including, "Meet the Fockers" and "Along Came Polly". Openly acknowledges bipolar disorder has affected his life with episodes of angry outbursts leading to conflict and media attention.

There is a blight on our society that has gone untreated and caused untold damage to Business,Family etc and governments of all persusions turn a blind eye and only the fringe politicians have taken up the mantle.

[Sappho]

I watched an interesting doco on the ABC, available on iview, exploring the history of lithium treatment for bi polar... it was an australian discovery, which has revolutionized mental health treatments the world over. Prior to lithium, there were no pharmachological treatments for the mentally ill. At best they used psychoanalysis, electric shock treatment and restriant.

Lithium marks the beginning of the exodus of mentally ill patients from mental institutions returning to normal living.

Lest we forget Dr John Cade and his selfless contribution to the betterment of those with mental illness.... bipolar specifically.

[mellie]

I watched an interesting doco on the ABC, available on iview, exploring the history of lithium treatment for bi polar... it was an australian discovery, which has revolutionized mental health treatments the world over. Prior to lithium, there were no pharmachological treatments for the mentally ill. At best they used psychoanalysis, electric shock treatment and restriant.

Lithium marks the beginning of the exodus of mentally ill patients from mental institutions returning to normal living.

Lest we forget Dr John Cade and his selfless contribution to the betterment of those with mental illness.... bipolar specifically.

I love bi-polars, they are infectious people generally, except when low, or overly manic of course ... but of those I nursed on my various placements, I'd have to say, BP's were my favourite, they would readily let you interview them, (we had to do nurse-patient interviews)..and didn't seem to mind the intrusion.

PD's are the worst, especially borderlines, and the drug induced psychosis patients, they were pretty bad too. Not much hope for PD's, irrespective of what they tell you, partially because it's just who they are, they cant help but destroy others around them, this and seem to derive great pleasure from it.

My teacher said psycho therapy for PD's could be even more detrimental, they often use this as a tool to manipulate others, most staff, even our teachers spoke ill of the PD's, Personality disordered.

If I was to be struck with a mental disorder, and had to pick one, it would be Bi Polar, 1) can be treated quite well, 2) their prognosis is generally positive unless there's other things going on in the background, ie, substance abuse, lifestyle related concerns, not attending to physiological needs ie eat, sleep etc.. but otherwise, so long as they do the right thing, take their bloody medication, (many don't like to medicate unfortunately), especially when manic as they feel immense elation, so this is when it can get a bit tricky.

[pierre]

Slightly off topic but I was being abused by a schizophrenic guy the other day and I got to wondering how come the "voices"never seem to tell them nice things and that they should encourage someone who happens to be walking by. Any ideas?

[boxy]

Slightly off topic but I was being abused by a schizophrenic guy the other day and I got to wondering how come the "voices"never seem to tell them nice things and that they should encourage someone who happens to be walking by. Any ideas?

Confirmation bias.

You only notice them when they're making trouble for you.

[Ned Kelly]

Of course yer gonna notice if some psycho bloke abuses you. How can that be something else called 'confirmation bias?'

[Sappho]

Slightly off topic but I was being abused by a schizophrenic guy the other day and I got to wondering how come the "voices"never seem to tell them nice things and that they should encourage someone who happens to be walking by. Any ideas?

Actually, that is not true. Some time ago on Radio Therapy, community radio RRR, the doctors who commentate and who are dominately psychs were saying that many people hear voices, but because those voices are not destructive, tend to lead normal lives. This was made apparent in the 70s when schizophenia was becoming more broadly discussed as a mental health issue. Apparently many of those with pleasent voices reported this to psychs who then placed them on medication. The voices disappeared, but so to did their full sense of self (which is a common complaint for those on psychiatric drugs). More than that, these people with pleasant voices reported a sense of loss and loneliness. Most discontinued their therapy and drugs. The voices returned as did their sense of self and their sense of normalicy. These pleasant voices, patients describe, will joke with them, poke fun at those around them and generally engage in light chit chat.

It is only when the voices are destructive that schizophenia becomes a problem to be treated.

[boxy]

Of course yer gonna notice if some psycho bloke abuses you. How can that be something else called 'confirmation bias?'

Just because you notice one type of obvious schitzophrenia, doesn't mean that there arn't plenty of other, less obvious ones.

You notice an abusive schitzo... come up with the idea that all schitzos are of the "batshit insane" variety, and your observations (biased because you only notice batshit insane schitzos) confirm it.

[skippy.]

I love bi-polars, they are infectious people generally, except when low, or overly manic of course

Are you bi polar,mel?

[Pastafarian]

Fairly obvious that Ben Stiller has bipolar. After all he only has two characters