Sue Bergeson
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Speculation about bipolar disorder in celebrities has been in the news lately, and we at DBSA are often asked by the media if we think so-and-so could have this illness. We don't support speculation about anyone's diagnosis, believing that this is a matter best discussed in the privacy of a d...
Apprehensive
Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 01:45 PM
In my own case the doctors did not put a label on it until 1985. That was 33 years after my first problem of attempted suicide. It took 3 hospital stays from mania and innumberable times of depression for the doctors to put a label on it and recommending continuious medication.
If doctors can't figure it after being throughly educated on the subject, how does the "man on the street'' hope to figure it out. It's not that simple. And after your Dr figures it out, it may be months or years to find the right medication or medications. But hang in there! Rome wasn't built in a day.
Ankshus
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cgoehring78
Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Mental Illness vs. Wacko Woman
It's a tough call...
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kay
Friday, February 22, 2008 at 03:47 AM
I think that celebrities can help other people by speaking about their mental illness
http://www.officialhealthtips.com/CELEBRITIES/CELEBRITIES-AND-BIPOLAR-DISORDER-NOT-ONLY-BRITNEY-SPEARS-SUFFERS
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ctrygirl
Friday, February 22, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Public speculation about a diagnosis can be as hurtful to the individual and his/her wellness as any other negative media coverage. It may actually keep him/her from a diagnosis and treatment.
OH my goodness you are singing my song!! I so avoided getting and seeking help and actually got MAD, like a typical bp outburst where the doc had to calm me when she told me I should see a psychdoc for she thought i had bp. I was so angry and so frustrated for i thought, hmm just because i hear things, see things, have anxiety issues and on and on....they want to LOCK ME UP or something or call me CRAZY and i'm NOT i've got a MASTERS degree and someone with a MASTERS degree (at a 4.0 none the less) CAN"T be mentally ill....
So I digress....after about 3 years of my medical doctor and 2 other docs opinions (for i wasn't sticking with hers for i didn't believe that was the issue and didn't WANT to believe it but knew things weren't right upstairs if you know what i mean for too much was overcoming me and had gone untreated for so many years that it was intensifying i think) ANYWAY I am SOOOOOOOO glad that i went and sought help.
But BUT BUT living in a very small town and living in an area where everyone knows everything about everyone it seems....well, i was very uhm embarressed to even disclose this to anyone but my precious supportive husband. It literally took me years to tell my family, my daughters, my parents.......i was ashamed.....for the stigma of the illness was so unfavorable at that time, and so misunderstood, and every single show, movie, horror flick there was and massacres and acts of violence in society were all being linked to those who were "less than normal" or "bp or schizophrenic" and etc....
YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE NAIL WHEN YOU said that stigma keeps SOOO many from seeking help and I feel so badly for them because I know the difference medication can make. Been on BOTH sides of this issue and know that the path i'm on is the right one now.
I also have soooooo wanted to become an advocate to voice the things i know, the experiences i've had, the ability to function (at our own individual levels) with this illness and NOT be a threat to society.....that is the worst part of all....
literally told one friend....or thought they were a friend....and well, the look on their face was horrid....and shock and awe if you will....they literally said to me...."isn't that what hannibal or jeffery dahmer had?" GEEZ>>>>>>soooo YES my friend, you as the expert KNOW it to be true that stigma withholds so many from salvation or relief per say...
Please keep up your work with the DBSA and if you could let me know how I too could get involved. I have a lot to offer in the terms of "how it feels" i write poetry, short stories, reviews of meds, etc.....and well utilize photography, drawings, and journaling to cope and explain the mind of those of us "touched with fire" ......so please keep up the posts and the good work.....
with great thanks to this recognition of stigma
ctrygirl
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soccergal
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Thank you for your post it was awesome and comforting to read. I have been burdened and haunted by the fact that BP is a secret and has a negative stigma etc. as we BP's all know. I went online to research BP celebrities and you know what I found a tiny tiny little group 3 born after 1963. I was born in 1972. This is a joke, so many are in hidding no one in my decade! What's with all the dead people, now we can talk about their mental illness because they are not here or we give them applause because they were successful despite BP. It seems like when a celebrity experiences cancer or a rare disease we all take notice. Well not with BP everyone is scared to reveal or tell anyone because our society is so judgemental and ignorant. I have a Masters as well. I wish that I could be that voice to people, the celebrity. I also wish I could keep my secret so no one will know and peg me as crazy. What a chaotic mess we are in. No one is going to take BP seriously and give it dignity and repect until it happens to someone in the lime light.
