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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.

 

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abbey7
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March 8, 2006, 7:59 am PST

Brain Scan

I thought the man's brain scan was very interesting. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar ll, OCD, Eating disorder, and social disorder. I live in a rural area with little support and education for mental disorders, and I'm thankful for the internet and message boards. I'm pretty confined to my home because of the OCD-Germ phobia. It's hard to keep Psych Dr.'s in small town's,so I have had several different Dr.'s.  I would like to have a Brain Scan to see if they have made the right diagnosis and to see if I'm on the right medications. Has anyone had a scan done, and did it back your Dr.'s diagnosis?  
 
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rcjay48
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March 8, 2006, 8:00 am PST

Bipolar Disorder

I have never felt compelled to join in on a message board but this issue has prompted me to do so.  My 28 year old son is bipolar.  As early as age 3, I knew something was wrong.  He was originally diagnosed ADHD and learning disabled.  He also had other emotional problems.  Life with him was a living hell.  He wasn't accurately diagnosed until a psychotic episode while in the Marines 5 years ago.  I researched the illness and immediately thought,  "Oh my god, this is what he has had all his life!".  If we only knew then, we could have put him on medication when we had more control.  Now,  he refuses to accept this diagnoses and therefore, goes on and off his meds and very rarely goes to counseling.  He has terrorized my family, especially me, and as a result, he has been arrested, spent time in jail and is currently on probation.  He cannot have any contact with my family  and as part of his probabtion, must take his meds and go to counseling.  Unfortuntely, he doesn't always follow the rules so he's always getting into more trouble.  Sadly, we realize that he will most likely never be a part of our lives.  I agree with the two boys on the show . I seriously doubt their mother will ever get well and I  don't believe my son will either.  I am heartbroken.
 
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nicholeb
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March 8, 2006, 8:02 am PST

Distinction between Bipolar 1 and 2

I have Bipolar 2 disorder. I think there has been some confusion between the two types. Below is an excerpt from the NIMH website. If you go to the link, you will find a more complete explanation of mania, hypomania, psychosis and depression.(http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#bp1) "The classic form of the illness, which involves recurrent episodes of mania and depression, is called bipolar I disorder. Some people, however, never develop severe mania but instead experience milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression; this form of the illness is called bipolar II disorder. When four or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, a person is said to have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week, or even within a single day. Rapid cycling tends to develop later in the course of illness and is more common among women than among men." I hope this is helpful.
 
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bluesun
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March 8, 2006, 8:04 am PST

03/07 Extreme Highs and Lows

There seems to be a good deal of contention between some people who have bipolar disorder and those who are effected by those who have it. And it is really really aggravating.

Not everyone is the same. IN FACT, most of the time, you will not find two people with the exact same set of symptoms, behavioral patterns, personality, eating habits, sleeping habits, annoying little quirks, bastard inhuman betrayals, loving words... well, the list goes on and on.
Generalizations can be cruel.

A personal experience with a mean person does not indicate that all persons are that way.

By the same token, it is unfair to assume that all persons who have not been dx'd with bipolar are incapable of understanding or relating.

There is a huge spectrum of human emotion. And sometimes, imagine it- there are people who care about you enough to listen to what you are saying and are willing to invest the time and emotion into understanding.

Accusing people of what others have done as a first impression is a crap way to start a plan for the future.


Maybe if everyone would stop bickering over the 'my blood bleeds redder than yours does' ribbon, there would be less of this.
 
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sunny23
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March 8, 2006, 8:04 am PST

GREAT advice!

Quote From: mayzeegrl

Alot of people are questioning whether they or someone they know has bipolar disorder. I know for me that I had questioned being bipolar to my ex-psychiatrist and she said that I didn't have the "highs".  Therefore, I was not accurately diagnosed until some years later. I had been treated for depressions and that's what all the professionals thought I had, but the depression would never get better for long.  Sometimes I would be "fine", able to perform well at my job and school, Take an interest in things.  Feel like my brain was working.  I wouldn't report any of this to my doctors because I felt that I was "normal" or "cured" and I would only report the depression and the crashes.  Therefore, no one was getting an accurate picture of my moods.   

It wasn't until a short while ago that my therapist had me chart my moods.  Basically, you write about how you are feeling, what your mood is like day to day.  What you have been doing and so on, and then bring it with you to your doctors and therapist.  I found from my mood journal that I had alot of ups and downs and it was able for me to see a pattern to my mood swings. 

