Bipolar Plus

What piece of work is a bipolar? Okay, not exactly Shakespeare, but that is the question. Let's consider seven bipolars in my life: two of them are friends from New Jersey, two friends from California, one is recently deceased, one a past romantic relationship, another a present one. Plus myself, which makes eight. For privacy reasons, I will mix up the order and not reveal who is who.

The individuals represent a vast range of backgrounds, qualifications, and interests. One has a pair of professional degrees from two different Ivy League institutions, another is a high school graduate pumping gas. One grew up on a farm, another perks up in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. Most are creatively or culturally gifted, some are relative philistines, and at least one manages to combine strong elements of both. Most have religious or spiritual inclinations, but there is at least one atheist. One, until fairly recently, was an elite marathon runner, while at least two are inexcusably negligent with regard to their physical health. On and on it goes.

All of us have a lot more going on in our lives than just bipolar. For the purpose of simplicity, we'll reduce it to just one other thing, thus:

Bipolar plus anxiety issues, bipolar plus alcohol and substance use, bipolar plus psychosis, bipolar plus borderline personality disorder, bipolar plus PTSD, bipolar plus ADD, bipolar plus past abuse, bipolar plus personal insecurities.

None of us has a monopoly on any of the "plus" concerns. Anxiety and attention deficits seem to go with the territory, whether as fully-fledged diagnoses or not. Excessive alcohol and drug use has been a concern with a number of individuals, and past abuse looms large. And, of course, we all have personal issues. On top of that, sleep is the great destroyer. But let's keep it simple:

Bipolar plus Anxiety Dude: This individual lives comfortably within his mood cycles. Indeed, bipolar is no longer his biggest concern. But he does have a tendency to over-think, which causes him to panic, which places him at extreme risk of flipping out. In stressful conditions that play to his strengths, he is as cool as a cucumber, which makes him successful in running his own business. But subject him to the wrong type of stress, and you are looking at the least stable and most incompetent person on the planet.

Bipolar plus Borderline Gal: An enormously talented and personable woman, she may find herself in a situation where she is enjoying herself in the company of others. Suddenly, she wonders if she has double-locked the door to her apartment. What if her cat picks the other lock? she starts thinking. Suddenly, she needs to leave. But a nice man is talking to her and won't stop. Next thing, out of nowhere, she explodes, lays into him. People stare. Suddenly, the world is very threatening. Two days later, she checks into a hospital.

Bipolar plus Alcohol and Substance Use Dude: Just when this individual seems to be getting his life on track, something stressful comes up. Next thing, he's reaching for something to help him cope. Next thing, he's picking up the pieces. Reaction to stress? An insatiable craving? Self-medicating from the bipolar? Perhaps all of the above.