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ctrygirl
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 11:20 AM
WAY tooo weird, for that is my generation too 1964!!!! Makes one wonder if they simply haven't posted those yet or if it is not something that others reveal....for i know the girl who was on Terminator is BP, Jane Pauley also....but hey they live another life than those of us in the core of america the regular citizens, and you are so right it will take someone FAMOUS at THIS moment in time in order for it to come to the forefront.....
but we know no matter how hard they try to stifle it there are so many out there undiagnosed or hiding the diagnosis.....i even read somewhere on famous bps that Donald Trump was considered bp....not that it would affect those of us NOT famous but they are out there dear, they are out there.....closets are closed, skeletons hushed, and yet those of us that do try to simply be ourselves ARE ostercized as you stated, it is a messed up world when being truthful is something one should hide in a closet huh?
But such is the way things are and we always have each other on this site to rebound ideas and thoughts and openly express ourselves did you go to this site??? if not you'd love it!!
http://bipolarworld.net/Bipolar%20Disorder/Articles/art14.htm
you may have to go to page 4 or further on to find one in our generation, but check it out and let me know what you think!!!
lots of appreciation for your post and reply and hope we get to converse again soon!
ctrygirl
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soccergal
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 01:00 AM
To be honest this is my second time sharing anything online. I have barely gone on any sites. I am so happy I got pissed of and said I HAVE HAD IT Last week I hit a breaking point. My doctor GP complimented me he said it is amazing that someone with your disability is so highly functioning. I interpreted it as good job you are surviving, I patted myself on the back, no big deal. Then i left the office and I did not know how to feel. I am almost divorced, I have 2 young children, and I am unemployed. The reason I am unemployed and not a candidate for my previous field is because of the results of a manic episode. I am dealing with the fallout of being manic and in the middle of a legal dispute with my criminal lawyer. If someone had told me 2 years ago that I would be sitting here in a mess I would have brushed them off. I will call it "the situation" it occured as the result of low theraputic medication levels, alcohol, an increase of awareness of my self and being manic. You can get into so much trouble when you are manic and alcohol did not help. I am not a drinker, I was drinking to deal with stress- mix with psych meds and being manic KABOOM!! I did not even remember details the next morning and I was later hospitilized as a result of it and media got involved, very messy. Maybe some of you can relate. I hate that being BP is such a secret, I do not tell any people at all. I have gone to great lengths to hide being BP. I bought book covers to cover any of my BP books, what if someone looks at my bookshelf I have hidden them at times. I waited for 3 months to fill out an emergency card because I did not want to disclose my medications, can you imagine what would happen if my work found out. I ran a half marathon in April 07, you have to put medical information on the back of your runninig bib and all the medications I have used more than the line provided. I added a paragraph that I was stable etc. This is what my doctor meant by highly functioning. This lead to my search for celebrities, it seems like things get done when they say so. I hate the secrets and lies to cover it up. If someone would just openly tell the US what happens when you are BP so many attitudes and misconceptions would dissapear, people would not be afraid. BP is not an excuse to break laws and be reckless. It is a HAZZARD zone if you are manic. I guess I need to include this to everyone DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WITH YOUR MEDICATIONS. Learn from me, I was in an altered state some of which could have been prevented. We all know about the colored warning lables on the bottles about alcohol, we see it so much today with a lot of medications, it can be brushed off here and there. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I played with fire and got burned. The situatiom has made me more proactive about dealing with being BP since my life will never be the same again. I am hopeful, I am smart and I posses so much to offer. I am going to school since I can never work in my prior profession. My parting words are GET FED UP and do something. For me it is putting the pieces back together. I am so comforted to read what everyone has to say. Thank you. WE ARE SPECIAL!!!
