Wednesday, July 18, 2012

We All Should Be Mad

According to Helpguide.org bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior – from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months.

During a manic episode, a person might impulsively quit a job, charge up huge amounts on credit cards, or feel rested after sleeping two hours.
During a depressive episode, the same person might be too tired to get out of bed and full of self-loathing and hopelessness over being unemployed and in debt.

Before you get smug and congratulate yourself on your good fortune, take a look at the typical queries doctors use to identify symptoms:
  1. At times I am much more talkative or speak much faster than usual.
  2. There have been times when I was much more active or did many more things than usual.
  3. I get into moods where I feel very 'speeded-up' or irritable.
  4. There have been times when I have felt both high (elated) and low (depressed) at the same time.
  5. I have been much more interested in sex than usual.
  6. My self-confidence ranges from great self-doubt to equally great overconfidence.
  7. There have been GREAT variations in the quantity or quality of my work.
  8. For no apparent reason I sometimes have been VERY angry or hostile.
  9. I have periods of mental dullness and other periods of very creative thinking.
  10. At times I am greatly interested in being with people and at other times I just want to be left alone with my thoughts.
  11. I have had periods of great optimism and other periods of equally great pessimism.
  12. I have had periods of tearfulness and crying and other times when I laugh and joke excessively.
Can you honestly claim you've never in your whole adult life had occasion to respond "yes" to any of the above listed? Don't bother to answer if you've been  invited for tea at the Istana - you're probably one of those incorrigible liars. When they ask you to jump, your reply will be "How high?" If 1 in 10 in Singapore are mentally ill, the trigger has to be bad governance. Or unprofessional doctors.

An aunt was very unhappy living with her daughter-in-law. When latter was blessed with a child, auntie was ignored altogether. She was not allowed at the dinner table where everybody was fussing over the cute baby. She was not allowed to carry the little tot, as if she might contaminate the newbirth with germs old people carry. One day she blew up, screaming and yelling. A doctor was called in, saw an agitated old lady apparently out of control, and administered a jab of Risperdal, the first line of defence for schizophrenia. It works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain. It took a few years before auntie was given a clean bill of health. She might be cranky, but she was not stark raving mad. A person charged with mental illness is seldom afforded a second opinion.

Here's something more cheerful from Helpguide.org:
Myth: People with bipolar disorder can’t get better or lead a normal life.
Fact: Many people with bipolar disorder have successful careers, happy family lives, and satisfying relationships. Living with bipolar disorder is challenging. But with treatment, healthy coping skills, and a solid support system, you can live fully while managing your symptoms.

20 comments:

  1. //But with treatment, healthy coping skills, and a solid support system, you can live fully while managing your symptoms. //

    Concur!
    Seen many cases among friends and relatives.
    They are married, with kids, party, drive, have good careers etc..just like normal people. Except with those occasional outbursts (who doesn't have?) they are really 'normal'.

    Heck, even Winston Churchill and Van Gogh plus other famous personalities also have bipolar.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Heck, someone please check on Dr Fones. Are you sure he is not ab normal?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mad Scientist7/18/2012 1:41 PM

    Heck, looks like you have to be bipolar to be genius?!!

    http://www.famousbipolarpeople.com/

    ReplyDelete
  4. You see,
    What Dr Fones did to breach the code of ethnics in the medical world has opened the cans of worms that doctor cannot be trusted with confidentiality.
    If doctor cannot be trusted anymore because Dr Fones did not get punished or license revoked, it only shows that the medical society in Singapore is subjected to political will as much as CPIB in singapore (http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/06/08/what-political-will-achieves/)

    Imagine no one trust the doctor anymore, and refuse treatment because of lost trutst. Just imagine Sex addict, gamble addict, drug addict, all refuse to see doctor because they believe that they no longer can trust the doctor to protect their interest, and the crime increases, we can all put the blame PAP and PM for these.

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  5. Heck, as long as you are not one of those manic case like ANZ PM Kevin Rudd leading a dysfunctional govt, you will be fine.

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  6. When one lawyer once bragged that he is willing to meet his enemies with a hatchet,is he not madder than any of us?

    How come the Law Soceity is not protecting the public's interests from this mad lawyer?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wah lau eh!
    When we see our psychiatrist.
    Still confidential or not?

    Singapore Medical Association.
    What say you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wait, cannot act unilaterally, must check with health minister first, too hot to handle leow

      Delete
    2. Believe it is the Singapore Medical Council.
      A stat board under the Health Ministry.

      Wonder who is suffering this bi-polar disorder in this disrespectful display in our Court of Law......

      Strange, bizarre behaviour, if you ask me from the Doctor and Law Society representative.

      Delete
  8. "bipolar disorder" is nothing compared to being called "near psychopath". the best part is you don't have to see a psychiatrist or answer any questions to be positively classified. to add insanity to madness, character assassination can now be called "best of intentions".

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  9. If it is indeed true that Ravi has a bi-polar disorder, then instead of supporting him, the system wants to take away his livelihood? Is this the Law Society's version of justice?

    What does this say about all other individuals with bi-polar disorder or other mental health challenges? What have we come to as a society.

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  10. Look on the bright side.

    we've just discovered a new species of non-Australian kangaroos in Singapore.
    Colour of the fur is white.

    Uniquely Singapore.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Our PM was a cancer patient and was never ever deem 'unfit' to run a govt. So why should a lawyer with bipolar be deemed 'unsound'?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why is it that an engineer is allowed to run an investment outfit? How does an eye doctor know how to run a sports event or control flood? Who is so smart to think a retail specialist can manage a public transport company. Obviously, there are many people who are not in sound mind to make the right decision in this country. Unfortunately, the best intention of the Law Society is not going to save us from people running amok.

      Delete
  12. Oey! Why are All so mad with the Psychiatrist and the Representative of the Law Society?

    Are they not ok?

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  13. Indeed, we are all mad:

    Mad to flood this tiny red dot with foreigners
    Mad to let citizens be discriminated against
    Mad that 60% remain daft and not see the madness
    Mad that MIW remain followers of a mad leader

    It's becoming maddening to be in this red dot.

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  14. The MADDEST of All must be the System.

    It must be very sickening too huh?

    ReplyDelete
  15. THE FOLLOWING IS UNTRUE

    People who are not card carrying members of the Pro Alien Party will not be allowed to hold leadership positions in any societies, NGOs, GLCs, civil service .....

    Ravi's disability is that he is not a card carrying member ....

    ReplyDelete
  16. my wife is bipolar. It can be unliveable at times. So if Ravi is having an attack, he will not talk sense and cannot present eloquently in court! Dr Fones has several breaches he will need to answer, both to SMA and Ravi.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you friend.

    ReplyDelete