Carrying on from Thursday's rant...
So what is Bipolar Disorder and who's got it? The Royal College of Psychiatrists have produced a helpful leaflet but like with any illness, many people look at a list of signs and gasp.. "oh I've got that!". This leaflet is no different and under "Depression" you'll find familiar things like; loss of interest, feeling tired, loss of confidence... hmmm... sounds like every Monday morning.
Under "Mania", the list includes feeling very happy, very active, making odd decisions on the spur of the moment... isn't this every Saturday night for the under 25s?
The SIGN Guideline is perhaps more descriptive, including the ICD 10 and DSM IV definitions. SIGN 82 also outlines standards for treatment, issues in pregnancy and me old pal substance abuse.
However, it may be much more helpful to look at a graphic account of someone else's experience of an illness and consider if this reflects your own experience... have I ever been like that?
The most moving and graphic account of bipolar disorder I have came across is that of Jessica Dolin. Jessica's life is presented here in a photo essay by her brother Boris. It is a tragic and profoundly moving story. I found the images and captions extremely powerful, as was the obvious love and support she received from her family. I've been unable so far to get permission to show any of the photos here but would recommend you visit the website. Below is a quote from Jessica in a newspaper article saying..
"Manic Depression is Powerful! It confuses and no one can rest from ITS energy! Fear, Mania, Run from me, and run from God!!... Manic Depression is like shootin up speed, the only problem is I don't have much say in when it happens."
Fortunately, the tragic end to Jessica's life is not a template for us all (although sadly between 10 and 20% of individuals with bipolar disorder do take their own lives). Although we may share similar signs and symptoms while very ill, our experience of bipolar disorder is as unique to each of us as our own personality.
Much closer to my experience of bipolar disorder is that of Lorelei. I love her video parody "Franny's Bipolar", not least because this lady is uncannily identical to my late bipolar mother in her mannerisms, expressions and humour.
She has the same same style of making up little alternative lyrics for songs and over dramatising them. I also love her account of being hospitalized and selling her meds for ciggies before being brutalized by "the nurse named Gail who they called the white whale". My mother had nicknames for everyone... as did I when I was working. I think it was a kinda passive aggressive way of undermining authority figures. Anyway, Lorelei's general demeanour and her tale of hospitalization is the bipolar disorder I am familiar with.
I don't know if any of this has been of any help or interest to anyone, maybe it's just muddied the waters even more. But if nothing else I hope it's offered a window into the lives of two remarkable people.
3 comments:
*snicker* Like you, I too enjoyed the White Whale line.
Hallo Bipolar Mo
I had said I wasn't going to venture on bipolar sites as I was feeling too fragile but I can resist anything except temptation and you can bet your bottom dollar as soon as I say I am not going to do something, I go and do it. I wonder if that is in the NICE bipolar guidelines.
I came across the video of the woman singing via another site. It is a little gem.
I am not sure how other bipolars feel and I guess it depends on how much 'compus' ground they get to hold on to and for how long, but I go from one extreme view of my illness to another. As in sometimes I think I am making it all up and I am in fact just highly intelligent and eating myself away through boredom and frustration and at other times, I can't understand why other people don't seem to get it. As in the plot.
I have heard that arrogance goes with the territory but wouldn't swear to it in a court of law. And then again the territory changes daily and then I am an amoeba.
I wonder if NICE could design one of those fancy charts mapping each bipolar on it. That would be a challenge for them, don't ya think?
yep, am rambling here but nice to see another internet active (for want of more appropriate word) bipolar.
P.S. My mum's nickname was 'Mo'. Top name!!!
Hi Catherine, aye it's a cracker. Only problem is, thanks to medication I am also a white whale now..lol
Hi Mandy, thanks for saying hallo. It's reassuring to hear someone else has similar doubts about all this stuff.
I think your idea of a chart or some sort of diagram is a great idea and would make understanding all this crap a lot easier.
Hmmmm, I might work on this, steal your idea and patent it. In years to come we can do battle in court as you fight for some royalties from the famous and globally used "Mo Diagram".
;-)
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