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Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

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Created on : Friday, March 03, 2006, 12:43:32 pm

Author : DrPhilBoard1

(Original Air Date: 03/07/06) Dr. Phil explores the ups and downs of bipolar disorder. This illness takes its victims on an emotional rollercoaster ride -- from elation to extreme irritability, intense rage, or devastating depression. First, Cathy was diagnosed with Bipolar II, 10 years ago and claims she goes from zero to psycho in 15 seconds. Dr. Phil takes a look at the toll her disorder takes on her two boys, and brings the family together for a dramatic moment of emotional healing. Then, during various manic episodes, Fred has stolen a taxi, crashed into a Starbucks, and climbed to the top of a church. He hears voices and believes that movie stars like Denzel Washington and Robert De Niro are talking to him through their movies. Still, Fred thinks he’s ready to move out of his parents’ house and live on his own for good … but should his family let him? Talk about the show here.

Find out what happened on the show.

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stllhere

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March 7, 2006, 6:18 pm PST

allergies and BiPolar

Quote From: missmouse

Bi Polar can be hereditary.

My 6 year old has it (sadly), but my older brother had it (it went undiagnosed for many year, because he snowed everyone about it) Sadly he ended his life 12 years ago at the age of 18. On my husbands side his cousin suffers from bi polar disorder and they are pretty sure his paternal grandmother had it also.

Good luck with your family

Victoria

Hi Victoria, I saw your post and wanted to see if you have heard of wheat being a serious exacerbater for BiPolars. Look it up on the net...are some books on this allso. Family members have gained relief from this...good luck

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stllhere

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March 7, 2006, 6:22 pm PST

she IS biPolar what are you!?

Quote From: lp272dm

I can see where you may make this type of observation and can agree with you about the children. Just the same, I do understand how a person reacts when they are cycling. I have seen how both an adult and a child cycle. Pretty scary! If she is a rapid cycler, she can very well go from one type of mood to another in a matter of minutes. My son has cycled from manic to depressive states 7 times in one hour. Because it happens so quickly, it can appear as other disorders.

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gethelp4bp

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March 7, 2006, 6:24 pm PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

Quote From: goochie1

Borderline is often misdiagnosed as bipolar, but also frequently occurs WITH bipolar. The raging, screaming, anger always shifting.. that's not about bipolar, it's borderline personality disorder (BPD).

I get really upset when this happens... because it just perpetuates the myths about what bipolar REALLY is, and gives bipolars a bad name.

Bipolar is a MOOD disorder.. not a character disorder like BPD. Any time I was manic, I NEVER raged.

I'm sorry to tell you that her bipolar was the or is the dysphoric type not the one that is normally associated with the disorder. Dr. Phil should have had someone like my daughter who is euphoric, life of the party, outgoing, loves to spend money, very elated and so forth. I have been diagnosed with this disorder and have been on anti-depressants and anti-psychotics for about five years. Before that, my family suffered from the things that I said and I lost two marriages from me being a total b*tch. Now that I am stable, my moods are much better and I hardly get upset and raise my voice at all. Borderline Personality Disorder is similar in it's features and can be associated also along with bipolar disorder.

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bluesun

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March 7, 2006, 6:27 pm PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

Quote From: kathleenii

many of the posts in reference to this bipolar show on 3/7 have been

so downright mean...wait until someone close to them has it...

or they develope it...people just STILL do not wish to understand

mental illness.

as long as it is 'not in their home'....or 'they do not have it'...

this really pisses me off....and right now i am so damn sad and mad.

it really hurts me. as i have b/p II. this really bites.

people's lack of understanding...

AND they do NOT even care to read

about it and understand it better.

Kathleen II

I have it.
And a couple other things going on.

It isn't easy to deal with. I have already been through a lot of med combinations and I am still trying to get it right. A lot of the side effects can be really harsh and sometimes it ends up that the med doesn't work. But I am better and getting better.

It takes time and maintenance.

