Posted by toph on September 7, 2008, at 7:58:29
In reply to Re: Bipolar Spectrum » Toph, posted by Quintal on September 6, 2008, at 13:12:56
I was glad to see you guys respond to my post. Sorry Scott if it is a bit of a diversion but it is my reaction to your article nonetheless. I have a hard time seeing BPD as a spectrum as if BPI is bluer than a reddish BPII. Not a biochemist, so I could be wrong here, but the psychosis of my mania separates me from identifying with my mood disorder bretheran. Okay so why on earth would I be proud of having a more serious disorder? I'm not happy about my illness but accepting it was such a huge part of learning to manage it. And seeing and identifying with other psychotic manics definitely motivated me to becoming compliant with it's treatment. Also, just because most people with either form of bipolar disorder benefit from mood stabilizers shouldn't necessarily mean they are the same disorder. I have always found it ironic that my illness with it's extremely severe manic and depressed episodes has been rendered into essential remission through a simple salt while others on the more begnign side of the spectrum struggle for relief with all variety of psychotropic cocktails. I think though while we all share a similar struggle that binds us as friends, we also tend to have our interest sparked by those with similar experiences and symptomatology as ourselves - be it OCD, eating disorders, depression, thought disorders or mania. I suppose its just that if I have to have a label that becomes some part of my identity, it better be an accurate one.
poster:toph
thread:850483
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080903/msgs/850759.html