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ctrygirl
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 10:06 AM
OH we have both had some similar experiences,
I had my doctor AND my Social Security Lawyer tell me the same thing about being high functioning......my lawyer even said that he wanted and hoped
that the judge asked me questions about my bp and how it disables me to not be able to teach or work in any area at all for i was so "articulate and able to express the effects it has had on me".........
ARGH!!!
It was like putting a 10 ton weight on my shoulders, but thank goodness, the judge just read the 6 psych doct reports that i have had and the one my lawyer sent me to also and he decided within 15 minutes that i was disabled and it was granted...
BUT my point being, it is like they think that MOST bps can't express themselves, and then when they run across one that is able to they are leary that we are not as bp as they typically think of it in the sense of the word...
they do not understand, they do not see the nights of no sleep, the manic episodes, the depression that keeps us near the edge, the tactiles, the hallucinations and delusions (which i hear and see things that aren't there every single day of my life but have the ability to "talk" myself out of going completely over the edge, saying over and over in my head, that's not real, that's not real and utilizing my coping skills to thwart it), they don't see the tactile times when even a hug from my husband feels like a PUNCH, they don't see the mood swings from hour to hour or minute to minute (i am very rapid cycling) and they can't see the mania/depression combos that we experience (for i am also mixed mood and can be so depressed and yet manic at the SAME TIME!!!!!!!!! geez...)........they just don't understand it and to be honest i really don't either....
i live it, i go through it each day, i face the sunrise with hopes of lessened intensity of my disorder each morning, i literally could cry just picking out what i want to wear that day!!!
So i don't fully get it either, therefore i try not to be to hard in my opinion of those who DON"T have the illness who don't "get it" for it would be nearly impossible to unless you go through it ....i am a big believer of a "mile in my shoes" is the only way anyone could fully grasp what we go through.
It sounds like you are going through so much right now honey, and i want you to know that we are all here for you to vent to....this is a very secure, safe and understanding site where i often have posted just what was running through my head for no reason and no one ever has put me down for my petty posts.....
YOu my dear may need to get some of that out of you like you did in this last post .....it feels so good to put into words the experiences, the ordeals, and how we deal with them, for believe it or not there are so many on here who have and do still ...the same type of experiences that you mentioned.
I personally don't drink either, but trust me, there have been times i could have DOWNED shots of tequila and KNOW BETTER>>>yet at times we want to self medicate for it sure doesn't seem like our meds AT TIMES are doing enough, esp when going through such life changes as you are my dear......but please DO keep in the forefront of your mind that the "red labels" are right....and can literally make you worse, even to the point of hospitalization, or worse.......
I do alot of natural herbs to balance out what the meds are doing to my internal organs....like ginseng, yellowroot, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, and hemp seed oil......NOT RECOMMENDING jsut sharing, and my pdoc couldn't advise to take it for not FDA approved but told me none would adversly react with my meds......
I think as bps we often feel a NEED to help the medication along and keep us stable...and yet, we often make the wrong decisions, don't beat yourself up over it honey, trust me, we've all had these situations and we've all been down one less traveled path or another....
we are here for you KNOW THAT....and i wish you the best with the situations that you now face ......just keep in mind that "this too shall pass" and that ctry girl is sending positive energy your way, and prayers for you too.
You hang in there and please don't let the darn media get under your skin (that is a lot to ask no doubt) they report things as they wish, not always as the facts stand, very very biased and sure they had their heyday reporting your condition, but i happen to believe in KARMA and well, it will come back at them two fold if they misrepresneted you in any way honey......
you know the truth, you know you are a child of light, and you keep your head high, admit to your faults for that is the first step to accepting what we've done after we've done it.......trust me i have also done some things that i am not proud of either, but it was refreshing to see you say that we have to be responsible for our actions and can't blame it all on the disorder......but also it is important to be able to forgive yourself for a MISTAKE>>>not a purposeful event per say...
