Need information on "bipolar"

[Mabus]

My stepdaughter has been diagnosed as bipolar with psychotic episodes. Does anyone know of any good books or websites with information for family members? We would like to try to understand as much as we can about her condition.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

1. RUN to the bookstore and buy this one:

A Brilliant Madness: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament by Kay Redfield Jamison.

In case you don't know, bipolar disorder and manic-depression are the same thing.

[Droopy]

2. That sounds very similar to the illness that I have

Contact the National Alliance for the Menatlly Ill or NAMI and they will send you a lot of literature about bipolar disorder also known as manic-depression. They are also on the web. Just do a search for NAMI and you should find them. I called them after I was diagnosed with my illness and they were very kind and talked to me for a long time before taking my address to send me out the literature. I actually prefer the use of 'manic-depression' rather than 'bipolar disorder' because I think it's a more accurate description of the illness, but I guess some researchers felt that 'manic-depression' had gotten a sort of stigma attatched to it and decided to change the name.

There are a lot of good books on the illness. I've read a couple but the names of them escape me right now. If you have a good sized library in your town, chances are that they'll have several books on the illness.

I have an illness called schizoaffective disorder. It's similar to bipolar with psychotic episodes, but more severe. I have symptoms of both schizophrenia and manic-depression. I know all about psychosis. It is extremely difficult if not impossible to reach a person who is experiencing psychosis short of drug therapy. That's the only thing that saved me.

I think it's very important and a very good sign that you are attempting to understand your stepdaughter's illness. I think that's one of the most important things that you can do for her. It will lead to understanding and empathy for her condition.

[Mabus]

3. Thanks to both of you.

She was just released yesterday. Her current diagnosis is bipolar with pyschotic episodes or schizophrenia. She's staying with her mom who isn't very forthcoming with information.

My step-daughter thinks I'm evil or "out to get her" when she's having an episode so I can't always approach her to find out what's going on. My husband has trouble getting info out of both his ex- and his daughter. So, we're trying to figure out what we can together.

[Droopy]

4. It's a shame that your stepdaughter's mother isn't more forthcoming

I know how your stepdaughter is feeling when she thinks that you're out to get her or do her harm in some way. I felt that way about my family when I was experiencing my symptoms. She's paranoid and when someone is experiencing intense paranoia it can make even their most trusted friend seem like the enemy. To my knowledge there is nothing a person can do about that short of psychiatric drugs. The problem is getting the person who is mentally ill to take them. When I went into the hospital I was very willing to take meds because I figured I had nothing to lose. I was suicidal so I figured what's the worse that can happen? I already want to die so this can't make me feel any worse. I hope it doesn't come to that with your stepdaughter. I hope she never feels like killing herself.

She's got a severe mental illness and she'll probably have to take meds. If the meds work like they are supposed to she can be restored and live a normal healthy life. It may take some experimenting before the docs get the right combination and dosage of the drugs. Encourage her to hang in there if this happens because things will get better.

I take Geodon (anti-psychotic), lithium (mood stabilizer), and Wellbutrin (anti-depressant). They are all working wonderfully without any side affects. Don't be surprised if you see your stepdaughter be prescribed a similar regimine. I've been taking the Geodon and lithium for a year and a half and the Wellbutrin for about a month. It took about a year before the psychiatrist got the right combination and the right dosage of the drugs, but it was very much worth it because now I feel like my normal self again, like I did before I got ill.

[puddycat]

8. warning: NAMI is NOT a pro-patient group

NAMI advocates for the families of so-called "mentally ill" and does not promote victim's rights and civil rights for the mentally ill. For instance, it fully supports the DSM-IV, it fully supports the whole field of psychology. Psychology is a fraudulent field, based in voodoo garbage that has never been scientifically validated because its whole foundation doesn't exist.

NAMI is a group which is great for family members who want to control their "mis-behaving" relatives, and NAMI gives THEM the support. In other words, NAMI is just another part of society that HATES the mentally ill. NAMI loves to pretend its something its not.

Always remember "mental illness" is largely a cultural construct, a political conceit used against people who deviate in any way from the top of the bell curve of behavior and thinking. Most of history's geniuses, its artists, its writers, etc. have been attacked and vilified as "nuts" because they dare to think differently and act differently.

[frankly_fedup2]

19. No wonder you call yourself Droopy. I know you have to be on

a pretty varied cocktail of meds. I take a total of 21 pills (not including my pain pills or my morphine patches) everyday. I have taken every new thing that has come out. I feel like I have been a lab rat for the psychiatrists that come and go so quickly where I live. I live in a small town and to see a psychiatrist (or supplier as I like to refer to them), I have to get someone to drive me an hour. To see a doctor that will prescribe me pain pills, I have to get someone to drive me an hour and a half to another doctor. Then my regular physician is about a 20-minute drive. I'm so sick of doctors period.

