Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

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. 

It seems like all we hear is about the (for lack of a better word) "entertaining" symptoms and behaviours associated with being bi-polar? Are there any success stories about living with bi-polar?

I've spent all my life (almost 45 years) hating myself with a near-psychotic fury. I'm a loser and a failure. I have no talent, skills, people skills, abilities or intelligence,,,or so I constantly, unendingly tell myself. I've lost track of the number of times I've tried (half or whole-heartedly) to kill myself, my first that I can remember was in kindergarten. I've lost friends, lovers, jobs, possibilities, etc. because of this. I've physically, verbally, financially and in many other ways assulted myself. But, I've never intentionally hurt anyone. I am incapable of harming or hating others, mostly because they are all so much better than I. So I take out all my anger on myself, and it is well deserved. I've had counseling, therapy and all with no success, medicine (Zoloft, Lexapro, Burpropion currently) has helped take some of the edge off, but certainly hasn't controlled the depression or self-loathing. I refuse to accept anything good about myself.

My life is basically an existance. Can people live a (moderately) adequate life like this? Are there any success stories that can give me hope?