I only wish you the best and hope that you know there are many shoulders to lean on on here, I am ONE of them......goodluck to you with the attorney and I too am divorced (and now remarried ) and it was the best thing that ever happened to me in that area of my life......so sometimes things that look horrid at first, end up giving us 20/20 hindsight!!!
Thinking and praying and sending positive energy your way soccergirl..........
sincerely and with love
ctrygirl
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soccergal
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Thank you so much for writing such a long response of encouragement. I am such a slow typer my messages will not be as long. I want to address the articles about celebrities. What a tough unsafe place to be if you are a silent celeb with BP. When I had my manic episode I did something stupid. This now involves media: newspaper and the internet. In one day I appeared on 3 websites not good by the way because of one newspaper article. I do not belong on these sites and my picture was taken from a running website, I ran a half marathon. I was kicked off that site and now I am on a bunch of others. ONE DAY Now I hope I did not mislead you BP was not mentioned in the article. Right now it is disclosed information by my attorney and doctors. Can you imagine if this got out a frenzy. I know because I am changing my name and all that goes with it, a ton of work. What would that be like for a celebrity? They have no place to hide they are in the lime light. What happens is we BPers watch TV and media and we see some behavior that is similar to those with BP. Do you think an agent is gonna go on national television an disclose their client to be suffering from BP. When hell freezes over. Me and my situation is beans I can start over. Celebs can not. It seems so unfair because they can not be honest, but if they did they could be the voice for us all. Since I am not a celeb only to my kids. Ha Ha I will have to try to get others to understand and stop trying at the same time because it can be fruitless. My mom is not allowed to use the words "I understand" with me right now. She has no clue what hell I am in as a result of a manic episode. Better yet I have to go further and explain about BP. The phone was silent on the other end when I told her I am taking 9 different pills a day, some twice a day!! T proceeded to tell her 3 of the were level 2 on the controlled substance list of which I need a special prescription. I then told her I had to sit down once a week to fill my weekly meds case. I went some more and said some of them do not always expire at the same time time but I have got it down to 3 times a month I visit the pharmancy. HA HA HA HA (These meds kept me stable for 3 years, except for when I got manic this time) I kinda enjoyed it I finally felt like what can you say now? It felt so good. What could she say nothing, and I accept that because people do not understand.
This is why I have felt so strongly about a celebrity coming forward. The whole thing is complicated because no one is going to throw away their career to tell everyone, when I bet they are working their hardest to keep it their bussiness. I looked through many lists on many websites and only a few celebs are eligible to make a stand, I actually know one who would be perfect. This person is so successful and right in the middle of his career, he is on a role. A celeb who has passed on their prime and gone public can help, but we already know they are BP. Who is going to say anything about Buzz Aldrin and a ton of musicians who have had amazing careers, NO ONE! The key words are HAD CAREERS. I am sure they are not done but they have earned enough respect that the fact that they are BP is respected.
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soccergal
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Thank you so much for writing such a long response of encouragement. I am such a slow typer my messages will not be as long. I want to address the articles about celebrities. What a tough unsafe place to be if you are a silent celeb with BP. When I had my manic episode I did something stupid. This now involves media: newspaper and the internet. In one day I appeared on 3 websites not good by the way because of one newspaper article. I do not belong on these sites and my picture was taken from a running website, I ran a half marathon. I was kicked off that site and now I am on a bunch of others. ONE DAY Now I hope I did not mislead you BP was not mentioned in the article. Right now it is disclosed information by my attorney and doctors. Can you imagine if this got out a frenzy. I know because I am changing my name and all that goes with it, a ton of work. What would that be like for a celebrity? They have no place to hide they are in the lime light. What happens is we BPers watch TV and media and we see some behavior that is similar to those with BP. Do you think an agent is gonna go on national television an disclose their client to be suffering from BP. When hell freezes over. Me and my situation is beans I can start over. Celebs can not. It seems so unfair because they can not be honest, but if they did they could be the voice for us all. Since I am not a celeb only to my kids. Ha Ha I will have to try to get others to understand and stop trying at the same time because it can be fruitless. My mom is not allowed to use the words "I understand" with me right now. She has no clue what hell I am in as a result of a manic episode. Better yet I have to go further and explain about BP. The phone was silent on the other end when I told her I am taking 9 different pills a day, some twice a day!! T proceeded to tell her 3 of the were level 2 on the controlled substance list of which I need a special prescription. I then told her I had to sit down once a week to fill my weekly meds case. I went some more and said some of them do not always expire at the same time time but I have got it down to 3 times a month I visit the pharmancy. HA HA HA HA (These meds kept me stable for 3 years, except for when I got manic this time) I kinda enjoyed it I finally felt like what can you say now? It felt so good. What could she say nothing, and I accept that because people do not understand.
