Addiction advice thread

MR V said:
It definitely is so amazing, pity those outside the box will never know the truth!
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You mean those "Inside" the box, I like to think I jumped out the box a very long time ago!
And yes, I do pity them! But in a way I am happy they aren't like me, otherwise I would have nothing to be grateful for!
 
EvilQueen said:
My doctor wants to diagnose me with Bipolar, and then my very intelligent-but-not-so-smart-best-friend seems to want to agree with the doctor.
I do not believe that I do have Bipolar.
I have come to like my so called "sunny disposition".
And if that means that (should I ever get diagnosed) I am not naturally like this, it is all because of a chemical imbalance in my brain then so be it!
I say, Cheers to that my friend! If having Bipolar makes me happy and puts me on a natural high, helps me deal with life's issues a little bit easier than most then whats so wrong with it?
As long as I'm not harming myself or anyone/anything else, it's all good!
Yes, there are times that I act a little disturbing, but hey, that's life and at least it keeps people guessing!
I wish more people could experience life the way that I do!
As for drugs and bipolar, now that is something else! Stay away! Been there, done that, got addicted, although I will never openly admit it, but, managed to find my way out before things got out of control!
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Thats the beauty of bipolar.....You think you're ok....maybe even for years...Then the train gets derailed...
 
I got "derailed" but now back on track, according to the psych I saw, he said that the only way to know a person is Bipolar, is when they have an "episode".
 
BipolarDude.ADHD said:
Thats the beauty of bipolar.....You think you're ok....maybe even for years...Then the train gets derailed...
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Noooooooooooo.................... don't say that! I dread that day! Maybe I should just go have my self checked out! The doctor that originally wanted to diagnose me is a quack, so maybe I should go to JHB or some place bigger than the town I am in, there should be a specialist somewhere........... And hopefully, they can tell me that I am just one of the lucky ones, I am perfectly healthy and no chemical imbalances. lol!
 
EvilQueen said:
My doctor wants to diagnose me with Bipolar, and then my very intelligent-but-not-so-smart-best-friend seems to want to agree with the doctor.
I do not believe that I do have Bipolar.
I have come to like my so called "sunny disposition".
And if that means that (should I ever get diagnosed) I am not naturally like this, it is all because of a chemical imbalance in my brain then so be it!
I say, Cheers to that my friend! If having Bipolar makes me happy and puts me on a natural high, helps me deal with life's issues a little bit easier than most then whats so wrong with it?
As long as I'm not harming myself or anyone/anything else, it's all good!
Yes, there are times that I act a little disturbing, but hey, that's life and at least it keeps people guessing!
I wish more people could experience life the way that I do!
As for drugs and bipolar, now that is something else! Stay away! Been there, done that, got addicted, although I will never openly admit it, but, managed to find my way out before things got out of control!
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I'm curious EvilQueen, why does your doctor want to diagnose you as bipolar? There must be more to it than a "sunny disposition"...
Why did you go to the doctor in the first place?
By doctor, I assume you mean psychiatrist doctor, since a GP is not qualified to diagnose bipolar?
As far as I can tell, a diagnosis is only made if you are unable to function properly or if your 'condition' causes you a great amount of distress.
Sorry for all the questions, I'm studying psychology and am genuinely interested in the 'symptoms' you have that would lead to your doctor wanting to diagnose you with bipolar!
(Sometimes I think doctors diagnose too quickly and too easily - a DSM diagnosis is not an exact science and in the end it is a doctors educated opinion)
 
