Posted by jane d on March 29, 2004, at 1:52:37
In reply to Re: Bi-Polar Popularity ! » redmaryjane, posted by greywolf on March 28, 2004, at 9:27:54
> I think this is more common than people would like to admit. If they knew what it was really like to be BP, it would be the last thing they'd voluntarily adopt as a dx.
What is it like to be BP? In this thread you can tell that there are at least 2 definitions being used but you'll only be aware of that if you are very familiar with the subject already. Is it surprising that people get confused when they hear that they or a friend are bipolar 2 or that they suddenly have these nightmares of being Sally Field on ER screaming and fighting or Kay Redfield Jamieson circling a parking lot endlessly?
I don't want to get into an argument on what is the true bipolar. Labeling it a spectrum is a hypothesis about a common cause - and with any luck a common treatment - not a statement that the symptoms look the same. Personally I think it's a theory that makes sense at least for now.
It is possible that it's being overdiagnosed but if so it's probably for the same reason all these Dx's can be - it's very hard to know exactly where the line between normal and ill. Doctors are also probably influenced by the hope that mood stabilizers will work for a bunch of people they couldn't do much with in the past and the diagnosis is a reflection of that hope. If it doesn't work fewer people will be diagnosed. Is that really a fad?
Jane,
who doesn't have a BP x.xxx diagnosis - yet.
poster:jane d
thread:328931
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040325/msgs/329716.html