Posted on 07/31/2006 5:56:53 PM PDT by soccermom
I know it isn't popular, particularly in conservative circles, to excuse behavior by citing mental illness. Bipolar disorder, in particular, has been the excuse celeb cited by child-raping school teachers, so I understand why people may have little patience for the argument I am about to make.
That said, after observing Mel Gibson's behavior of late, I can't help but think he must have bipolar disorder and we should try to understand his behavior -- even if it can't be excused.
Someone close to me has bipolar disorder and, before it was diagnosed and treated, I saw some of the same self-destructive behavior in him that I see in Mel. In their manic phases, people with bipolar disorder are prone to excessive drinking or substance abuse, "motormouth", outlandish words and deeds. They do things that "normally" they wouldn't do in a million years. Those that are religious, like my loved-one and Mel Gibson, tend to be over-zealous in their faiths -- to the point that they are almost Messianic. Paranoia is not uncommon, as is a tendency to blame others. It is not uncommon for a serious world event to trigger a manic episode. In my loved-one's case, it was 9/11. He was suspicous of "foreign" coworkers. With Mel, if he is indeed manic, I would suspect it is the latest turmoil in Lebanon(on top of some personal issues?) that has sparked his mania.
Unfortunately, bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose, particularly because those with the illness tend to feel great when they're manic -- oblivious when those around them think they're behaving like jerks. It is even harder for celebrities to be diagnosed because many of the symptoms of bipolar disorder --- excessive spending, drug/alcohol abuse, promiscuity and arrogance -- are prevalent in Hollywood anyway.
I guess what I'm saying is, even if his behavior was inexcusable, if he was mentally ill and didn't know it it is understandable. I suspect that Gibson will have to have some court-mandated mental evaluation. If so, that may be one of the better things to happen to him. I hope he does get help. Since my loved-one has been on medication, he has been his normal, kind, responsible self. I'll be praying for Mel and his family.
"Thought police"?
Odd comment.
Yeah, in this PC era bigotry is considered wrong.
A shame, isn't it?
(/sarcasm)
Okay, but if you knew anything about bipolar disorder you would know that they often say outlandish things, often at lightening speed. I don't know that, simply because he said some stupid things he was "harboring" those thoughts. My loved-one is the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet and doesn't have a hateful bone in his body. But, when he had a manic episode after 9/11, he sounded like Michael Savage on speed.
The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
For instance, I'm sure that you wouldn't want me to put up a thread discussing whether you were a mean-spirited, back-stabbing gossip-mongerer. I don't know you or anything about you--I certainly have no firsthand information. [All I know is that you put up this thread.] So I shouldn't do that, right?
Condemning what Gibson did is one thing. Idly speculating about him for your personal entertainment is wrong. I don't care if he does belong to the Hollyweird crowd.
If Gibson had said that Muslims were to blame for all the unrest in the world today, would you call him anti-Islamic? It seems to me he is a guy with a Patrick Buchanan worldview and when he is in manic mode, his paranoia comes out.
There is a difference between Muslims and Jews, believe it or not.
The Mel Gibson compulsive posting disorder is a far bigger threat. It's apparently infectious, and it shows no signs of abating.
It may prove to be more of a dangerous pandemic than Bird Flu ever will be.
A movie star got drunk and shot off his mouth while being booked. Like that's news. Zsa Zsa Gabor at least actually slapped the cop.
I don't know why we need to psychoanalyze him here on repeated threads. He's got about a quarter of a billion dollars where he can hire folks to do that.
yep, a friend of mines ex wife is like that. She is bipolar and treats herself with alcohol. It got so bad her liver is permantly damamged and if she ever drinks alcohol again she will likely die.
It's possible that he's bipolar - however, I have known completely normal people who have acted bipolar when addicted to alcohol.
In a case close to me personally, his bipolar symptoms abated when his drinking stopped; however, it took several months of "dry out" and staying sober before the symptoms completely went away. Thank God, they did subside.
First, stop the alcohol abuse - then dealing with the bipolar symptoms is much easier.
I am BP II, but know many of all variations. As they say, "it takes one to know one."
I agree. But just because I side with Israel in the Arab-Israeli conflict doesn't mean everyone does. And it doesn't necessarily make those who condemn Israel anti-semites. It just makes them wrong, IMO.
Some days he's anti-Israel. The other days he's anti-Bush.
Yes, and sometimes mania can produce some great, powerful creativity --- as evidenced in The Passion. It is a shame all that creative energy can't be harnessed w/o all the negative baggage. Thanks for sharing your perspective. I think people need to understand these conditions, rather than react as if discussing it is somehow an attack.
Actually, I respectfully disagree. Gifts come at a price...the greater the gift, the greater the price. There is a cosmic justice to it. You get the gift but you get an irrevocable invitation to a life-long battle.
I was once a successful (and nationally recognized) investment banker on Wall St....now I am a struggling writer.
And I wouldn't change a thing.
My ups and my downs I owe to BP. Now I realize I have a wild horse to ride. I can mismanage it and let it beat me to death or I can deal with it and get into the winner's circle.
Why don't you calm down? No need to shriek. Since you asked what I think, I'll tell you: I think it's better to leave the particulars Mel Gibson's life to Mel Gibson. Don't try to pretend that you're doing him some kind of favor by posting your idle speculations about his mental state. You just need something to yap about. So--I leave you to it. Yap away. It's all idle prattle.
Come on, cut the insults out. Just because you don't understand doesn't mean it doesn't matter.
Just a wee bit touchy, this evening, eh?
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