Sorry to hear you have spent tons of money in the past ten years and seen many doctors in search of relief for your condition. If you haven’t found the help you needed or the cure, what does that say about the illness?

1) symptoms of mental illness have existed since time began

2) diagnoses of specific mental disorders have only existed since the advent of the DSM which is a manual that exists to insure 3rd party reimbursement ONLY

3) I have 16 years of clinical experience in psychiatric care and fully understand how devasting the symptoms may be to individuals, as well as understand how few will ever experience any relief from the mental healthcare system

4) regarding the question of nature vs nurture, there is no evidence of a biological genesis towards mental illness, therefore it is an illness derived from our environment and any cure will not likely come from medicinal treatment

5) the likelihood of a positive outcome relies on one’s ability to change perceptions, those cognitive changes may then allow a disruption of the “thinking/feeling” cycle which is pervasive in underlying all symptoms of mental illness, which in turn may reduce the actual chemical and hormonal changes which result from disrupted brain chemistry

6) I have experienced mental illness myself so I do know intimately how it is from both sides of the fence

I understand your anger as I’m sure it comes from the frustration of finding no relief from the symptoms that have taken over your life. Your best hope of getting well lies within yourself and I hope you do find it soon.

To the Blog writer, salutations on questioning the veracity of the Wanda diagnosis; but how does a non-doctor perscribe medicine? This is problematic. My understanding is that pharma has a restrictive relationship with health providers in that only doctors are allowed to prescribe their products. ALso salutations on meeting and talking with other people who saw Wanda. A rule that is good to follow is if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. Mood swings, anxiety, and depression are normal. Maybe the best manner of dealing with these things is the realization that they occur and to stay focused on as stable a presentation of oneself as possible. When you get picked up by the police for acting crazy, find yourself unable to get out of bed for the third morning in a row, unable to hold a job for longer than a couple of weeks, or not able to sleep for a couple of nights, then and only then it may be time to reconsider drug therapy.

The reason why there is a rising trend is because medicine has advanced since the days of leeches and bleeding people, so we are catching it easier.

Seriously, shut the fuck up. Anyone who says that bi-polar is all marketing, well… you’re either bi-polar and in denial or you’re just a hateful ignorant pudz.

There is certainly a trend in being diagnosed bi-polar. Hollywood underlies that trend as so many so-called “stars” are afflicted by it. Therefore it’s chique to have it.

So, my having bipolar disorder is fashionable? Imagine that! Wonder if it comes with a purse and shoes to match!

However, bi-polar illness can only be accurately diagnosed if historical evidence indicates mood shifts lasting periods of six months to two years reoccur with regularity. Even that, I question.

Facinating. Would you mind showing me solid research that indicates Bipolar Disorder doesn’t exist? Obviously, you’re well-informed and trained enough to draw such conclusions.

Anything else is just plain moodiness and erratic behavior, which we all have.

I’ll be sure and pass that on to the manic guy wearing a hospital gown and directing traffic at a busy intersection.

But the again I question mental “disorders”… period. What has become labeled as “disorders” are simply temporary states of distressing symptoms caused by changes in the brain’s chemistry due to an individual’s inability to adequately cope with environmental stressors.

Man, I wish I’d known that before I spent ten years going from doctor to doctor in search of why I was either spending money like it was going out of style or sitting in my recliner all day, staring at the ceiling because I was too depressed to move. Just think of all the money I could have saved!

It really isn’t “rocket science.” LOL

No, but apparently it’s your science – at least one you made up in your head. No, wait… that would be a mental disorder, and according to you there isn’t such a thing!

Now, all sarcasm aside, here’s is what irritates me the most about posts such as this:

People who have either never had a loved one or experienced themselves debilitating results of having a mental illness, along with the side affects of medication, just seriously need to back out of a subject that they have no clue about. Go away. Honestly, your so-called knowledge of mental illness is something we don’t need. It’s difficult enough to gain acceptance socially without nonsense such as this going around.

Am I angry? You betcha I am. Unlike a lot of individuals with bipolar disorder, I’ve “come out of the closet” with it. I refuse to let society intimidate me any more than, say, someone with diabetes. Enough is enough. On the other hand my son (now 25) keeps his illness completely under wraps. My cousin won’t even carry pills in her purse for fear that they will rattle and people hearing it will think she’s “crazy.” My son’s best friend is afraid if his boss finds out he will lose his job. Given that I lost two jobs when my employers found out just reinforces that concept. Sure, it’s illegal to fire someone based on an illness, but believe me when I tell you that if an employer wants to get rid of you, they’ll find a legal way to do it.

We get enough b.s. from society without having posts such as these contributing even more problems. I wouldn’t call this way of thinking rocket science. It’s more like Monopoly when you’ve rolled doubles one time too many: Please leave us alone. Do not pass Go or collect $200.

However, bi-polar illness can only be accurately diagnosed if historical evidence indicates mood shifts lasting periods of six months to two years reoccur with regularity. Even that, I question.

Anything else is just plain moodiness and erratic behavior, which we all have.

But the again I question mental “disorders”… period. What has become labeled as “disorders” are simply temporary states of distressing symptoms caused by changes in the brain’s chemistry due to an individual’s inability to adequately cope with environmental stressors.

It really isn’t “rocket science.” LOL

JD Stottlemire, author,
“You Me and Apollo: Hope Beyond Bipolar Disorder”
http://www.youmeandapollo.com