This is why I have felt so strongly about a celebrity coming forward. The whole thing is complicated because no one is going to throw away their career to tell everyone, when I bet they are working their hardest to keep it their bussiness. I looked through many lists on many websites and only a few celebs are eligible to make a stand, I actually know one who would be perfect. This person is so successful and right in the middle of his career, he is on a role. A celeb who has passed on their prime and gone public can help, but we already know they are BP. Who is going to say anything about Buzz Aldrin and a ton of musicians who have had amazing careers, NO ONE! The key words are HAD CAREERS. I am sure they are not done but they have earned enough respect that the fact that they are BP is respected.
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soccergal
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Thank you so much for writing such a long response of encouragement. I am such a slow typer my messages will not be as long. I want to address the articles about celebrities. What a tough unsafe place to be if you are a silent celeb with BP. When I had my manic episode I did something stupid. This now involves media: newspaper and the internet. In one day I appeared on 3 websites not good by the way because of one newspaper article. I do not belong on these sites and my picture was taken from a running website, I ran a half marathon. I was kicked off that site and now I am on a bunch of others. ONE DAY Now I hope I did not mislead you BP was not mentioned in the article. Right now it is disclosed information by my attorney and doctors. Can you imagine if this got out a frenzy. I know because I am changing my name and all that goes with it, a ton of work. What would that be like for a celebrity? They have no place to hide they are in the lime light. What happens is we BPers watch TV and media and we see some behavior that is similar to those with BP. Do you think an agent is gonna go on national television an disclose their client to be suffering from BP. When hell freezes over. Me and my situation is beans I can start over. Celebs can not. It seems so unfair because they can not be honest, but if they did they could be the voice for us all. Since I am not a celeb only to my kids. Ha Ha I will have to try to get others to understand and stop trying at the same time because it can be fruitless. My mom is not allowed to use the words "I understand" with me right now. She has no clue what hell I am in as a result of a manic episode. Better yet I have to go further and explain about BP. The phone was silent on the other end when I told her I am taking 9 different pills a day, some twice a day!! T proceeded to tell her 3 of the were level 2 on the controlled substance list of which I need a special prescription. I then told her I had to sit down once a week to fill my weekly meds case. I went some more and said some of them do not always expire at the same time time but I have got it down to 3 times a month I visit the pharmancy. HA HA HA HA (These meds kept me stable for 3 years, except for when I got manic this time) I kinda enjoyed it I finally felt like what can you say now? It felt so good. What could she say nothing, and I accept that because people do not understand.
This is why I have felt so strongly about a celebrity coming forward. The whole thing is complicated because no one is going to throw away their career to tell everyone, when I bet they are working their hardest to keep it their bussiness. I looked through many lists on many websites and only a few celebs are eligible to make a stand, I actually know one who would be perfect. This person is so successful and right in the middle of his career, he is on a role. A celeb who has passed on their prime and gone public can help, but we already know they are BP. Who is going to say anything about Buzz Aldrin and a ton of musicians who have had amazing careers, NO ONE! The key words are HAD CAREERS. I am sure they are not done but they have earned enough respect that the fact that they are BP is respected.
