Comments about ‘Carrie Fisher takes Kim Peek honor for owning challenge, raising awareness’

This article and story does little to explain what bipolar means other than both sides of the brain are disconnected. So what does that have to do with drug abuse and mental illness?
This makes no sense to say one case is genius and the other mentally sick. So is Carrie Fishers bipolar because of drug abuse killing half her brain which is what marijuana does, or a genetic DNA dysfuncitonal person?

I found this article was trying to make two completely different personalities caused by 2 different circumstances and not even closely related as the same illness. I think someone was really grasping at straws to define what a bipolar illness is.

My2Cents,
Read the article again and ratchet back on your judgment of others. Carrie Fisher was given an award named after Kim Peek for coping with her own disability and telling her story to others, much as Kim Peek did with his disorder. Kim Peek did not have bipolar disorder, he had a congenital brain abnormality. Bipolar disorder increases your risk of substance abuse, it is not caused by substance abuse.

Five minutes of internet searching on the Mayo Clinic website and Wikipedia would have answered your question.

Reflection

I have found that the lives of those around us can give us pause for thought and reflection. I usually come away from articles like this (or meeting someone with other special challenges) with two or three conclusions: (1) admiration for how others bear their burdens, (2) gratitude for my life and abilities, (3) an increased sense of humility and that I want to be more humble and grateful for what I have (not MORE than others, but what I take as blessings that should be appreciated).

Any article that humanizes mental illness is worth reading. It was certainly worth reading this one.

As the recipient of this award I would nominate Margo Kidder (Superman's Lois Lane) who tackled her Bipolar by giving her body & brain what it needed to heal via Dr Abram Hoffer, an Orthomolecular Psychiatrist, instead of shocking her brain via ECT.

Can Bipolar be chemically-induced? It most certainly can! When first introduced to the market many psychiatrists refused to prescribe the newer SSRI antidepressants because they were so notorious for triggering mania/Bipolar. From 1996 - 2004, as the use of antidepressants skyrocketed, Bipolar Disorder increased an astounding 4000%!!!!! If you read the studies headed by Dr Malcolm Bowers (2000-2001 Yale), you will see their great concern over the large number of manic psychosis being triggered by antidepressants yet going unrecognized as such by physicians. Not recognizing this led to additional medication & hospitalization when the mania should have subsided after discontinuing the offending medication. Their conclusion? We have an antidepressant-induced Bipolar epidemic!

Sad so few remain unaware of the research indicating mania (the "high" in Bipolar) is a continuous series of mild seizures. Everyone goes into continuous mild seizures daily as we enter REM (dreaming) sleep. So are we chemically inducing the dream state & calling it Bipolar?!

I also was diagnosed 'bi polar'. I had almost 20 electroshocks and ended up on multidrug presciptions for a large part of my life. While I was drugged I could not evaluate myself with a clear mind and unfortunately did what I was told. I know many, many people today who have had a similar experience. Yes, the drugs can be your problem. If life is difficult they can be used to bring you up. You can go too high and this is called mania. Then you can get others to bring you down. Doctors prescribe them everyday and many people get them free of charge. They come with many adverse effects. All you have to do is read the information leaflet and that is just the tip of the iceberg!
I am now 65 years strong with a clear mind for almost 13 years! ( lucky for some!) This is all true! I have been there and done that. Beware of a quickfix!