bug
Mar 20th 2009, 09:02 PM
A article that I stumbled upon that's a few years old, but not, I feel, outdated in message--
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/display/article/10168/55011?pageNumber=1
Bipolar diagnosis on the rise...
As use of words or phrases become more common, they tend to lose their original impact, or even their meaning. Words like "awesome," "ignorant" (I hate the misuse of that one), "ironic," and, aptly, "crazy," are thrown about everywhere with disregard of weight, context, or relevancy. For the last 5-10 years, it seems like "bipolar" has made its way into being the fun adjective of the day. What strikes me is that it is not just losing its meaning through the tossing around of the word or even flippant self-diagnoses. Doctors are handing out the diagnoses like there's a quota to fill. Everyone gets diagnosed with it. Everyone. I'm thinking of people I know personally in my peer group, and I would say 80% of them have this diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Do I actually think most of these people have this disorder, having done a lot of research on the subject? (Because I, OF COURSE, have been diagnosed bipolar as well) Hell no. So what's going on?
I believe it starts with the suburban rite of passage. There comes a time in every parent's life when they realize their child is getting older, and they're about due for the inevitable visit to the mental ward. Their child has been awfully quiet lately, and Jimmy's parents nextdoor just sent him for his first time. Inpatient psychological treatment is just a part of life. Every teenager goes at one time or another....
Once in, you've got to have a diagnosis. And no matter what's wrong with you--you cry a lot, you're moody, you really like attention, you do lots of drugs, you feel impulsive--BAM you're bipolar, and bipolar for life. You are unable to control yourself, so don't blame yourself for your actions. You're sick. You need medicine. Medicine forever, I might add, because bipolar disorder is lifelong, and when you most feel you don't need meds anymore is actually when you need them most. Depakote has a monopoly on your existence. Lilly has a permanent customer. You're not getting better, but you can control it a bit now.
Picture this scenario with someone who is actually struggling with being bipolar. They know now that this insanity has a name, and they can shave the highs and lows off. Thye know other people have dealt with this before them. They know that when they feel like they can conquer the world, they don't need anyone or anything, and that if they jump off a 30 story building, it's alright because they can fly, they're being manic and should keep taking their meds.
Now picture the scenario with some teenager who really wants attention.
I'm thinking of a "friend" I have (that I try very hard to avoid). This marvel of a woman wishes aloud that she had a vodka i.v. drip, and expresses her willingness to marry the first person who askes her. She is needy, clingy, obsessive, and self-destructive. She expresses extreme emotions, i.e. "I will kill myself if you break up with me" (I'm not paraphrasing), but does it so often that no one really cares or belives her. She calls people 10 times in a row if they don't answer. She told me once, in the midst of her commonplace hysterics "I know you don't want to deal with me when I'm like this, but I know where you work, so I'm just going to come over and make you comfort me." She tells everyone she meets that she went to the mental ward and they diagnosed her as bipolar so she can't help any of this, even though she acknowledges that it's not good for her to continue this sort of behavior. This person isn't bipolar!!!! She's lazy!! Bipolar disorder is psychotic, not pathetic!! It's hard work for her to change herself, and throw off destructive habits. It's hard to let go of those petty but delicious joys she gets when her antics give her the short term results she wants --attention.
Noone wants to give these people an excuse not to fix themselves!!
Synopsis-
1. Bipolar disorder is overdiagnosed, and it cheapens things for people who really are bipolar. It makes a joke out of what they struggle with.
2. Parents should stop sending thier kids to psych wards and shrinks. Seriously. Most teenagers get depressed, sometimes horribly so. And an inpatient stay at a psychiatric facility is not going to even begin to fix it. It's a demon they must tackle on their own.
3. My friend sucks and I hate her.
4. Giving people who have self-inspired traumas an excuse as to why they cannot change is a bad idea.
5. I'm not bipolar. Screw you, doctor.
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/display/article/10168/55011?pageNumber=1
Bipolar diagnosis on the rise...
As use of words or phrases become more common, they tend to lose their original impact, or even their meaning. Words like "awesome," "ignorant" (I hate the misuse of that one), "ironic," and, aptly, "crazy," are thrown about everywhere with disregard of weight, context, or relevancy. For the last 5-10 years, it seems like "bipolar" has made its way into being the fun adjective of the day. What strikes me is that it is not just losing its meaning through the tossing around of the word or even flippant self-diagnoses. Doctors are handing out the diagnoses like there's a quota to fill. Everyone gets diagnosed with it. Everyone. I'm thinking of people I know personally in my peer group, and I would say 80% of them have this diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Do I actually think most of these people have this disorder, having done a lot of research on the subject? (Because I, OF COURSE, have been diagnosed bipolar as well) Hell no. So what's going on?
I believe it starts with the suburban rite of passage. There comes a time in every parent's life when they realize their child is getting older, and they're about due for the inevitable visit to the mental ward. Their child has been awfully quiet lately, and Jimmy's parents nextdoor just sent him for his first time. Inpatient psychological treatment is just a part of life. Every teenager goes at one time or another....
Once in, you've got to have a diagnosis. And no matter what's wrong with you--you cry a lot, you're moody, you really like attention, you do lots of drugs, you feel impulsive--BAM you're bipolar, and bipolar for life. You are unable to control yourself, so don't blame yourself for your actions. You're sick. You need medicine. Medicine forever, I might add, because bipolar disorder is lifelong, and when you most feel you don't need meds anymore is actually when you need them most. Depakote has a monopoly on your existence. Lilly has a permanent customer. You're not getting better, but you can control it a bit now.
Picture this scenario with someone who is actually struggling with being bipolar. They know now that this insanity has a name, and they can shave the highs and lows off. Thye know other people have dealt with this before them. They know that when they feel like they can conquer the world, they don't need anyone or anything, and that if they jump off a 30 story building, it's alright because they can fly, they're being manic and should keep taking their meds.
Now picture the scenario with some teenager who really wants attention.
I'm thinking of a "friend" I have (that I try very hard to avoid). This marvel of a woman wishes aloud that she had a vodka i.v. drip, and expresses her willingness to marry the first person who askes her. She is needy, clingy, obsessive, and self-destructive. She expresses extreme emotions, i.e. "I will kill myself if you break up with me" (I'm not paraphrasing), but does it so often that no one really cares or belives her. She calls people 10 times in a row if they don't answer. She told me once, in the midst of her commonplace hysterics "I know you don't want to deal with me when I'm like this, but I know where you work, so I'm just going to come over and make you comfort me." She tells everyone she meets that she went to the mental ward and they diagnosed her as bipolar so she can't help any of this, even though she acknowledges that it's not good for her to continue this sort of behavior. This person isn't bipolar!!!! She's lazy!! Bipolar disorder is psychotic, not pathetic!! It's hard work for her to change herself, and throw off destructive habits. It's hard to let go of those petty but delicious joys she gets when her antics give her the short term results she wants --attention.
Noone wants to give these people an excuse not to fix themselves!!
Synopsis-
1. Bipolar disorder is overdiagnosed, and it cheapens things for people who really are bipolar. It makes a joke out of what they struggle with.
2. Parents should stop sending thier kids to psych wards and shrinks. Seriously. Most teenagers get depressed, sometimes horribly so. And an inpatient stay at a psychiatric facility is not going to even begin to fix it. It's a demon they must tackle on their own.
3. My friend sucks and I hate her.
4. Giving people who have self-inspired traumas an excuse as to why they cannot change is a bad idea.
5. I'm not bipolar. Screw you, doctor.