joelus said:
I'm curious EvilQueen, why does your doctor want to diagnose you as bipolar? There must be more to it than a "sunny disposition"...
Why did you go to the doctor in the first place?
By doctor, I assume you mean psychiatrist doctor, since a GP is not qualified to diagnose bipolar?
As far as I can tell, a diagnosis is only made if you are unable to function properly or if your 'condition' causes you a great amount of distress.
Sorry for all the questions, I'm studying psychology and am genuinely interested in the 'symptoms' you have that would lead to your doctor wanting to diagnose you with bipolar!
(Sometimes I think doctors diagnose too quickly and too easily - a DSM diagnosis is not an exact science and in the end it is a doctors educated opinion)
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Ok, so, I am a very "happy" person by nature. I have "episodes" where I become very depressed for absolutely no reason, there is nothing to motivate the mood change. Which I do not like at all, I've had the occasional suicidal thought during these "episodes". I went to the doc to get a mild anti-depressant or something I could use during these "episodes" because I hate feeling like that. Like I said, they only happen once in a blue moon, without any motivation. Best way to describe it is like being on a super high ecstasy trip for a long time, and then having a super bad come down. He obviously had to ask all kinds of questions because of me wanting anti-depressants. My ex-fiance's sister has manic bipolar, so I have been exposed to it, and I mentioned to him that during my "episodes" I feel like I can relate to her. He did mention that I shouldn't be having "episodes" for no reason, and the fact that I'm always abnormally happy ( I consider it to be abnormal when I look at the people around me, as to me every day feels like I just won the lottery, a boat cruise, a sports car and the love of my life's heart) should raise some concern. He suggested that we monitor the "episodes" and that it sounds to him that it could be a form of bipolar. If there is some form of a patern then we should maybe have me evaluated for bipolar.
I completely agree that a GP is not qualified to diagnose bipolar, and at first I blew his suggestion off. I think denial got the better of me.
A few people started commenting on my moods, and so I did a little reading on the disorder. I understand that is a very complex thing to diangnose, and there are many ways of doing so. But now I feel that maybe I should just go have myself checked. They say admittance is the first step to recovery. Rahter safe than sorry.
Anyway, this is just the situation in a nutshell.
 
EvilQueen said:
Ok, so, I am a very "happy" person by nature. I have "episodes" where I become very depressed for absolutely no reason, there is nothing to motivate the mood change. Which I do not like at all, I've had the occasional suicidal thought during these "episodes". I went to the doc to get a mild anti-depressant or something I could use during these "episodes" because I hate feeling like that. Like I said, they only happen once in a blue moon, without any motivation. Best way to describe it is like being on a super high ecstasy trip for a long time, and then having a super bad come down.
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Reading your reply, I feel concerned because I have that same issue. Super happy high's, and very depressing/suicidal lows. But I seem to find myself "uplifted" rather easily. The smallest things makes me happy.
 
I dont really understand how some people are naturally more prone to addictive behaviour than others. I sometimes feel that people with bipolar or addictive tendencies are constantly in attention whore mode. Its difficult to grasp if you've never experienced any of it i guess

This talk about "episodes" :wtf: wtf serious attention whore mode going on... "Look at me, look at me, everyone hates me i suck so bad, look at me"
You dont see poor people in rural places have "episodes" cause they have enough sheat to deal with and have no time to create more bull.
 
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Vegeta said:
I dont really understand how some people are naturally more prone to addictive behaviour than others. I sometimes feel that people with bipolar or addictive tendencies are constantly in attention whore mode. Its difficult to grasp if you've never experienced any of it i guess

This talk about "episodes" :wtf: wtf serious attention whore mode going on... "Look at me, look at me, everyone hates me i suck so bad, look at me"
You dont see poor people in rural places have "episodes" cause they have enough sheat to deal with and have no time to create more bull.
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Maybe if you actually did some research into subjects like bipolar, addiction and depression, you would have a better understanding.
Your lack of understanding is mostly due to your ignorance.
Maybe you don't see poor people in rural places having "episodes" because you don't spend enough time with poor rural people?
It is true that 'mental illnesses' are often culture bound.
Go ask your local sangoma about Amafufunyana for example. Symptoms include psychosis, anxiety, depression, somatoform reactions, and destructive / aggressive behaviour.
In the west we would diagnose this as a psychosis or perhaps even bipolar if the anxiety/depression alternate with extreme highs. In rural African cultures it is understood to be spirit possession due to witchcraft or sorcery. To say it doesn't exit just because you haven't seen it is a display of profound ignorance.
With regards to a genetic predisposition to addiction -> http://tinyurl.com/2v293j2
 
joelus said:
Maybe if you actually did some research into subjects like bipolar, addiction and depression, you would have a better understanding.
Your lack of understanding is mostly due to your ignorance.
Maybe you don't see poor people in rural places having "episodes" because you don't spend enough time with poor rural people?
It is true that 'mental illnesses' are often culture bound.
Go ask your local sangoma about Amafufunyana for example. Symptoms include psychosis, anxiety, depression, somatoform reactions, and destructive / aggressive behaviour.
In the west we would diagnose this as a psychosis or perhaps even bipolar if the anxiety/depression alternate with extreme highs. In rural African cultures it is understood to be spirit possession due to witchcraft or sorcery. To say it doesn't exit just because you haven't seen it is a display of profound ignorance.
With regards to a genetic predisposition to addiction -> http://tinyurl.com/2v293j2
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Wait wait hold up hold up I'm not denying metal illness. Let me try and say this better... every damm spoiled kid has "bipolar" and it's becoming more and more common. What i'm trying to say is that it seems to have become more of a culture and environment thing these days. People saying things like i have mild bipolar wtf?
You suffer from mental illness or you're seeking attention but there seems to be a middle ground these days.
 
