Bipolar Disorder Prevalence –
Tuesday night I watched Dateline’s 20th Anniversary Special. I was particularly excited to see the interview with Michael J. Fox. Regular readers of my blog know that I have written a few articles about him and really think he sets a great example for those living with differences.
What I found really striking during his interview was when he asked his interviewer, Jane Pauley, a few questions himself. A very poignant comment was made when Pauley confessed that during a previous interview with Fox, he had helped her reach an epiphany. She had recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had also turned in her resignation to The Today Show. She had been offered her own program but was unclear as to whether she would take it, given her recent diagnosis. She told Fox that during that interview, she made up her mind to persevere. Pauley took the job and, although it only lasted a year, she told Fox that that was one of the happiest years of her life and she owed that to him.
Another celebrity who has openly discussed her diagnosis with bipolar disorder is Catherine Zeta Jones. She is perhaps best known for her roles in Chicago, Traffic and more recently she has been seen in the T-Mobile commercials where she tells us all of the great benefits of T-Mobile android phones as opposed to their competitors.
Today, far more people are open and talk about their mental health issues. Do you think that it is because the issues are more prevalent today or because we are slowly removing the stigma that used to encompass mental illness? Years ago, when actress Vivien Leigh was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it slowly ruined her career and her life. Today, countless people are not only coping with this diagnosis, but are also thriving and living happy, successful lives.
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I suffer from bi-polar disorder. I know there is A LOT of stigma attached to it. A lot of people still are ashamed to admit their diagnosis. I don’t blame them. I’ve had heartless people in my life deny any choices I’ve made or feelings I’ve had by simply saying that it must be my bi-polar kicking in, if what I choose to do or how I feel doesn’t coincide with their own opinions.
I think that it is great the big stars are coming out of the proverbial closet with their condition. It makes it easier to cope and for people to relate to the disease.
In answer to your question, no I don’t think it is more common now. I just think that it is more easily diagnosed these days and since people in the media are showing it is ok to admit to being bi-polar and it isn’t a weakness or some horrible abnormality. So it makes it easier to share with the rest of the world without fear of being labeled as insane or unbalanced.
Also with advances in medicine and therapy it also makes it easier to find ways to function in today’s world.
I think you are right. It’s not more prevalent, just more treated. Medicine has come a long way in recent years – but we have a lot further to go. Some theorize that the Salem Witch Trials was based on people’s harsh judgement of people who were differently abled. It’s horrible how people get treated for something they can not control.
Dawn
My daughter is bi-polar. It was such a struggle when she was young as we really had no idea what was going on with her. And Dr’s, most weren’t very helpful and some even wrote her off as a ‘bad kid’ or we were ‘bad parents’… We didn’t know how to help her. We lucked into a terrific Dr who finally was able to diagnosis her and we were so relieved to finally have a plan. There’s such a stigma surrounding this it’s very sad to hear some things people say… you’re crazy, you’re a psycho on and on…
I absolutely agree. I don’t think it’s more prevalent but more diagnosed. And thankfully at that!
People are so quick to judge things and people that they do not understand. I am glad you finally found a doctor who listened.
Dawn
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I think it’s wonderful that people are becoming more open. I’ve had some issues myself, due to an abusive and traumatizing childhood and I’ve slowly become more open. I don’t tell everyone, but if a situation arises where I could encourage someone else, I will say something.
I think it is a lot harder to ignore the mental illnesses. Things get worse and they need to be taken care of and the more we talk about them the better they will be.
It does seem like a lot more people talk about mental illnesses these days. I think the stigma is definitely decreasing and perhaps people feel more comfortable opening up. On the other hand, it seems like a lot of doctors are very quick to diagnose now, too. I actually had a doctor diagnose me with bipolar disorder and hand me a box of pills. His technique was awful and I chose to completely ignore the whole appointment. He was so impersonal and he just read questions and checked off boxes the whole time. It seemed like he was on WebMD on his tablet. It was such an impersonal experience and completely inaccurate. I have issues, yes, but I don’t think I’m full-blown bipolar. I just hope that everyone does their homework and gets a second opinion before taking heavy doses of meds. There’s a lot more to this story, but I am rambling! 🙂 Overall I am glad that people talk about this topic now!
I think that a lot of general doctors do a lot of diagnosing that they may not be exactly qualified to do {just a personal opinion}.
A few years ago I went to a doctor because I kept getting bronchitis {like 4 and 5 times a year}. I went to this doc repeatedly and he sent me for all kinds of tests that were not necessary {gall bladder test, anyone?}. Finally, when he couldn’t figure out why I kept getting bronchitis he told me that I “must” just be depressed. Um, no. I went to another doctor, a holistic one, and he diagnosed me with asthma – in the first visit. He listened to me, ran one test and Voila! Years later I am fine, and I rarely ever get a respiratory infection or bronchitis anymore. All it took was some asthma meds. I hope I see that first doc out somewhere so that I can tell him to kiss it. 🙂
I think a lot of doctors {not all} have a real problem accepting defeat – that they just can’t figure it out. So instead of referring you elsewhere, they diagnose, with no thought as to whether it is right or not. And no thought as to how it will affect you. I am sorry that you had that experience, Jennifer.
Dawn
Interesting. Thank you so much for sharing this information.