I was suppose to go back to my family doctor regarding my thyroid but I just do not have the energy (probably due to my thyroid). I have a goiter that goes inward and has moderatly closed my esophagus. Since it doesn't stick out, no one knows.

I have chronic depression/anxiety/panic disorder with schizophrenoform that started after giving birth to my son. Post partum depression that turned into post partum psychosis. My son is 26 now and I still have a lot of problems. The stress of birth just brought my symptoms out.

They wanted to do electroschock therapy on me, which I would have done; however, they could not explain to me how it helped but it just did. I told them when they knew what they were doing, I would do it. I have seen people that are getting those treatments . . . not a pretty sight in my opinion.

[LDS Jock]

5. try these sites

www.pendulum.org
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm
http://www.nmha.org/

[Philostopher]

6. Another link:

It's for the National Depressive and Manic Depressives Alliance (they don't call it MD anymore, but it's the same diagnosis):

http://www.ndmda.org/

[mopinko]

7. here are some more- kid specific

good book and website
http://www.bipolarchild.com/

good message board and resources
http://www.bpkids.org/

got a teenager who is off her meds again, just in time for christmas. hohoho

[puddycat]

9. parents of diagnosed kids should ask for scientific proof

this bi-polar label is hokum. Pure bunk. Its a fraud.

If you don't think so, ask the doctor for any scientific proof that your child is "bi-polar". Bi-polar is a made-up condition. It exists only in the mind of power-hungry drug company executives and the highest levels of the psych community which construct the DSM-IV

[Droopy]

10. I can assure you that bipolar exists

I don't know how they would diagnose it in children, though, since you have to answer questions about concepts that seem like they would be beyond a child to get the diagnosis. They probably simplify things for them.

I have schizoaffective disorder which is a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar. There were times when I felt like I was a superman, like I could do anything. I would go on 3 hours of sleep a night and sometimes none and feel energetic the next day. Then the bottom would fall out and it would be all I could do to get out of bed. I'd become suicidally depressed. I have psychosis associated with my mood swings. When I was high I would think that I was the second coming of Christ or that I could do things that no other human could do. When I was depressed I would think that I was some unevolved person who should be in the jungle with the rest of the monkeys and not walking amongst the enlightened. I thought that people could read my mind and communicate telepathically, only I couldn't do it. In both states I would here voices that really weren't there. I thought that the people on the tv and the radio were trying to communicate some cryptic message meant only for me. I thought that I had multiple personalities and that I was a mind controlled slave for the CIA. I believed all that stuff was real.

It is impossible to relate the level of pain I was in. Unless you've experienced something like what I went through there is no way you can understand how hard it was just to stay alive.

If you do not believe that mental illness is real, then this is not the forum for you.

[puddycat]

11. excuse me, but you've been indoctrinated to believe this psych crap

Those of us who fight against psychiatry fraud are not and have never said that problems don't exist, but that DSM-IV is a political document, not a medical document. Its a fraud perpetrated on the American public for control purposes. Its a cultural phenomenon. We need a new paradigm of treatment for people in distress, one that recognizes people as normal humans with problems, not as mentally ill people at the mercy of unsubstantiated dianosis.

If you don't believe me, then tell me, why are Americans diagnosed with bi-polar at a much higher rate than any other place on earth? Are we that different? No, its just that we have a big business called psychology which involves drug companies, therapists, insurance agencies, etc.--all of whom benefit from the promotion of mental illness.

People exist in a wide range of normalities and differences and its not an illness to think differently and be different--its how society abuses you that is the sickness. As far as the medical portion of your illness-- that should not be the purview of the witch doctors of the DSM at all, but of real medical professionals. Its how you perceive it and how society perceives it. Did you ever see the movie A Beautiful Mind? That man who the movie is based on does not take ANY medication any longer. He still has "psychotic" episodes. But he has learned that they don't have to interfere with his life. He has freed himself from the repressive pressure of society that force many to take medication, and thus lose a part of themselves forever. How many great works of art and literature would have been lost if their creators had been forced by society to take medication to shut them up?

As far as not belonging on this forum, I don't know. I think the promotion of self-respect, without the hell of psychiatry and meds, is very supportive of people. Psychiatry is a voodoo, its a fraud, and if you want to promote it, then to me its like being a pusher. For the love of God, having a whole forum which just serves to promote the field of psychology and meds is like having a forum to promote being drunk and getting stoned.

[Droopy]

13. Medication has saved my life

When you have the correct medication for your illness, it doesn't shut you up or dope you or turn you into a zombie. It gives you back your life. It makes you real.

