The heartache of bipolar disorder - An HBO documentary airing tomorrow

[Bozita]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100105/NEWS05/1050319/1322/The-heartache-of-bipolar-disorder&template=fullarticle

POSTED: JAN. 5, 2010
The heartache of bipolar disorder
Franklin family tells its story in an HBO documentary
BY LORI HIGGINS
FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER


Andrew Lipsitt won't mind all the time cameras followed his family or the personal questions he was asked -- as long as the resulting documentary is good and it opens people's minds.

He and his parents -- Marcie and Eric Lipsitt of Franklin -- are featured in an HBO documentary scheduled to air Wednesday that sheds light on how families cope with a diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder.

Andrew Lipsitt, 20, who was diagnosed when he was 5, said most people know nothing about the disorder, and that he hopes the documentary will "help with research, because there's just not enough."

Kate Davis, who produced and directed the film with her husband, David Heilbroner, said it's the first time the subject of pediatric bipolar disorder has been looked at from the view of parents and children living with it.

She followed five families in the U.S. for about a year. The documentary, Davis said, illustrates the kids' struggles, the families' social isolation and the difficult decisions parents have to make about medicating their children.

"We wanted people to see these children as human beings who are incredibly funny at times and active and creative," Davis said. "These kids are not like specimen to be stared at and tested."

Andrew Lipsitt's bipolar disorder is complicated by other disabilities that include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and multiple anxiety disorders. For years, he had violent episodes that his mother frequently describes as being akin to "Linda Blair in 'The Exorcist,' with the strength of the Hulk suffering from Tourette's and going through an epileptic seizure."

more...

[mopinko]

1. wow- did this get unrecced?

just wow. it was on the greatest, but then it had 3 recs? :wtf:

[pnwmom]

2. I have un'recced things by accident, since that's where the rec link used to be.

I wonder if others have done so, too.

[applegrove]

8. Yup I've unrec'd by mistake a few times. It is easy to do.

[Odin2005]

7. The unrec probably came from post #4.

:puke:

[mopinko]

23. once again my ignore list proves it's worth.

ignore is, indeed, bliss.

[Bozita]

3. kick for the evening crowd

[depakid]

4. "diagnosed when he was 5" -propaganda alert

So called "childhood bipolar" is a very controversial and not recognized (and is in fact decried) by many leading (and more ethical) researchers.

That of course hasn't prevented PhARMA and its stable of psychiatrists from pushing inappropriate treatments- including anti-psychotics with debilitating side effects on unsophisticated parents.

Frankly, I think quite of few of these folks ought to have their medical licenses yanked- or perhaps be prosecuted criminally.

[Odin2005]

5. And here comes the anti-Psych BS.

I had the symptoms of Cyclothymia (mild Bipolar) ever since I was a little kid. :puke:

[depakid]

14. Not anti-psych at all

Quite the contrary.

The age of onset for bipolar disorders (including cyclothymia) is typically early adulthood- ranging to late adolescence. There's a reason for that.

Childhood "bipolar" in this sense is nosologically unsound- IMO- and in many other prominent researchers' opinions and the "diagnosis" has been mongered and abused

In fact- people (and physicians) have been prosecuted as a result.

[Odin2005]

22. Right, so my Cyclothymia was all in my head until I was 15.

:eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. If only those parents had their children tested with an E-meter.

[depakid]

15. One suspects that your knowledge of bipolar disorders is limited to such works

or media accounts- which in their own way- aren't all that different.

.

[mr blur]

16. You idiot.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

"Big Pharma done it!"

Grow up.

[depakid]

17. When you've read the cutting edge research- and are familiar with the players

Come back and talk to me.

Until then- it might be wise to consider what's been written in the posts above.

[Odin2005]

6. K&R.

[xultar]

9. I have a friend who is clearly bipolar and she is going to a doctor but

they are totally misdiagnosing her...I think it is because like I have found that if she is told she is bipolar they don't know what she is going to do.

I'm really concerned about her because she is on a serious deep turn. I want to tell her to watch this show but I'm not @ home to be with her just in case things go wrong.

:(

[fizzgig]

10. she needs a proper diagnosis now

i'm not sure about bipolar I, but i know bipolar II is very commonly misdiagnosed as depression and add/adhd and treatment for those disorders can have very, very serious consequences for people with bipolar disorder as antidepressants can trigger manic attacks. i rode a nine or ten month manic episode while i was on effexor but, now that i'm on the right meds, things have really evened out in my life.

the worry of what she might do if she is told she is bipolar is nothing compared to what could happen if she doesn't get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment.

good luck to your friend and to you

[Raschel]

12. There's a bipolar II? A family member is bipolar, though interestingly enough

they seem to be evening out more with less episodes as they get older.

One bummer is trying to find the right medication. Their current medication makes them sleepy and makes it hard to get up in the morning.

[fizzgig]

13. it's milder than 'classic' bipolar

then there are mixed episodes, where your manic and depressive at the same time, and rapid cycling, where you have multiple episodes in a year.

bipolar can be tricky to treat and there's always the probability that you're going to have to play med roulette.

your family member should do a med eval with their doc. i hope they find something that works.

[dkf]

18. I've often heard of being bipolar but I can't relate to how it

manifests itself in real life.

Is it about being emotionally volatile? Quick to anger? Being moody? Fighting a lot or yelling?

None of the above?

I'm not sure I'd recognize "manic" behavior either.

[NICO9000]

19. I suffered for years until I was finally diagnosed at age 43

For most of my 30s and 40s, I just thought I was a negative asshole and never considered it was a chemical imbalance. Before I got on meds, I would blow up at the slightest thing, then go into very deep, dark depression with suicidal thoughts. After some really bad episodes a few years ago, I finally got a diagnosis of bipolar II. I still have periodic manic or depressive episodes, but they're a lot more manageable now. I also had six years of psychotherapy in conjunction with meds and that also helped tremendously. This is a really serious disease that was ruining my life. I realize that anti-depressants aren't for everybody and you do have to find the right one, but In my case, they saved my life.

[NICO9000]

20. I suffered for years until I was finally diagnosed at age 43

For most of my 30s and 40s, I just thought I was a negative asshole and never considered it was a chemical imbalance. Before I got on meds, I would blow up at the slightest thing, then go into very deep, dark depression with suicidal thoughts. After some really bad episodes a few years ago, I finally got a diagnosis of bipolar II. I still have periodic manic or depressive episodes, but they're a lot more manageable now. I also had six years of psychotherapy in conjunction with meds and that also helped tremendously. This is a really serious disease that was ruining my life. I realize that anti-depressants aren't for everybody and you do have to find the right one, but In my case, they saved my life.

[JCMach1]

21. Stephen Fry (British Actor) did the best documentary

I have seen on the subject.







Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive

This two-part documentary investigates the reality of living with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression.

Comedian, actor, author and film-maker Stephen Fry meets celebrities and members of the public who talk frankly about the impact the condition has on their lives.

During the two programmes, Stephen Fry talks in detail about his own experience of having bipolar disorder. He recounts his suicide attempt after walking out of the West End play Cellmates in 1995, and the continuing severe mood swings he has to endure.
Stephen Fry with Richard Dreyfus

Stephen interviews other celebrities with bipolar, including Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, Hollywood star Richard Dreyfus and British comedians Tony Slattery and Jo Brand.

He also meets ordinary people and their families coping with the condition and talks to them about some of the possible triggers. They all speak candidly about how bipolar disorder has affected their day-to-day lives.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tv_and_radio/secretlife_documentary.shtml

[Odin2005]

24. KICK