And not everyone is trying to be mean, I am sure.
But I think that there *are* a lot of ignorant people, and if someone would like to say that there is no organic basis than please reference your sources.

Doesn't mean I am not responsible for my actions- manic or depressed or mixed.
I can't just flip out at someone in a grocery store because they took the last container of organic strawberries and say that is perfectly fine because of my disorder and I don't have to apologize, even if my meds are being adjusted and I am dealing with a bad case of insomnia.

It makes me mad and sad sometimes that people just don't get it, but I can't just say 'you don't know what you're talking about' because that never helps anyone.

...

Bipolar Disorder is complex.
It's not a fun ride. Hypo/mania can be addictive and the cycle is hard to break.
Because when you are depressed, you want to get help. A lot of times, by the time you decide that you are truly depressed and not just tired or cranky or the victim of some takeout that just ''didn't sit right'', you could be too depressed to actually go some where, seek help, go to work, call friends, leave the house, take a shower, get out of bed...

And then it starts to clear up and you feel better for a while and things are ok and you put it in the back of your head. A lot of times, BPII's have more depression than hypomania, and have several depressive episodes before that first hypomanic episode.

Which happens one of two ways- on it's own, in which case you are DEFINATELY convinced there is nothing wrong with you because for a while you don't need sleep and can think a lot more and read more and clean the house quicker and do things with all sorts of efficiency that you never did before.

Or you finally get help for your depression, sometimes you react to a med and it could elevate you a little too much.

Either way, it can start the up down up down.

But- your down, you may take meds. You feel better, ok. That passed, I don't feel so bad anymore. I probably don't need meds. The hypo/mania is hard to pull away from because who needs meds when you feel *good*, right?

It can include obsessive thinking, compulsive behavior, problems with relationships and organizational skills, insomnia, cognitive issues, risk taking behavior.
The suicide rate can be very high.

So.
I'm not a professional. That is just what I pull out of my head for how to describe BP a little bit.

But it doesn't describe me.

If you are reading about the disorder, please keep that in mind. I am someone who has bipolar, but I am not the diagnosis itself. So when people say uneducated or ignorant things, I have to try to read it in that context.

And I may have, once again, wandered away from the original intent. not sure.

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terrysm

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March 7, 2006, 6:28 pm PST

Do Not Give Up

Quote From: marlalv

I know of a child that has BiPolar disease that is very dangerous. Her father is even scared of her. She watched a movie about a girl testifying that she had een raped and since my husband was the man around, pointed her finger at him.

He is now in jail awaiting a new trial or an appeal. She really believes he did these things to her and even though her dad knows better, the state is prosecuting.

She testified to the fact that she was an angel and NOT human also. She was a cat, vampire and a magiician too.

This has ruined mtyfamilies life! I have MS and am legally blind and my husband was always was htere for us and now lifew is a nightmare.

I have a sister in law who is Bipolar and after two years of trying to break up our marriage and unsuccessfully turn my mother in law against my husband, she now claims my husband sexually abused her. She stood out in front of our house in the street and screamed it. We had to call the police and file for a restraining order against her. My husband and his sister had always been very close. She had lived with him in the past as roommates and they talked almost every day on the phone, if they did not see one another. Her personality has changed in the past 2 1/2 years since she got married and she would go from depression to manic episodes where she would call people at all hours of the night and scream at them. She has been over at my mother in laws house screaming that the neighbor sexually molested her and kicking at my mother in laws security door. She would say horrible, mean, vicious things to not only her friends but all of her family and she told my husband that when she was in the Navy that if a women accused a man of sexual abuse that they always believed the woman. She also told him that she always gets even. So do not give up. A person that has manic episodes can be very manipulative and say things that are not true. If this girl has been diagnosed as Bipolar, that should come into play and she should

have to prove that she was raped because in this case an innocent person can become the victim.

