# What's Next, Tri-Polar? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 15, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784 "2003-01-15T18:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/21 "2003-01-15T19:08:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*auntie em… > > a disorder becomes a disorder when it affects your day to day living. My sister had to drop out of college, because she’d wake up so depressed or enraged that she couldn’t even go to class. Or she’d be so manic that she’d go nuts on X and alcohol and stay out until five in the morning…She couldn’t concentrate, would go from not eating at all to binging…every time we talked to her it was a roll of the dice, would she be weeping and swearing, screaming at us, or chatty and happy to hear from us. > > And DETERMINATION doesn’t cure you of diabetes, just as it can’t cure a chemical imbalance in your brain. My sister and I are both medicated for different imbalances and they’ve made an incredible change in both of our lives. \*\* Thanks, **jar**. That makes sense. And I’m certainly not one of those people who pooh-poohs clinical depression as something that can be cured by determination and a day at the spa. The reason I’m asking, I guess, is that while my (aforementioned) friend is planning to take the meds for the rest of her life, she gets crap from a therapist friend of hers about how therapy (in which she is currently not involved) could help her forego the meds. Bullshit, says she. But I know another person (though not well) who suffers from some sort of anxiety disorder that got so bad that she didn’t leave her apartment for a year. Eventually, she got treatment (including medication) and got better. However, when she got married and decided to have a child, she busted her ass to function without the medication, because she didn’t want to have it in her system during her pregnancy. And I know yet a third person who is off and on medication for anxiety, but does make it a goal to function without it whenever possible. Different illnesses, I know, but I’m wondering if you’re somehow made to feel, when you get your diagnosis, that your goal should be to become less dependent on medication, or what? I mean, for example, some people with low-grade diabetes (to use your example) are told by their docs that they should try to control it via their diet, so that medication won’t be necessary. So is it like that with some bi-polar diagnoses, does it depend on the physician’s particular theories, or what? I hope I’m not being intrusive; I’m just curious. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/22 "2003-01-15T19:23:09Z")
Not with or against the OP, but everyone theses days does seem to have some fucking type of disorder. Me? I thought being happy sometimes, and being down sometimes was a part of life. Guess I have a lot to learn. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/23 "2003-01-15T19:31:09Z")
The OP is about whether There is an _overdiagnosing_ of something, not whether all diagnosis are bad or whether the condition is non existent. I can’t see why everybody is so enraged with the OP. Maybe some of you have missed your medication? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/24 "2003-01-15T19:37:25Z")
World Eater: being happy sometimes and being down sometimes IS a part of life…but when you go two weeks without getting out of bed or talking to your spouse or bursting in to tears at work over a misspelled thank you letter…it becomes more. Do some research. Auntie Em: I am on medication and have been for about two years now. TWO? Wow. I’m trying to wean myself off of it, but only because I’m trying to get pregnant. In my case, my doctor prescribed medication right away just to get me out of my house and back to work and the gym and such, and THEN she said i needed to go to therapy. And I did, for a while. I’ll admit, I quit because it was too hard, but while I did it, it helped. I DON’T feel I’ll be on medication for the rest of my life, but the medication took away some of the worst aspects like fatigue and misery and anxiety, so I could focus on getting better. Slow going, but I’m making progress! My sister, who is bi polar, is as well, back in school and down to one pill a day. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/25 "2003-01-15T19:38:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*You say your friend’s son is spoiled. I doubt you will find a doctor who will prescribe lithium for a child unless they need it. It’s not like popping sugar pills, you know. We’re talking about medicine that alters the chemical balance in the brain. \*\* Oh really? A doctor had no problem prescribing lithium for my SO when he was getting over his chemical dependency. Yeah, he had lots of problems. But not bi-polar disorder and not anything lithium would help. But he had it prescibed for him anyway. What the fuck is wrong (and this is directed at almost everybody in this thread) with questioning whether something isn’t over- (ie mis-) diagnoised? How is this making light of the real illness? ---
**Author:** ![Witch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Witch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Witch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/26 "2003-01-15T19:39:43Z")
**auntie em** …you can do well enough that your doc will consider taking you off your meds gradually and seeing how you do. There are different types of bipolar disorder, and within these types you can have different levels of severity. Every case is different. Some of us will go from manic to depressive very quickly (days or weeks), others it’s much longer. Some tend to be manic more ofen, others depressed. Some have features of psychosis, others do not. It’s a very broad spectrum, and therefore treatments vary widely. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/27 "2003-01-15T19:41:18Z")
betenoir, because the OP leads to posts like World Eater’s, who doesn’t even appear to understand what clinical depression or bi polar disorder ARE. ---
