Manic-Depression/ADD

joelcrowservo · Jun 07, 2003, 02:23 AM

I wonder if anyone else on here suffers from either problem mentioned above? How do you find it affects work, your relationships, etc.? Even your online life seems affected. I was reading past posts of mine, and I can tell just by the tone of whats written what kind of state of mind I was in at that time. Anyway, if anyone else has to live with these problems, share!

Johnna Lynn · Jun 07, 2003, 02:31 AM

I feel you, brother. [img]graemlins/jail.gif[/img] I wish them upon no one! [img]graemlins/barf5.gif[/img]

Irisun · Jun 07, 2003, 02:41 AM

Robin Williams deals with this, and for the movie Insomnia he went off his medication so that he could truly act the part of the depressed man. I had a psychology teacher in high school who always said that geniuses always have something that ails them, so you never know...

Johnna Lynn · Jun 07, 2003, 03:15 AM

Bi-polar resource ADD/ADHD Resource You'll be surprised of the folks gathered here.

joelcrowservo · Jun 07, 2003, 03:19 AM

Thanks for that link Johnna. I'm going thru it now. Churchill flunking 6th grade, that always gets me. But I wasnt aware John Lennon was ever diagnosed with MD? It makes sense in many ways, but I wonder where they get that info.

Harb83 · Jun 07, 2003, 05:29 AM

I had read somewhere that John used to go through ups and downs like a wavelength, and sometimes he was an incredibly happy person, and other times he was depressed.

I can't remember where I read this though.

Johnna Lynn · Jun 07, 2003, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted By joelcrowservo:
Thanks for that link Johnna. I'm going thru it now. Churchill flunking 6th grade, that always gets me. But I wasnt aware John Lennon was ever diagnosed with MD? It makes sense in many ways, but I wonder where they get that info.

Read these sites carefuly. They may say the person was diagnosed and treated, or they exibited symtoms recognised from afar. I know way too much about these disorders. I have both. Ask away, and I'll try to help. I know more about co-mobidity of symptoms than I do about the Beatles. (Or anything else) If you want more info I can surely guide you!!!

joelcrowservo · Jun 08, 2003, 12:50 AM

Well thanks Johnna. The thing I really wonder, is as a creative person, I fear taking medication. I couldnt deal with having that gone, that wellspring, whatever it is. Who knows if some of it stems from that chemical imbalance, or the state of mind it puts you into. But I've read too often that it does sap some of that, and having to always be on the ball here in the newsroom, I wouldnt want it. I partially think, well, my mind has ALWAYS wandered off, why change it now? But with such a demanding job as reporter for a big city, sometimes the whole thing, my mind, gets in the way. And I certainly went thru the 'self-medication' in my teen and early adult years. Don't need that again! So whats your feelings on medication versus self control?
BTW, saw your picture in your profile, reminded me of Ann-Margaret! (thats a compliment, of course!)

beatlelover45223 · Jun 08, 2003, 03:41 PM

My best friend has Bi-Polar disorder and it took several years for the doctors to diagnose and treat her, it's a hard thing to see and deal with, she has it bad, medicine is the only thing that keeps her straight, she has been non functional several times, way out in left field, not even aware of what was going on around her, hallucinating, thank goodness she got a good physician who could help, once again the pharmaceutical companies strike though, medication prices are astronomical [img]graemlins/images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

negative creep · Jun 10, 2003, 11:18 PM

Yeah being bipolar sucks corn. lol

jtal909 · Jun 11, 2003, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By Harbidge:
I had read somewhere that John used to go through ups and downs like a wavelength, and sometimes he was an incredibly happy person, and other times he was depressed.

I can't remember where I read this though.

That is a sure sign of drug addiction.

Beatle_4 · Jun 11, 2003, 04:03 PM

This is a topic that really hits home for me. My youngest son was diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) when he was in grade 3 at school. As if having epilepsy and asthma weren't enough, we had to have that bombshell dropped on us. He had to have one-on-one tutoring from the teachers just so he could keep up with the other students in his classes. He is now 20, a father, and working on and off (nothing permanent yet). His handwriting is impossible to read but, he is constantly surprising us with what he can do when he sets his mind to something.ADD is just another form of handicap that has to be worked around. Given time and patience, the person who suffers from it can do anything they put their mind to.

joelcrowservo · Jun 12, 2003, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted By jtal909:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By Harbidge:
I had read somewhere that John used to go through ups and downs like a wavelength, and sometimes he was an incredibly happy person, and other times he was depressed.

