Bipolar ? Look at the Symtoms !!!

[DeepIron]

I've suffered from cyclothymia, a milder version of bipolarism, for over 30 years. It's a real clinical diagnosis, not the usual "ups and downs" of life thing. No kidding. I get it from my grandmothers side of the family (she and my mother were/are both afflicted), while my brother, who takes more after my grandfathers side, doesn't. The clinical course of action for me, was to use prescription drugs to treat it, possibly for the rest of my life.

I do not take drugs unless the situation is life-threatening.

Instead, I have a very loving, caring and faithful wife of 20+ years who understands my "issues" and THAT my friends, makes a whole whale of a difference. She watches over me, but understands "intervention" is not effective. I always rebound when left to myself and a 'quiet time' I need. I also watch my diet (which has had the side benefit of keeping me fit at 51 so far) and I try to keep my mind engaged and busy.

Do I still suffer from it? Yes. But being able to recognize the onset of an episode and knowing how to deal with it early on lessens the impact. I try and avoid highly stressful, emotional situations and because I drive a semi, loss of sleep can trigger an episode. I know these things can mess me up and I try to be mentally prepared to counteract them.

So far, no thoughts of suicide so I think I'm doing ok.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by DeepIron

I've suffered from cyclothymia, a milder version of bipolarism, for over 30 years. It's a real clinical diagnosis, not the usual "ups and downs" of life thing. No kidding. I get it from my grandmothers side of the family (she and my mother were/are both afflicted), while my brother, who takes more after my grandfathers side, doesn't. The clinical course of action for me, was to use prescription drugs to treat it, possibly for the rest of my life.

I do not take drugs unless the situation is life-threatening.

Instead, I have a very loving, caring and faithful wife of 20+ years who understands my "issues" and THAT my friends, makes a whole whale of a difference. She watches over me, but understands "intervention" is not effective. I always rebound when left to myself and a 'quiet time' I need. I also watch my diet (which has had the side benefit of keeping me fit at 51 so far) and I try to keep my mind engaged and busy.

Do I still suffer from it? Yes. But being able to recognize the onset of an episode and knowing how to deal with it early on lessens the impact. I try and avoid highly stressful, emotional situations and because I drive a semi, loss of sleep can trigger an episode. I know these things can mess me up and I try to be mentally prepared to counteract them.

So far, no thoughts of suicide so I think I'm doing ok.

Sounds much like my sister. She has a host of other physical ailments on top of it.

[Letum]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I do not discredit there are definitely psychological disorders, some right here at SS, however, I think society is to quick to medicate.

I didn't for a second think you did.

If medication works and produces positive results, it is fine by me.
I don't think it is in any way inherently bad, although any kind of serious
medication should only be taken under prescription of an impartial and informed
medical professional.
I detest the advertising and branding of medication and the attitude that it is
always more desirable to cure the patient than to understand and tolerate
those with neuro-eccentricities. There is a fine line between wanting to treat
what is a problem for someone and wanting to change someone who is outside
the norm for no other reason than normalcy's sake.

The line between wanting to treat what is a problem for someone and wanting
to treat someone because they buy your product or service is much less fine.

[FIREWALL]

It's all about money.

[AVGWarhawk]

What I do not get Letum, one pill cures one issue but the side effects becomes a laundry list of items. Is the cure worth the side effects in some cases?

[Letum]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

What I do not get Letum, one pill cures one issue but the side effects becomes a laundry list of items. Is the cure worth the side effects in some cases?

I suppose that for most people that is just a utilitarian question, unless I am missing something...?

[Skybird]

If you want to sell your latest pills, you have to create a demand for them. Simply declare a deficit of vital substances in food, or declare the population suffering from symptoms that before nobody payed attention to. Invent an epidemic of civilisational diseases. And then make your profit by presenting the antidot to it. not only you will be celebrated, you also will make your money. Just that many people get betrayed, at best, get mistreated, misdiagnosed, poisened more realistically. Well, that is the risk of unregulated market economy, isn't it - sombody needs to be the fool. Be clever and be better, than you are fine.

I call this criminal by the very meaning of the word. Of course, the pharmaceutical industry is not the only one behaving like this.

Okay, then the others shall be called criminal as well. when you know that in Brussel there are several times as many lobbyists than there are politicians and eciso9n-makers, and for every member of the EU parliament there resides 40-50 lobbyists from business and industry in Brussel, then this tells you all you need to know about the situation, n'est-ce pas?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I think society is to quick to medicate.

You can bet money on that! Especially sleeping pills, pills against headaches, to improve your digestion (that you ruined with bad food before), and especially psychiatric drugs.