You can also write up a chart for feelings---sadness, anxious, angry, happy, etc. and score them with 1 being a little to 5 being alot of how you feel with each emotion.  You can also chart if you had felt suicidal or wanted to abuse substances.  Anyways, it's worth a shot to bring up to your treatment team or to have a loved one try to track their moods. This way, it gives a pretty accurate description of peoples' moods.......I know that for me being accurately diagnosed finally, I've been able to have a more stable life because I'm on the "right" meds. (mood stabilizers) Good luck......... 

I just want to "echo" what has been said above and encourage anybody who has had a similar experience with depressive episodes (or love/know  someone who has!), charting moods DAILY and sharing that info with a psychiatrist (someone who understands mood disorders if possible) may save you years of misdiagnosis.  My husband was recently diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.  He has had bouts of severe anxiety & depression for 10-15 years; has been treated with 6 different anti-depressants in 6 years.  All of them seemed to give him some relief for 6-9 months, then would "stop" working and a debilitating depressive episode would occur.  So, he would start a different anti-depressant and the cycle would begin again.  One afternoon in December I finally wrote up a timeline of what had occurred and we took it to a new doctor for a second opinion.  She looked over the timeline of treatment & then asked my husband about ever experiencing "hypomania" symptoms (periods of higher energy, thoughts coming faster than normal, etc.)  The last piece fell into place.  I do believe all his previous doctors had done their best to help him manage the depression and I understand better now how much they have to rely on the patient's symptoms...i just wish one of them would have thought to have him track his moods earlier!   
 
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cvalenta1
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March 8, 2006, 8:04 am PST

AGREE

Quote From: domerdude

Cathy goes from zero to psycho in 15 seconds? I sincerely hope that the Dr. Phil show does not sensationalize this illness on national television. First of all, the term "psycho" is pejorative. To your average viewer that means out-of-control angry and violent. To be responsible, Dr. Phil must explain psychosis in a way that dispels the notion that we are violent and dangerous to others. Otherwise he runs the risk of making people fear us. 

  

This is a serious disorder, but it has been my experience as someone with the classic form, bipolar disorder I, that it manifests itself in altogether different way for many of us. I exhibited a great deal of delusional thinking and behavior when I was manic and sometimes when I was severely depressed. I saw secret meaning in movies, songs, books and other external media. I thought The Today Show was being produced specifically for my benefit and that Katie and Matt were speaking directly to me. I thought a lot of peculiar things. But I was never "psycho." Most of my fantasies were just in my head and were harmless to everyone but me. I think terms like "psycho" and "crazy" are going to upset a lot of bipolar people watching your show if that is what takes place. 

  

Are these people taking medication? Your show needs to touch on the difficulties of bipolar people who take their medication...not just those who don't. What about our prospects for love and acceptance? I don't know, I haven't watched the show yet, so I will reserve the rest of my comments for later, but I just hope so much that the illness will be characterized accurately. The Dr. Phil Show goes out to so many people and just sensationalizing the illness could do more harm then good in the way we are perceived. 

  

I will write more when I've actually watched the show. 

  

  

  

  

  

I totally agree with you, I am afraid that my friends and co-workers will think that I am like the guest on the show yesterday.
 
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jabusch
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March 8, 2006, 8:06 am PST

suggestions?

