Joicy,
I'm so glad you wrote this to Vicci, because this occurred to me, too,
when I read her latest e-mail message. The bipolar disorder experience
if often referred to as a "roller coaster type ride," because of the
shift between the highs and lows. From what I've read (Patty Duke wrote
a book about her bipolar disorder), bipolars (or manic-depressives) shift
(or cycle) at different rates of speed. Some cycle fast - all within the
same day! Others can go months at one level (say, depression) and then
they shift to another level (say, manic-behavior like spending money
excessively, displaying risk-taking behavior, talking fast, etc., etc.).
I won't claim to know a lot about the disorder, but I understand that the
books written by Kay Redfield Jamison on the subject are quite good. One
of the books I picked up at a yardsale this weekend for my brother (who
might be bipolar like my dad was) is Moodswing, by Dr. Ronald r. Fieve.
The woman running the yardsale was bipolar and she said it's a very good
book on the subject.
I agree w/Joicy, though, that an evaluation by a psychiatrist may be in
order. The description you used brought bipolar disorder to my mind,
too. And read that book by Patty Duke on her experience with the
disorder. The chapters alternate between her own experience (with a
severe case of it) and basic information about the disorder and the
various types of it. Apparently, some people have milder swings in mood
than do others. And the mania can show itself in many different ways.
And people cycle at different rates of speed. I think people can behave
grandiose when they're manic, too. But I suspect Joicy knows a great
deal more about bipolar disorder than I do. This is all pretty new to
me. I am just grateful, grateful, grateful, that I inherited only the
depression and obsessive worrying!
Oh, another thing. In the description on the back of this Moodswing
book, it says the book covers (among other things): "How manic
depression, alcoholism, and substance abuse go hand in hand."
Apparently, undiagnosed manic-depressives tend to self-medicate
themselves with alcohol and/or other drugs, like my dad did.
-Jean
P.S. One other thing. I agree completely w/Joicy that manic-depressives
can be so-o-o charming. A judge once told my mother that dad was the
best con-artist he'd ever seen. My dad, bless his soul, was very
polished and quite a smooth talker (sometimes). No doubt about it.
That's why we clung to him so long, despite the abuse - because it took
us a long time to realize that pretty words don't mean much without good
actions to back them up!
On Sun, 26 Jul 1998 19:57:31 -0400 Joicy Becker-Richards
<joicy@erols.com> writes:
>Hi, Vicci...part of the intensity of his moods may be his youth or
>lack
>of maturity, but it occurs to me that it might be more than that. You
>may want to have him evaluated for bi-polar disorder (used to be
>called
>manic depression). I have been around a lot of this, and I have
>wondered
>since you first started sharing your challenges with him if this might
>not be an element (I used to be married to one, and yes, they can be
>very charming!). Just a thought, because it sounds like the cancer is
>just one small part of his battle. Love, Joicy
>
>Vicci Ewen wrote:
>>
>> Hi Joicy, Thank you for the kudos! It seems that every day has
>it's ups
>> and down with him and we are all ( his girlfriend of seven years, me
>and
>> dad) right on top of him. Only if he starts in do we let him know
>exactly
>> how we feel about what he doing or saying or acting. Maybe one of
>these
>> days IT will sink in. I have to admit after going thru this for
>weeks now
>> that he's the same immature person he was before surgery. That's
>whats
>> helping me now. I've figured out that he has a great outlook about
>his
>> situation ( or has disregarded it totally) and he is the very same
>person
>> he was before. I don't want him to be depressed or worried every
>second
>> about the cancer so I guess I can be glad that he's the same pain in
>the
>> butt as he was before C.
>> Also I've figured out that his emotions take to the highest level.
>When
>> he's happy he VERY happy, if mean then VERY mean, if helpful then
>VERY
>> helpful. There is nothing low key about Rich. This C is helping me
>to
>> know my very own kid like never before. And he can change moods
>VERY
>> quickly and OFTEN. I always loved the roller coaster at the Long
>Beach
>> pike and at Magic Mountain but this is one roller coaster ride I
>wish had a
>> few less ups and downs. Thanks, Joicy for the good advice. It
>really does
>> help to have different perspectives. Love ya Vicci
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