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Vegeta said:
Wait wait hold up hold up I'm not denying metal illness. Let me try and say this better... every damm spoiled kid has "bipolar" and it's becoming more and more common. What i'm trying to say is that it seems to have become more of a culture and environment thing these days. People saying things like i have mild bipolar wtf?
You suffer from mental illness or you're seeking attention but there seems to be a middle ground these days.
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Oh OK, I see what you're saying, that it seems almost fashionable these days.
I agree with you that doctors diagnose bipolar (and ADD in children) way too easily and over-diagnose, yes.
Far too often.
And too many people self-diagnose not realising that the symptoms of bipolar, for example, are symptoms we all experience.
Having mood swings doesn't mean you're mildly bipolar it means you're a normal human being.
It's only when those mood swings become so extreme that they interfere in your normal day to day functioning that you go for a diagnosis and medication.
If it becomes so bad that you're unable to work or relate to others in any meaningful way, for example.
We all can feel happy one day and sad the next, that's not bipolar.

On the other hand, perhaps the increase in bipolar diagnosis reflects a society and culture that is becoming increasingly dysfunctional?
 
More people get diagnosed because the more people that are 'sick' the more money is made. Sadly the people who make the medicine and the people who diagnose the illness are sometimes closer than they should be.
 
EvilQueen said:
Ok, so, I am a very "happy" person by nature. I have "episodes" where I become very depressed for absolutely no reason, there is nothing to motivate the mood change. Which I do not like at all, I've had the occasional suicidal thought during these "episodes". I went to the doc to get a mild anti-depressant or something I could use during these "episodes" because I hate feeling like that. Like I said, they only happen once in a blue moon, without any motivation. Best way to describe it is like being on a super high ecstasy trip for a long time, and then having a super bad come down. He obviously had to ask all kinds of questions because of me wanting anti-depressants. My ex-fiance's sister has manic bipolar, so I have been exposed to it, and I mentioned to him that during my "episodes" I feel like I can relate to her. He did mention that I shouldn't be having "episodes" for no reason, and the fact that I'm always abnormally happy ( I consider it to be abnormal when I look at the people around me, as to me every day feels like I just won the lottery, a boat cruise, a sports car and the love of my life's heart) should raise some concern. He suggested that we monitor the "episodes" and that it sounds to him that it could be a form of bipolar. If there is some form of a patern then we should maybe have me evaluated for bipolar.
I completely agree that a GP is not qualified to diagnose bipolar, and at first I blew his suggestion off. I think denial got the better of me.
A few people started commenting on my moods, and so I did a little reading on the disorder. I understand that is a very complex thing to diangnose, and there are many ways of doing so. But now I feel that maybe I should just go have myself checked. They say admittance is the first step to recovery. Rahter safe than sorry.
Anyway, this is just the situation in a nutshell.
Click to expand...

Maybe your intelligent-but-not-smart(-at-all) friend has a very different real opinion of things, but decides not to share it with you for a number of reasons? Maybe your condition is a combination of genes, (tragic) past experiences, and a need that is not being filled? There are things you are not mentioning on here (for obvious reasons) that are more likely to be a much greater contributing factor to your mental and emotional state than you are willing to admit. I'm not judging by any means (nor trying to flame you), though I do think there is more to your situation then your are allowing to be perceived and may possibly be explained via a different diagnosis.


Vegeta said:
+1 Like this
Can't agree more
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Very true, I think. How much of what we do everyday is meaningless to the extent of leaving us more empty and less connected than ever before? We look for the right things in all the wrong places and blame (unknowingly) exactly what we shouldn't.

Not to say bipolar disorder doesn't exist. I'm sure it does. But, the way things are going, every person on this rock is bipolar.

Anyway, my opinion may be complete shyte and i may not be such a good friend after all... who knows...
 
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