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soccergal
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Thank you so much for writing such a long response of encouragement. I am such a slow typer my messages will not be as long. I want to address the articles about celebrities. What a tough unsafe place to be if you are a silent celeb with BP. When I had my manic episode I did something stupid. This now involves media: newspaper and the internet. In one day I appeared on 3 websites not good by the way because of one newspaper article. I do not belong on these sites and my picture was taken from a running website, I ran a half marathon. I was kicked off that site and now I am on a bunch of others. ONE DAY Now I hope I did not mislead you BP was not mentioned in the article. Right now it is disclosed information by my attorney and doctors. Can you imagine if this got out a frenzy. I know because I am changing my name and all that goes with it, a ton of work. What would that be like for a celebrity? They have no place to hide they are in the lime light. What happens is we BPers watch TV and media and we see some behavior that is similar to those with BP. Do you think an agent is gonna go on national television an disclose their client to be suffering from BP. When hell freezes over. Me and my situation is beans I can start over. Celebs can not. It seems so unfair because they can not be honest, but if they did they could be the voice for us all. Since I am not a celeb only to my kids. Ha Ha I will have to try to get others to understand and stop trying at the same time because it can be fruitless. My mom is not allowed to use the words "I understand" with me right now. She has no clue what hell I am in as a result of a manic episode. Better yet I have to go further and explain about BP. The phone was silent on the other end when I told her I am taking 9 different pills a day, some twice a day!! T proceeded to tell her 3 of the were level 2 on the controlled substance list of which I need a special prescription. I then told her I had to sit down once a week to fill my weekly meds case. I went some more and said some of them do not always expire at the same time time but I have got it down to 3 times a month I visit the pharmancy. HA HA HA HA (These meds kept me stable for 3 years, except for when I got manic this time) I kinda enjoyed it I finally felt like what can you say now? It felt so good. What could she say nothing, and I accept that because people do not understand.
This is why I have felt so strongly about a celebrity coming forward. The whole thing is complicated because no one is going to throw away their career to tell everyone, when I bet they are working their hardest to keep it their bussiness. I looked through many lists on many websites and only a few celebs are eligible to make a stand, I actually know one who would be perfect. This person is so successful and right in the middle of his career, he is on a role. A celeb who has passed on their prime and gone public can help, but we already know they are BP. Who is going to say anything about Buzz Aldrin and a ton of musicians who have had amazing careers, NO ONE! The key words are HAD CAREERS. I am sure they are not done but they have earned enough respect that the fact that they are BP is respected.
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soccergal
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Thank you so much for writing such a long response of encouragement. I am such a slow typer my messages will not be as long. I want to address the articles about celebrities. What a tough unsafe place to be if you are a silent celeb with BP. When I had my manic episode I did something stupid. This now involves media: newspaper and the internet. In one day I appeared on 3 websites not good by the way because of one newspaper article. I do not belong on these sites and my picture was taken from a running website, I ran a half marathon. I was kicked off that site and now I am on a bunch of others. ONE DAY Now I hope I did not mislead you BP was not mentioned in the article. Right now it is disclosed information by my attorney and doctors. Can you imagine if this got out a frenzy. I know because I am changing my name and all that goes with it, a ton of work. What would that be like for a celebrity? They have no place to hide they are in the lime light. What happens is we BPers watch TV and media and we see some behavior that is similar to those with BP. Do you think an agent is gonna go on national television an disclose their client to be suffering from BP. When hell freezes over. Me and my situation is beans I can start over. Celebs can not. It seems so unfair because they can not be honest, but if they did they could be the voice for us all. Since I am not a celeb only to my kids. Ha Ha I will have to try to get others to understand and stop trying at the same time because it can be fruitless. My mom is not allowed to use the words "I understand" with me right now. She has no clue what hell I am in as a result of a manic episode. Better yet I have to go further and explain about BP. The phone was silent on the other end when I told her I am taking 9 different pills a day, some twice a day!! T proceeded to tell her 3 of the were level 2 on the controlled substance list of which I need a special prescription. I then told her I had to sit down once a week to fill my weekly meds case. I went some more and said some of them do not always expire at the same time time but I have got it down to 3 times a month I visit the pharmancy. HA HA HA HA (These meds kept me stable for 3 years, except for when I got manic this time) I kinda enjoyed it I finally felt like what can you say now? It felt so good. What could she say nothing, and I accept that because people do not understand.