I don't see a psychologist. I see a psychiatrist once every three months, he talks to me for 15 minutes and writes me a prescription. I'm not indoctrinated by anybody. I don't know how you can say that since all I've done is given you a description of my illness. I know what I've felt. I don't know anything about the DSM-IV.

I'm not hear to push anything on anybody. There are people here who post about alternative healing methods and that is fine with me. Whatever works for you.

You have stated that bipolar is bogus. I've demonstrated that it is real. I guess it's possible that there are people out there who have been diagnosed with the disorder who don't really have it, but it can be very difficult to diagnose mental illness. There are no physical symptoms that the doctor can go by.

If you think that all psychiatry is a fraud then don't go to see a psychiatrist. But don't try to tell people that are being helped by a psychiatrist that they are perpetuating a fraud. That's insulting.

[frankly_fedup2]

22. Mine too droopy. I would have been a statistic more than 25

years ago. I have seen people a lot sicker than myself as well.

My meds help me to be stable. If I were not taking them, I would be having uncontrollable panic attacks. My depression would be so bad, I do not know if I could even function. The change the meds made in my life was unbelievable. As well as the counseling. We've tried it without the meds (wow . . . imagine psychiatrists trying to keep patients off meds . . . I guess that conspiracy with the drug companies don't flush with some psychiatrists, huh?); however, getting the right combo of meds have kept me sane.

When you have so much anxiety that your heartrate stays in the 150s, you tremble inside and you cannot stop it, you live in constant fear of another panic attack, your chest hurts so bad most of the time that your not sure if it is the anxiety or a heart attack, you have feelings of doom all the time, constant headaches, you smell, see, and hear things that are not a part of reality, then by your standards I am possessed by an evil spirit but I am not mentally ill. That's warped puddycat. It's like they say . . . until you walk a day in my shoes . . .

I do not; however, think your opinion is being very helpful to those of us that have been there, done that, and hated every minute of it. I wish I never had to take another pill; however, we tried that route and I was not able to function in my day-to-day life.

Not everyone is the same NOR does everyone have the same experiences; however, like I have stated, the only people I have ever heard put psychiatrists and medications as a sort of conspiracy are the Scientologists.

Did you ever see the moving "Battleship Earth?" ROFLMAO Oh yeah, the great L. Ron Hubbard wrote that one. A science fiction writer turns his writings into a religion where you worship yourself. How Hollywood is that.

The only people I have heard come out so strongly against psychiatrists and/or medications are Scientologists. So Puddycat . . . you must be rich. Are you famous too????

Maybe you are in denial puddycat about your own mental illness as your post come across a little paranoid schizophrenic as well.

[Droopy]

24. Glad to have you among the living, ffu2

And welcome to the group.

I've heard a lot of people bash the psychology and psychiatry fields. I used to think that way, too, until I nearly killed myself due to illness.

Mental illness is something that not many people have empathy for. It's just so hard to understand thus making it difficult to put yourself in those shoes unless you've been there. One reason I helped to start this group was in the hope that people would see what it is like to be mentally ill and thus create understanding. It is meant to be a place where people can come and tell their story and get support. Not a place where people can come and put down others for seeking help from where ever they seek help from.

I'm glad things are working out for you and I hope that you post often here.

[frankly_fedup2]

25. thanks droopy. DU is my home away from home and now that . . .

they have broken down the issues into groups, I felt this one would be the best for me and, hopefully, I could help someone else with my experiences. Like I said, I'm 45 and have been having problems since the age of 19. So I don't feel there is too much I haven't experienced.

Thanks for welcoming me. I haven't been on today because I was up unti 4 last night due to pain and headache. Today, I have had this constant headache I just cannot get rid of. It's a sinus thing probably. I hate headaches.

hope to talk to you soon.

[DemExpat]

14. puddycat....my view.....

...... having a whole forum which just serves to promote the field of psychology and meds is like having a forum to promote being drunk and getting stoned.

That is why the name is Mental Health Support Group - and not just serving the medical/pharmaceutical approach to mental suffering.

It all can be discussed here, as long as we have respect for the other's views and experiences, and most of us here are indeed passionate about our experiences: those here who have found new life through medication and those who have found other approaches.

I personally went through the psychiatric system here in my 20s and found a more lasting balance/strength in myself when I removed myself from it and the medications.

I share your dismay at what seems to be over-medicalizing of mental/emotional distress in our societies, especially with children, but I believe that some conditions in some individuals are best helped with carefully prescribed and monitored medications - some short-term, some long....

:hi:

DemEx

[puddycat]

18. thanks, DemExpat.....I see your point.

Thanks for not turning off to my viewpoint, and in turn I do see what you are saying--some people may truly need meds of some sort. Its my belief that those folks are the exception, that drugs and even talk therapies do far more harm than good on a long term basis.