I can't remember where I read this though.

That is a sure sign of drug addiction.<hr /></blockquote>Yes, I understand what you are saying, but the flaw in that is that I am not a drug addict, but face the same symptoms! I realize tho' that John was indeed at times an addict, and that no ones insinuating I am!
Beatle-4, I understand totally! When I was in grade school, they had to do 1 on 1 with me, by high school, I'd given up. Its clear you never gave up on your son though. You must be a good parent!

Beatle_4 · Jun 13, 2003, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted By joelcrowservo:
Beatle-4, I understand totally! When I was in grade school, they had to do 1 on 1 with me, by high school, I'd given up. Its clear you never gave up on your son though. You must be a good parent!

joelcrowservo, thanks for the compliment. When it comes to my kids, I always try (some say I can be very trying) sometimes to much.The best thing is to stick with it because the rewards will always out-weigh the difficulty.

jtal909 · Jun 13, 2003, 01:57 PM

Can a drug addiction cause a bi-polar disorder?

joelcrowservo · Jun 13, 2003, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By jtal909:
Can a drug addiction cause a bi-polar disorder?

Hmm...thats an excellent question. I would think an addiction would certainly simulate the symptoms, but not be able to cause the imbalance. I dont know that anyone knows what really causes it, but addiction..well, a godd analogy is to listen to "Happiness is a Warm Gun". The I need a fix part is the down side, he needs it, and is a different person till he gets it. Then he gets it (the mother superior section, with its sudden hyperness)and then evrythings cool (the final section). Thats a huge generalization of course, but it corresponds to both the ups and downs of a drug user and the same for a manic-depressive.

paul:coolerthanyou · Jun 13, 2003, 02:18 PM

Generally drug addiction is a result of mental illness, a case of self medicating. (when I say "drug addiction" I also include alcohol in there). I have been diagnosed with depression, my friends with bipolar disorder always tell me "you don't get the fun part of the crazies!" My opinion toward medication is that if you can't deal with your life, if you can't, for instance, get out of bed in the morning, or are thinking seriously of killing yourself, or harming someone else, GET ON MEDICATION. You don't always have to be on it. Some people say "oh medication is a crutch." Well, guess what, some people need a crutch to walk. No shame in it at all. You can always try it out and see how it works for you, if you feel you need it. Not everyone will have the same experience, though, so try to be patient and wait out the problems if the meds don't work right the first time.
Good luck!

joelcrowservo · Jun 13, 2003, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By paul:coolerthanyou:
my friends with bipolar disorder always tell me "you don't get the fun part of the crazies!"

The FUN part? When does that happen?
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] *Theres not exactly anything fun about it! But thanks for the advice. What with the new events in my life (read elsewhere) I need to decide soon I suppose.

paul:coolerthanyou · Jun 14, 2003, 03:39 PM

No, I was just kidding around...I know that there isn't any fun part. I try to think about it like any other illness. If you had, for instance, diabetes, would you hesitate to get treatment? No way! Would you feel strange, or "less than" or uncomfortable knowing you had it? No! So you have to accept that you may have a disease, and it sucks, but there are ways to live with it, and have a good and productive life. I'm sure you will make the right decision. *hugs*

Johnna Lynn · Jun 14, 2003, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By joelcrowservo:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By paul:coolerthanyou:
my friends with bipolar disorder always tell me "you don't get the fun part of the crazies!"

The FUN part? When does that happen?
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] *Theres not exactly anything fun about it! But thanks for the advice. What with the new events in my life (read elsewhere) I need to decide soon I suppose.<hr /></blockquote>Alot of people with bi-polar do LOVE the manic part! They feel good, but often over shop, leading back to the depression part of the disorder. Peolpe BPD are at risk of suicide during the depressive end.I suppose one could say that the "grandious" end could have feeling you can do anything, which could turn ugly. There are 2 BPD diagnosis, one with psycotic symptoms, the other without. Bi-PolarI, and Bi-PolarII. I dont remmember which is the one with psychosis, and which one does not. You can look it up, Im sure.