This is why I have felt so strongly about a celebrity coming forward. The whole thing is complicated because no one is going to throw away their career to tell everyone, when I bet they are working their hardest to keep it their bussiness. I looked through many lists on many websites and only a few celebs are eligible to make a stand, I actually know one who would be perfect. This person is so successful and right in the middle of his career, he is on a role. A celeb who has passed on their prime and gone public can help, but we already know they are BP. Who is going to say anything about Buzz Aldrin and a ton of musicians who have had amazing careers, NO ONE! The key words are HAD CAREERS. I am sure they are not done but they have earned enough respect that the fact that they are BP is respected.
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soccergal
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 03:01 AM
Apparently the send button went crazy. I was at the doctors office and I hit a gold mine! The office had a subscription to a small magazine called Healthmonitor the magazine is devoted to health care. On the entire cover is a picture of "Sopranos" star Joe Pantoliano with the headline Feeling Good "Sopranos" star Joe Pantoliano speaks out about his battle with depression. Wow!!! Now the date of the magazine was old June/July not too old. The article is great it tells about his undiagnosed condition and how he went to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with clinical debression and it even listed out his treatment including antidepressant medication.
So as do we all we start to look at our family history and he was sure his mother suffered from undiagnosis bipolar disease. The article did a wonderful job of explaing BP. After this he started to learn how stigmatizing mental illness can be. He gave us credit at BP by saying this broad statement. Come to find out he was taking a physical for work on a movie for insurance, and he started talking about his antidepressant meds. Two days later he gets a call from his lawyer saying they won't cover him if he has a "nervous breakdown" He countered with his meds for high cholesterol, they will cover you for a heat attack but won't cover a "psychotic episode." BAM He lost a job because he disclosed a mental illness. This is why many are staying silent as celebs. It gets better he is so open about depression with anyone he was interviewed by NBC Brian Williams and allowed himself to be featured in People Magazine about Dpression. Good Job Joe!!!!!! Well he is even more amazing he has started a foundation called (I LOVE THE NAME) No Kidding Me Too NKM2. He is spreading the word about mental illnesses not just depression! I have more to write tired, I will tomorrow this is good news celebs are being open, the walls are just starting to come down. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ctygrl you are gonna be happy about this
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ctrygirl
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 05:47 AM
THANK YOU for this post!!!
I feel so sorry for the man for you know as well as i how sad it is to be judged as such and then to loose his job!!! BUT it is good news for us that he was so brave as to talk about it and open up a website too!!! What a weird coincidence that you found that article after we were just talking about it!!! Well, no coincidences in my opinion, you were meant to read that and share it with us all...NOW maybe it will get the attention of others and hopefully he'll become a big advocate for the disorder....it is sad, but i guess it takes someone like a celeb to "come out" and create recognition of what we go through. I CAN"T BELIEVE THEY TOLD HIM WHAT THEY DID>>>YOU ARE SO ON IT that if it were for a heart attack or diabetes, or any other "condition" he'd have been covered....and NOT lost his job!! THat is absolutely discrimination and i hope that he does something about it!! UNREAL!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE POST AND YES I LOVED HEARING THAT SOMEONE HAD THE DETERMINATION TO ignore the biased and go forth with helping others...thanks for the website i'm going to check it out.....hope its already up and running....want to THANK HIM!!
well honey, take care and thank you, hope you get some rest!!
sincerely
ctrygirl
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soccergal
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 09:41 PM
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ctrygirl
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 08:43 AM
I SO AGREE EDUCATION< EDUCATION EDUCATION>>>>personally i'm an education ADDICT>>>>NO JOKE>>>>it is the answer to so much, so many things we never even realize how much i believe..
thank you for your post and i only wish you the best and most positive results...and yes my dear the uneducated STILL stigmatize, so tread carefully my dear...tread carefully..
with love and concern and support!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hang in there!!
your ctrygirl
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soccergal
Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 02:58 AM
I do not know how the site works. This was all about celebs. How do I get in a place to chat more about other things. Especially with you. I like your fire and passion in what you write. lol
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ctrygirl
Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 07:09 AM
I know, seems we just connected somehow.....
