Posted on 12/02/2007 5:24:31 AM PST by Andy'smom
Also see my post #39.
Free counseling and meds won't help when you can't get someone to use them.
My SIL seems to want the counselor she sees to simply tell her she can't do anything for herself & validate her unwillingness to try doing so. When he gave her FREE meds she refused to take them. Even in the past when she has taken meds that have helped, she would stop taking them.
After a long time, you realize you just can't do much to alter the situation. Sad.
I know. I work with persistent mental illness, those who will never be cured. They cycle and are in and out of crisis centers often. And, families can't do much, except not write them off, as so many do. We are sort of baby sitters for them. They come in for breakfast, and stay all day. They have access to computers, arts & crafts, music, TV, along with other activities, as well as group sessions, which are voluntary. Maybe your sil would find some comfort in a place like this, as well as you and the family. We aren't a cure, but we are hope. And yes, it is sad, very sad.
Ok. If you want the distinctive or unique version, they experience srong periods of depression, where they are overcome with thoughts of suicide, and are often unable to function.
These periods of depression are followed by manic periods, in which the patient rarely sleeps, and focuses intently on something or someone. They become completely absorbed in their “project” to the exclusion of everything else, and without any restraint or inhibition. They become addicted to this period of what they consider productivity, or mania.
Then the cycle repeats itself again. Drugs such as lithium are effective for treatment and can even out the extremeness of the mood swings. They typically do not like the medicine, because it robs them of the manic periods. They will take the meds for a while and then go off of them. Then the cycle begins to repeat itself. Most of them will attempt suicide more than once in their lifetime. Many are successful. There is no cure, only treatment which is not always effective or well-tolerated.
There has been some scientific research into bipolar which I believe they have documented identifiable changes in brain function among those diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, so there is actually a diagnostic test for it. I will have to check on whether it is available beyond research. The symptoms are so severe, it is not usually necessary to run further tests.
Wrong,
Bi polar (manic depression) as been diagnosed for decades. It’s real and its terrifying for those who work and love those who have it.
I was married to one, have a close friend who has the dx and work with them as part of my job.
It’s as real as a heart attack.
So called ‘diagnoses are no more scientific that Satanic possession by Priests, or woodland ghosts by Druids.
Please allow those sincerely interested in discussing this very real illness to post in peace.
Your profile page is a piece in itself.
Leni
There are objective tests and lots of science now, including brain scans and measuring hypocampal size etc.
All there is to know about medicine didn’t stop yesterday. Like those in the Dark Ages who though twins were result of the mother sleeping with two different men, or bleeding someone with fever let out the bad ‘humors’.....it’s always evolving.
It sounds like you are doing as much as you can to help these poor people. God Bless you. I know it cannot be easy, and it can be very discouraging. I see the results of Bi Polar disorder far more than I would like. Either the suicides, or the mania that goes beyond limits. Sad either way, but it encourages me to know that there are people out there like you who are trying to help them.
Sorry. There is no scan, blood test that is unique.
Dr. Joseph Glenmullen, a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, “There are no medical tests to diagnose bipolar disorder, depression, or any other psychiatric condition: no blood tests, X-rays, brain scans, or any other objective tests. Medical tests should be used to rule out other conditions that can look like depression such as thyroid conditions. But all psychiatric diagnoses are subjective.”
So you DO turn to science to support what you want to believe and ignore it when you don’t want to believe something.
I stand with the others, you got problems son.
The Soviet Union used to hospitalize those that pointed out factual failures in the People's paradise. The Nazi's considered Jews as diseased. Nice company you keep.
See the above post.
Lots of anger within the Bipolar belief cult.
Of the three most popular drugs for bipolar, Wal Mart has two for $4.00; the third (valporate?) is available online for around $35.00.
Sorry to see your pity-party spoiled by one who simply points out that there is no single confirming diagnostic procedure for many related disorders; often, response to standard medication is the basis for continued medication and diagnosis.
We already have the most drug-dependent society ever know.
The point is that many bipolar patients will make excuses not to take their meds. I doesn’t matter if they are free. Anyone with experience in this area knows that this man is not an example of a faulty healthcare system, he is the victim of mental illness. He is acting typically for a bipolar patient. The price of his medication is irrelevant, he just doesn’t want to take it.
I knew it. I told my wife that if this guy were anywhere being close to a conservative or Republican that headlines and news stories would focus on that. Since he was a Hillary supporter the focus becomes how much of a victim he is.
This is one such test (study) but it would be quite challenging, not to mention prohibitively expensive to use this for screening and very difficult for a pinpoint analysis.
Currently, subjective screening and experimental dosing does work wonders for some people with the obvious symptoms.
You guys are weird; what are you suggesting - that a person who questions the conventional assumptions is, himself, suffering a disorder?
Well then, what should we do with him?
Make him live with Hillary Clinton and clean the Whitehouse siverware?
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