Many of us had no one to warn us to be careful of psychology--it sounds like you didn't, either. I merely want to remind people there are other alternatives and points of view than what is pushed by big business. Even if those folks get angry at me for speaking, and they don't believe me, that's okay, because at least maybe they will have their eyes opened a little and be more cautious when dealing with the psych profession. Psych patients have very few rights, very little real information given to them, and the longer they are immersed in that world, the harder it is to get out. So the more information they can get about the pitfalls, the better.

We are all our own best advocates, when given the chance: a view that is overlooked in a profession that benefits the most if patients are forever dependent on their doctors.

[depakid]

15. This post is not only ignorant

it's dangerous.

It's very typical of someone with ABOLUTELY NO SCIENCE BACKGROUND.

Unfortunately, that seems to be a very common American trait.

[puddycat]

17. since psychology has no science, I hardly need a science background

and how do you know what background I have? I think its amusing that I'm attacked for lacking scientific background when the field you defend is not a scientific one.

The fact is that psychology has no basis in fact--none. There are NO scientific studies that are reproducible with regard to DSM labelling, diagnoses, nor treatment outcomes. Pschology is no more than modern voodoo.

If you have proof that any of this stuff is scientifically valid, then I would love to read it. This society needs to introduce a new paradigm to deal with people with adjustment issues.

[depakid]

26. You have no idea what you are talking about

None whatesoever. That's not an attack so much as it is a simple statement of fact.

Multiaxial diagnoses in DSM-IV TR may be subject to some controversy in terms of specific sets of symptoms- for example, the delineation of Bipolar I, Bipolar II and Cyclothtmia (soft spectrum)- but they've been the subject of thousands and thousands of peer reviewed studies and the specific, characteristic patterns of brain activity in both bipolar and unipolar disorders can be seen with diagnostic imaging.

FACT: Bipolar disorder(s) are complex GENETIC conditions- and that's also been shown in many, many studies.

http://jmg.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/36/8/585?ijkey=Ybr3AnHDGj8mo

The only issues are what environmental factors may play a role in the phenotype expression of the "softer" forms of the bipolar spectrum. Light, for instance, or stress may affect cycling or result in earlier onset of symptoms.

http://www.psycheducation.org/index.html

FACT: Untreated bipolar disorder KILLS. The case specific fatality rate for bipolar disorders is typically estimated in the range of 15-20% that means that historically, close to one out of every five individuals diagnosed bipolar dies from suicide.

If denial of a medical condition or treatment were simply something ignorant that you chose to believe, that would be one thing- but unfortunately, if it's allowed to spread- particularly to people asking for information about themselves or a loved one, then it becomes dangerous and irresponsible.

[frankly_fedup2]

21. Do you have evidence to prove this? Have you ever been . . .

diagnosed with a mental illness?

I have and for you to come on here and say there are no such things takes a lot of guts.

However, you and your fellow Scientologists need to find a better cause to spend your money on.

So you don't believe in mental illness because a doctor cannot show it 100%; however, schizophrenic brain patterns can be seen on an MRI. However, migraine headaches do not. So, since there is no way to prove anyone is having a terrible migraine headache, it's just another one of those drug company's with their drug-pushing doctors.

Your argument is too weak.

[puddycat]

12. and by the way, I do know how you feel, but I just look at it differently

I know the hell of having to struggle each day and to think of a big success as surviving another day. I'll take my chances alone, though, thanks, without any fucked up doctors to make me worse, to take my soul away. I've been there. Done that. Those doctors are more fucked up than most of their patients. My own experiences aren't at the core of my hate for psychiatry, though--its some of the people I know who have gone through much much worse than I, whose lives were ruined permanently and forever by the big business of medicating the most creative of our society. I know little kids who were force-fed meds because their parents wouldn't take the time to be parents.

[frankly_fedup2]

23. And by your last sentence alone you have explained everything . . .

I was asking you before puddycat. Thanks for clearing things up for me.

[frankly_fedup2]

20. You have 100% proof of that. Are you a Scientologist? I have . . .

been in the hospital with people that are bipolar/manic depressive. Have you ever seen anyone in a catatonic state? Have you ever seen anyone when they were going through a manic episode and all day long walk around the building until complete exhaustion and was still trying to walk around the building in circles.

I am not manic depressive/bipolar. However, I have seen too many people with this illness for someone to say it was invented by the drug companies and it is a bunch of bunk.

Again, are you a Scientologist? Because you sound like one.

[depakid]

16. A good place to start is at DBSA

The Depression and bipolar support alliance.

They have a lot of material available for free that explains the basics of mood disorders.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/index.html