you stay strong and message me on my profile anytime you want to discuss anything further or more in detail .....hang in there I'm pulling for you in your time of stressful incidents honey
ctrygirl
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Jen
Friday, February 22, 2008 at 03:15 PM
I agree that the media shouldn't hype speculation and throw out diagnosis (what is the plural of that anyway...diagnosies?) at the same time it's only natural for people to figure out what is going on. Especially when there is an abrupt change in a persons behavior. It is unfortunate for celebrities because they are in the public eye and tabloid journalism is a major industry. At the same time I think it is important to not label someone a "wacko" without seriously considering mental illness. I was so thankful when I was treated with true concern and respect by people at my college when I was going through my first major manic episode. I personally like that the media does question the possibility of mental illness because it has sparked some interesting conversations between myself and others and given me opportunities to share my feelings about my illness and helped to tell others to be more compassionate and not throw around words like "Bipolar" because it is a serious problem that should be taken seriously. Whew. =)
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Anonymous
Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 10:19 PM
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24hbipolar2
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 08:04 AM
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John McManamy
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Spot on. I've done two shareposts here on Britney Spears, and in both I didn't even hint at bipolar or any other DSM "disorder." Between Britney's upbringing and exposure to fame and harrassment by thugs with cameras even Beaver Cleaver's mom would flip. I think it's totally irresponsible for these celebrity MDs to go on cable TV and speculate what her diagnosis must be.
By sheer coincidence, my current post just happens to be on historical figures with depression or bipolar. Here we have a clear distinction - drawing conclusions tends to be a no-brainer. With my own little gallery we're talking about a 50 percent suicide rate and 100 percent very clear red flags. Moreover, the written record is exceptionally strong - diary and journal entries, contemporary accounts, plus dispassionate analysis many many years later, away from the heat of media hysteria. For instance Lincoln wrote that he was the most miserable person on earth, his friends were so worried when he went to pieces they removed the knives from his house, etc (strong evidence of depression but not bipolar). In virtually all the historical figures we find strong evidence of mental illness in the families - suicides, institutionalizations, etc. Finally, we get acknowledged authories weighing in - people such as Kay Jamison.
This is in stark contrast to the drive-by speculation going on about today's celebs.
If Britney and others wish to publicly disclose the conversations between themselves and their clinicians, then fine - we'll have something to go on.
In the meantime, our own experience gives us some insight into what Britney and others are going through. Fortunately, we can respond with compassion and understanding.
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ctrygirl
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I fully and TOTALLY agree that being in the public eye CONSTANTLY doesn't seem to lend itself to being able to heal, cope or even seek help without a camera shoved in your face.
I feel so sorry for those that are celebraties and that may sound odd for i know they don't always seem to need our sympathies when it comes to many areas of life for they are rather uhm monetarily above many of us...but it just goes to prove that money and fame doesn't cure all and create a perfect environment like some of us may assume. Actually it could make things WORSE.....in MY opinion that is....
I so feel for Britney also, and so wish they'd let her have some space and freedom to seek help without their clicking cameras and selfish ways of wanting to get the SCOOP!! They seem to forget what they are doing TO her and her CHILDREN when they do such things.....irrepairable damage could very well rear its ugly head for her OR for her family!!!
As always you are RIGHT ON IT JOHN!!!
Empathy for such situations: for those we, as the American people, have put on some kind of pedastal and placed in a world of whirlwind photos and scoop stories and even false reporting from the media, can only seem to come from those of us who have been there, those of us that recognize symptoms that imitate our own, yet we judge not their behavior.....because we have been judged and labeled ourselves as less than equal to others.....
I love reading your post, keep at it and keep trying to keep us on track!!
sincerly,
ctrygirl
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cgoehring78
Tuesday, March 04, 2008 at 04:30 PM
In America we have the right to free speech, allowing the media to print what they feel will sell their wares. If they are wrong, they lose.
Sometimes we can even find a celebrity speculating about another celebrity. Caveat emptor.
"Author Steel knows Spears family mental illness pain"
http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN1364276520080215?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
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