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tambalina

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March 7, 2006, 6:28 pm PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

Quote From: sunshine80

Thanks for such wonderful resources. I want to get that magazine!!! I am a 26 year old mother of three, and I have bipolar 2. I am a rapid cycler. We are a great group of wonderful, creative, intelligent, and talented people. I am always sad to see these headlines that you were speaking of, not only because it reflects badly on us as a group of people, but because you don't go from a level mood to acute psychosis in a few seconds! It's a process, and it takes awhile to get that sick. I can't help but see "Another Person Dies Unnecissarily Due to a Failure in a System that is way past Broken," whenever I see these headlines. Dr. Phil, I am disappointed in you. I am shocked that when Cathy was putting herself down, you did not speak up and comfort her a little. I don't agree with the way she treated her boys AT ALL! You always say that you do your homework, but I don't think you did the right homework in some areas. Fortunately, you will never have the first-hand experience of being a single mother with bipolar and without medication. I have. I know exactly how I felt when I was saying things like "I know that I am a bad mother," and let me tell you, it hurts. It hurts and hurts some more. Words can't even express how worthless you feel, and how ashamed and guilty. You feel like you are a failure and everyone should know it. Cathy is not a bad mom, she is a sick mom. This is not an acceptable situation, but there is a difference. I really admire Cathy for coming on the show and being so honest, and she did this without meds! I was afraid of having my door open, even, without meds! I wish her the best of luck with her treatment and I am excited to see the follow-up.

Thank you for replying Doll,

Yes Ive felt your pain.....paranoias about child protective services and raising 3 children with mental health issues. The worst beingmy middle one with Borderline personality, My oldest (an Angel) with Bipolar ADHD and my youngest now 18 has out grown her split personality at around 7 (She wants to be a minister now *proud mama*) My beliefs are a bit off the coarse, Im truely an inigma lol. But if we teach self reliance then nothing ANYONE says can hurt us. Even as Mentally (whats PC?) challanged we still need to be our OWN best advicates. I have many tools in my belt and I Love sharing.

Heres a word I live by........

Namaste

(My Soul greets Your Soul)

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gethelp4bp

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March 7, 2006, 6:31 pm PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

Quote From: jaity99

It is very clear to me that Cathy is nothing more than a miserable, lazy, and hateful mother. She is just using the bipolar as an excuse to act this way. Now that she has justification from the Dr. Phil show, she is really going to use it even more to her advantage and she will get much worse. If she wanted to, she would be seeking treatment until she found something that works. Again, If she wanted to. But then she wouldn't be able to use it as an excuse. I can see right through her. I wonder if she really has borderline personality disorder instead of bipolar disorder? And who, when and where did she get this diagnosis? Did anyone from the show check into this? She just feels sorry for herself and this is the justification for it. I am worried for those kids. If she cared about them, she would get help. But she obviously doesn't because she is too self centered. BIPOLAR MY ---!!!!

You have no clue about this disorder. I have it and have been stable for about five years now, finally on a good med. combination. I was almost a twin of Cathy and I didn't know why I could be in a good mood and then suddenly something maybe a little stressful happened and I switched into a total B*tch, but I am not that way in my core personality as I care very deeply for my family. My family had no clue we had mental illness in our family but it is genetic. I know now that my great aunt was manic depressive, which is now called bipolar disorder. Most people are elated, spend a lot of money, are very sexual, etc. If you knew about bipolar symptoms, you would have known that when Cathy didn't sleep for 10 nights and cleaned her house all night that she had that classic symptom at least. Her type is dysphoric in it's features, so please google it and type in dysphoria when you do. Please don't make those judgments, because millions of people are like her and me. Unless you have been there, then you have no idea what it feels like. Taking responsibility and getting medical help is something Cathy failed to do and thereby she failed her 2 boys. She should be ashamed that she didn't continue to go from Dr. to Dr. if she had to, to find a good med. combination.

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gigilola

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March 7, 2006, 6:31 pm PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

Quote From: goochie1

I get really upset when this happens... because it just perpetuates the myths about what bipolar REALLY is, and gives bipolars a bad name.