**Author:** ![SpaceDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spacedog/32/9932_2.png) [@SpaceDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceDog)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/28 "2003-01-15T19:46:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Me? I thought being happy sometimes, and being down sometimes was a part of life. Guess I have a lot to learn. \*\* I don’t know a lot about this and don’t have any of these disorders, but I’ve read stuff here and there. As I understand it unless you’ve been clinically depressed it’s difficult to understand the difference between just ‘sad’ and ‘depressed’. Therefore non-sufferers often judge people as weak, or similar, for giving in to these emotions. Quick bit about myself, as I said I don’t suffer from these disorders however I can be quiet a moody person. People have said to me more than once that I should maybe get checked out by a doctor and see if I could take something. I’ve always refused because a) I don’t believe I have one of these disorders – I certainly don’t score high on the checklists, and b) it doesn’t effect my life. I’m just moody and prone to self-indulgence at times. I believe there are people far worse off than me and over the years I’ve learned that there is a difference between moody and bi-polar – and I always try and remember that. Having said that I believe that there are some cases of people on medication who probably don’t need it, or who have been wrongly diagnosed. However if it’s improving their quality of life who am I to argue, and we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about people. If someone says “I’m bi-polar” or whatever then take them at face value and trust that what they experience may just be something that you can’t understand. Of course we should keep an eye on the doctors as well and make sure that they’re doing their job – and also look for different treatments for various things. It’s possible that it’s being over diagnosed (or even that people are claiming they have it to be ‘different’) but pointing the finger of doubt at the patients is going to do more harm than good. And as a quick aside to **AHunter3** if I recall correctly you have views about medication like this, I was wondering if you could tell me why. If this thread isn’t the time or the place then that’s cool too – I’ve just been meaning to talk to you about it for a while. SD Who’s wondering if ‘finger of doubt’ is a phrase or not. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/29 "2003-01-15T19:48:58Z")
Tri-polar? Nah, I prefer the warmer climes ::_rimshot_:: But seriously, I used to not respect psychological disorders. I thought they were just excuses… until I started a self destructive streak in my mid twenties. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, but my life was out of control. I just didn’t _care_ about anything - job, family, girlfriend - nothing. Finally, I figured it out. I’m a mild clinical depressive. I tried therapists for a while, but never found one worth a damn. I swore I would never go on the drugs, as I thought they were over-perscribed and possibly dangerous. I had also seen what they did to people, how people I knew changed when they were on zoloft or whatever. It was not a good change either. Life got pretty bad there for awhile because therapy wasn’t working. Finally I said “screw it” and went to see a doctor. After discussing the different ones, we finally settled on Welbutrin (I’m not bipolar so I don’t need the heavier prozacs, zolofts, etc). I got so antsy on the stuff; I thought I was going to vibrate apart. I stopped taking it for awhile and life got bad again. Finally, I settled on a half dose a day (300 mg once a day) and that seems perfect. Drugs can work for many people, but many people are on the _wrong_ ones. The doc could have put me on Paxil for depression. I would have been a freaking nutcase if she had, and I think this is the problem. These types of drugs work, but you have to be very, _very_ careful to find the right one and the right dosage. Many times they make mental health worse, and the patient becomes a serial pill taker, trying one after another. The patient can suffer for years as the different drugs only seem to trade one disorder for another, and this may be where the drugs get the reputation of being harmful. More people should realize that there is no magic bullet. I guess what I am saying **Monalisa** , is before you skoff at people with psychiatric disorders or the drugs used to treat them, say to yourself “there but for the grace of God go I”. It **is** possible that they are just moody and the drugs are unecessary, but you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. That all said, the over-prescription of ritalin is a real problem. ADHD exists, but the criteria used to diagnose it are laughably broad and could be applied to just about all children. It’s a crime to drug kids just because they stare out the window or cut up in class. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/30 "2003-01-15T20:04:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by auntie em \* > \*\*So my question is, at what point, when you have bipolar disorder, do you say, “OK, so I’m going to be on meds for the rest of my life”, and at what point is it still a viable goal to function without the meds? I realize that it depends on the severity of the case, but it also seems like sheer determination is a factor here, too. > > Thoughts? \*\* Like you say, each case is different. But I would say determination is much, much less a factor than the severity of the illness. Determination isn’t going to help much except maybe in mild cases. I think determination is much more helpful in terms of _sticking to your treatment_, rather than trying to function without it. My friend had it pretty bad - suicide attempts, drinking to kill the pain of the down cycle, job problems. She _loved_ it when she first was prescibed lithium - personally, I think it may have saved her life. I’m not sure exactly what meds she’s on now, but she recognizes she’ll probably be on something the rest of her life. Of course, she’d rather not have to, but the last thing she wants to do is go back to the living hell she was in before. And she’s doing very well now. Ironically enough, she’s now a mental health counselor. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/31 "2003-01-15T20:08:53Z")
I would like to apologize for my hastily-typed response. I was lured by the passing excitement of the new smiley and posted an unacceptably insensitive attempt at a response to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/32 "2003-01-15T20:12:11Z")
:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/33 "2003-01-15T20:26:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*And she’s doing very well now. Ironically enough, she’s now a mental health counselor. \*\* I don’t think that’s ironic. I personally would probably rather be counseled by somebody who’s had some experience. Y’know? Anyway, it’s cool that she got herself together enough to help somebody else out. As for the other replies to my questions, thanks! I’m getting that there’s not really a definitive answer, but it just seems to me like even those people I know who have taken medication for various disorders (depression, anxiety, etc.) still attach enough of a stigma to it that they (a) make it a goal to get off the meds, and (b) kind of look down upon those who have no intention of even trying to function without the meds. Perhaps I’m reading too much into the motivations of these people, but just the other day I was talking to a friend, who’s been on depression medication before, about his brother, who is currently having some problems with depression (and who has also taken medication before). “Is he taking anything?” I asked. “No,” said my friend, “He’s dealing with it _my way_.” (The implication here was that this was the _best_ way.) “Which is . . . ?” I asked. “Just don’t think about it,” was the answer I got. “Just force yourself to keep going, and eventually it’ll pass.” Now I realize that the brother must be functioning relatively well–still making it to work or school, still communicating with friends, and whatnot–but it’s this attitude on my friend’s part that was making me wonder if Conventional Wisdom dictates that you’re a wuss if you stay dependent upon medication. Anyway, I’ll shut up. Thanks for combating a little of my ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/34 "2003-01-15T20:30:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*betenoir, because the OP leads to posts like World Eater’s, who doesn’t even appear to understand what clinical depression or bi polar disorder ARE. \*\* Oh fuck off, I’m well aware of impact these conditions hold on peoples lives. Don’t be so quick to assume what I might or might not know. I’m wonder if meds or helping people more or hurting them more. ---
**Author:** ![Witch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Witch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Witch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/35 "2003-01-15T20:36:04Z")
**World Eater** , if it wasn’t for Lamactil, Topomax, and Wellbutrin, I would not be sitting here typing this right now. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/36 "2003-01-15T20:37:45Z")
If you know the gravity of the situation, why would you make such a flippant remark as this: > [@](#): > > Me? I thought being happy sometimes, and being down sometimes was a part of life. Guess I have a lot to learn. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/37 "2003-01-15T20:41:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Witch \* > \*\ ***World Eater** , if it wasn’t for Lamactil, Topomax, and Wellbutrin, I would not be sitting here typing this right now. \*\* Thats good, they have obviously helped you live a more productive life, and thats definitely something to be happy about. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/38 "2003-01-15T20:48:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*If you know the gravity of the situation, why would you make such a flippant remark as this: \*\* It wasn’t flippant. More is coming, just give me a few minutes here. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/39 "2003-01-15T20:51:45Z")
I dunno about tripolar disorder, but I’d wager Pete Townshend is feeling bloody quadrophenic right about now. We needed a smirking smiley? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784/40 "2003-01-15T20:57:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > More is coming, just give me a few minutes here. [/ Ah cripes. I’m in trouble again. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-next-tri-polar/148784.md?page=3)