Quote From: elanenergy

It is with so much sadness and empathy that I read your posts and watch Dr. Phil's show on this dreadful disorder. My only child, Eric, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 9, following an ADHD diagnosis at age 6. My husband and I divorced after 20 years due to an ugly betrayal and subsequent marriage and child with his new bride. This, I believe, is what sent my boy into full fledged bipolar. He had good treatment from a psychiatrist and counselor, but we could never find the right meds. He went to public school, but it was probably coming to an end because of his anger and disrespect. Eric was not Bipolar II, but he had become increasingly violent during his rages--punching me in the arm and taking a knife and threatening me. Each time, I would call the psychiatrist and we would up the meds to help him be stable. But he ended up secretly taking his own life---not in a state of pyschosis because I was just upstairs and he didn't make a peep. Now, one year later, I'm just numb. Dead, for all intents and purposes. My reason for living is gone. And he was my best friend, and the person I most admired in the world. He managed his disease like a champ. But make no mistake. Even Bipolar I can end in suicide--15-20% of biopolar people take their own life. Please keep seeking help. And don't stop until you feel you've found the right help. With all my blessings.
I have long time been diagnosed with depression, but more recently the diagnosis was correctly changed to bi-polar. And I am deeply aware of all the effects of bi-polar. But the issue isn't so much mine . My boyfriends brother was recently diagnosed with bi-polar , after we finally convinced him to go to a Dr. He recently moved in with my boyfriend and myself after being evicted from his apartment. He is a talented musician, but has trouble holding a job, and has a drinking problem. He's been giving stuff away, and talkes about living in a van and driving across country, or just taking off to somewhere far away (sounds like dropping off the face of the planet to me). These tendancies sound very suicidal to me and they scare me. even if he's not consciously suicidal it sounds like he's quickly moving in that direction. After the Dr. diagnosed him, he said great thanks doc, see ya. I think he does believe he has the disease, but does not seem to believe in medication or want to see a therapist (even though we're willing to pay for it). It doesn't help that his family is very anit-medication (I have trouble with my boyfriend you seems to think medication is a conspiracy to create a need by the drug companies- idiot ,I know) any way- this is his brother, and his mother is no better. We're pretty sure his father committed suicide after a long time illness. and my friend believes he is much like his father and destined to carry out his fathers legacy-(suicide included?). This is an extrmely intelligent man. I'm smart too, but when you try to have a conversation with him, he can philisophically rationally anything-well. He has such logical, well thought out justicications for suicide, for not taking medications, or seeing a docter.. His state really scares me. He doesn't seem to want any help, (except room and board). I know sometimes it takes bottoming out before someone accepts help. But what if his bottoming out is suicide. What do I do? His brother and I are scared that there is nothiing else we can do but watch him disintigrate. We could really use some suggestions. Anyone?
 
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baseball
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March 8, 2006, 8:11 am PST

Lord Bless You !!!

Quote From: bipolaroso

In July 2004 I tried to stangle myself with a eletirc cord! I was hospitalized and said to be Depressed and come to find out I am Bipolar! My Newest Doctor said that depression meds can make Bipolar people worse! So He only keep me on Lamictil... I no longer  take it & think of death every minute of every day! I am a Single mom to 3 small children & am 27 years old...My family supports me & if it wasn't for them I propably would not be here now! I am Glad to read this message of you helping you kids & gettting them help! Thats all you can do is be there for them...It does make a diffenence...God Bless you!...You children are in my prayers...
I am so glad that you don't think of death every minute of everyday. Right now that is what we are working on with my 15 yr old the last report was about every other day. Still it is very depressing. Sometime I feel like I'm not doing enough for my children cause I can't take away their pain. You pointed out that I am doing all I can by loving them unconditionally and I do. I am so glad you did not succeed in you suicide attempt and you are still here for your babies. I wish you the very best in life. You are in my prayers also.      
 
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thalidomid
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March 8, 2006, 8:15 am PST

extreme highs and lows

 I really felt for those 2 boys in yesterday's show. One of the most honest comments they made was saying they didn't think there was hope for any normal relationship with their mother. I honestly don't think Dr. Phil realized the depth of the destruction of that family relationship. Although my dad has never been diagnosed, I feel that he shares most of the traits of a bipolar person. In my family, we all grew up not knowing whether he was going to be screaming at us for some little thing or turning around and patting our back. Out of the 6 of us offspring, 5 of us decided never to have children. The one brother who did, was basically coerced into it by his exwife. We have all grown up not trusting people and thinking we are extremely inadequate, even though most of us have high I.Q.s. All of us have pets to whom we feel closer at times than we do our spouses ( the 2 of us that did get married). We don't trust. We feel disassociation with our feelings . I haven't had a relationship with my father for the last 20+ years. I feel nothing for him ; as if he were a distant uncle. We all have nervous disorders . When I was watching yesterday's show, I actually thought to myself, is it not normal to have screaming in a family environment? That was a bit of a revelation for me, strange as that sounds.
 
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funkydee
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March 8, 2006, 8:16 am PST

you took the words right out of my mouth!

Quote From: understand

Bipolar has devasted my family and the kicker is my exhusband who is bipolar is in denial and can't even recognize the devastation he created by not taking medicine.....so in this case it's worse for the family who recognizes his professional diagnosis.....he still goes out spends my child support money, cheats, lies, steals, enjoys his highs, and is free to do whatever he wants while I hold down the family and try to figure out how to explain it all to a 10 and 9 year old......so while it's hard for those who recognize their illness, it's much harder for those who choose to ignore it and or go on and off their meds!!!!!!!

I can't believe that you said this, I was thinking the exact same things you wrote down. 

This show has opened my eyes. I watch 3 minutes of it was in tears, because it was looking right into myself 
 
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