Bipolar is a MOOD disorder.. not a character disorder like BPD. Any time I was manic, I NEVER raged.

remember that that is just YOUR experience.....

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deedaree

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chillin'

March 7, 2006, 6:32 pm PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

Quote From: treeeky

Age/Sex/Diagnosis: 34 yrs old/ Male/ Bi-polar

Medications: Seroquel and Effexor RX

Relationships: None

Jobs: Too many to count (Always let go because of lack of attendence)

Education: Honors Business from the Richard Ivey Business School @ the University of Western

Positives: Charming, friendly, empathetic, motivated, intelligent, focused, disciplined, creative, work out religiously

Negatives: Irritable, unfriendly, apathetic, de-motivated, stupid decision making skills, unfocused, undisciplined, don't work out

Things holding me back: Ability to be consistent such as showing up for work everyday, getting a good nights sleep, being consistent in a friendship or relationship, very moody

Highs - I am exceptional when I'm on high. My ego is ridiculously high and I am very confident and get a lot done in a short time frame

Lows - Don't leave the house, don't shower or groom, don't talk to anyone

Attempts at Fighting Disease: I buy motivational cd's books etc such as items from Anthony Robbins, Dr. Phil, Donald Trump and Mark Cuban all in the hopes of giving me the consistent innner strength to achieve to my potential.

Residence: Currently with Mother, Previous with Father

Nutrition: I usually drink soda pop and eat fast food. I don't want to use the oven, I don't have the patience to cook. I rarely eat vegtables unless parents cook them for me.

Finance: Government assitance - No current debts

Friends: None that I talk to on a regular basis

Spirituality: Go to church once a week with my father

Goals: To get a job and keep it - To get an apartment of my own - To work out regularly again - To improve nutrition - To include friends in my life - To be more consistent on a daily basis - To reduce mood swings - To go to bed at the same time every night and get a good nights sleep - To be able to cook and use the oven - To not be a quitter

Ya sound alot like me, minus the education. I am on the same meds plus another couple. I have the same positive, negatives, highs and lows. Luckily, I have a working hgusband and get sick benefits right now so I can be at home with my 2 sons. Just want to wish ya the best and tell you ya can e-mail me if you ever wanna chat.

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thh101

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March 7, 2006, 6:34 pm PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

I am Bipolar II and I feel and have all of the anger and rage that Cathy has. It used to explode all of the time before I started getting help. The medication I take barely keeps it under control sometimes, but I manage. Thankfully I have no children. My "fear" is that one day I will hurt my husband physically or emotionally because he refuses to aknowledge the disease and therefore makes things worse sometimes when I ask him to back off and he doesn't. I have taken him to one of my doctors to have it explained to him but it's like he hasn't heard anything except "hide your check book, she'll go crazy with the money".

When I am angry, he continues to "pick" at me. When I am depressed, he takes it personally or personalizes it, which makes it worse for me. When I am annoyed and ask him nicely to stop doing something that is bothering me, he doesn't. He continues and I go from zero to 60. For example, He used to touch me in a way I hated and I repeatedly asked him nicely, meanly, and yellingly to stop doing it. One day he did this while we were in the kitchen and I had a kitchen knife in my hand and I almost plunged it into his stomache. I saw myself doing this! and this is while on the medication! This is the man I love and I was so enraged that I envisioned this and was one step away from doing this. I dropped the knife and jumped away from him.

It was a month later before I told my husband about it and he finally got the hint and he hasn't touched me that way for 3 months but that's about the only BPII thing he's listened to me about. He shouldn't have to fear for his life to take me seriously. I even bought the man a book about BPII to read to help him understand it but he never bothered to read it. I am worried that my mood swings sad, angry, extremely loving will eventually wear him out. He says it is hard living with someone who is like me 3 out 4 weeks each month, and that menopause ought to be fun. I tell him that I am going to drag his butt to Dr. Phil and have Dr. Phil tell him I'm not that bad to live with. He calls it "blackmail"

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