kidattypewriter

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Multiple bipolar personality disorder

I just listened to this ABC news segment (not online, but here's a related piece) about a possible genetic link between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and they interviewed a mental health patient talking about the disorders she's been diagnosed with.

I've had depression, bipolar disorder one, manic depression, bipolar disorder two, schizoeffective, schizophrenic, borderline personality disorder.

Crikey! It must be bad enough suffering from one mental illness, but judging from all these responses, her doctors seem to be suffering from hypochondria on her behalf.

10 comments:

Alexis, Baron von Harlot said...

I wish my doctor suffered from hypochondria on my behalf. It's always, "Why'd you bring your torn ligament in here? There's nothing I can do about it." If she wrote out a script for psychopharmics, at least I'd know she cared.

Ruby Isabella said...

The doctors make up disorders to keep themselves busy (and paid).

TimT said...

'Hmmm. Let me see. Now is it Bipolar Disorder 1, or Bipolar Disorder 2? I'm in two minds about that...'

Blandwagon said...

I've had depression, bipolar disorder one, manic depression, bipolar disorder two, schizoeffective, schizophrenic, borderline personality disorder.

And OCD, apparently.

Caz said...

Once upon a time one could be bipolar along a nice neat spectrum of, you know, 'piss weak' all the way up to 'crazy as a cocaine addicted wild cat'.

Now there's a bipolar category for every man, woman and child on the planet.

As for all the other mental illnesses, the medical profession and the phama's have blurred the lines so that everyone can have a little bit of everything - don't want people feeling miffed about not having a sufficiently severe mental illness now, do we - it's much like going out for yum cha three times a day, or the local all you can eat roast & grill - you can stuff your face full of a little bit of every kind of madness.

TimT said...

Yep - and this woman is suffering from one of the classic conditions, bipolar or schizophrenia.

If the doctors can't properly diagnose THAT, then what hope have they got in describing and/or diagnosing some of the stranger mental illnesses out there? None really (unless they're unethical doctors (which is more than possible)).

Caz said...

Unethical?

Nah.

It's just so much better for business if everyone in the world can be diagnosed as being more or less mentally ill, and even better if they have multiple mental illnesses, each requiring a different medication.

Pity the poor buggers who genuinely need serious medical support.

Anonymous said...

I hate this crap. I'm on the path towards becoming a psychologist and I just hatehatehate this rush to overdiagnose. I concur with Ruby Isabella, but would like to add self-importance to her fine observations.

Lastly, Caz noted

Pity the poor buggers who genuinely need serious medical support.

I couldn't agree more, m'dear. I couldn't agree more.

Caz said...

You're studying psychology now Rachy? Well, well, I didn't know that. Is that a new path for you, or am I just awfully behind the times?

I suppose it helps to explain Crap Joke Wednesday. :-)

Mathew Smith said...

Hey!! Thanks for the post. Bipolar personality disorder is a serious mental health issue. I know this as I have gonna through this horrible mental health disorder. To get of it, I started to take regular Counselling in Chelsea. It really help me a lot.

Email: timhtrain - at - yahoo.com.au

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