LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HERE IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT

[Kahlua]

I dont know about Hillary..........I have Never been a supporter of her beliefs, it would be a Major change for the US "if" she steps in as Prez. but I dont see it happening.

Ugh, for me its a sick thought.
I just don't like her!

[Mediavixen]

re: Bi Polar Disorder and depressive state...

I have to disagree to some point on that. People who are BP can experience "mixed states" with symptoms of both mania and depression at the same time. Its not uncommon for some people who have BP to experience mixed states or to experience rapid cycling. Not every person who has BP has totally separate manic and depressive episodes, so being 100% indistinguishable is not something I would agree with.
And even if they are in a full blown depressive state, they still can experience symptoms of mania here and there.

But that said, yes ....doctors often think of depression as just one sided and not consider it may be the other end of the coin of Bi Polar Disorder. I don't know why.... I would *assume* it's because BP is far less common than depression. But that is just my guess.

I do have to say that I am glad to see awareness of HPV going up though. For far too long, it wasnt even talked about.

[somenewromantic]

Please know that I meant no offense, mediavixen. My concern and my point was aimed the fact that bipolar patients are just getting stuck on antidepressants by general practitioners who have not taken the time and concern to ask about all their symptoms. And antidepressants alone don't fix bipolar disorder. In fact, in many, many cases, antidepressants alone can make it much worse.....they induce and exacerbate the mixed states which are statistically more dangerous than just a 'depressed' or 'manic' state--patients are far more likely to commit suicide during a mixed state. Often bipolar patients need not just one but a 'cocktail' of drugs to alleviate their symptoms and help them resume happy and productive lives. And doctors are failing especially in the area of mental health care.

Again, I am sorry and meant no offense.

[Mediavixen]

Oh, no offence taken, don't worry. I just wanted to clarify. I have a cousin with BP so I have had alot of experience in dealing with it.

I totally agree that many docs are so lacking in knowledge about mental health. They push pills without taking the time to really investigate all possibilities. And yes, the wrong meds can bring on a horrible manic or depressive episode.
It often takes months and even years to find the right balance of meds, while the person continues to suffer through the trial and error. And yes, many people who are BP respond best to a 'cocktail' of meds to balance out both the manic and depressive symptoms. It can be a long process to find that right cocktail.
And for some, like 'rapid cyclers', meds are only effective about 20-30% of the time, so some sufferers don't ever get true honest relief.

And sadly, even the right balance of meds is no cure. There simply is none. People who are BP will still experience mania and depression even if they do respond well to meds. There is just no cure.

I appreciate your insight and comments. Mental illness is so often not taken as seriously as other diseases because it affects behaviour.

[honeyryder]

As much as I'd like to see a woman in office, I won't vote for Hillary, given the option. It's not because I don't like her personally or think she can't do the job (hell look at the other people who have been put into this position). It's because I would like a Democrat to win, and I don't think she would win. The country is simply not ready yet for a female president, I'm afraid. I believe we will have a black male as president before we have a white woman. As long as "might win but probably won't" candidates splinter the Democratic choices, the more chance we have a repeat of the Nader debacle.

Now an Obama/Clark ticket - that would be interesting.

Or perhaps even Pelosi, at some point (not 2008). Did you see her sitting behind the president in the speech last night? Everytime he talked about Iraq, he got standing ovations from all the Republicans. Pelosi, however, who was sitting right behind him on t.v. and knew the whole world could see her, made a point of not standing up and not clapping at all.

[honeyryder]

somenewromantic said:

and this is the sad truth about prescription of antidepressant meds:

A doctor does spend an average of seven minutes with a patient. Patient comes in, complains of what the doctor thinks is depression (which, by the way, drugs shouldn't be prescribed unless it is moderate to severe).

But sometimes a doctor, having no experience with the drugs, and NOT TAKING THE TIME TO ASK THE PATIENT IF SOMETHING RESEMBLING A MANIC EPISODE HAS OCCURED will prescribe the say, Cymbalta, that the drug rep brought in that morning. If the patient is experiencing something other than depression (such as bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder), this could set off a psychotic break that could result in hospitalization, suicide, and worse.

With all due respect, I'm assuming that you haven't personally dealt with depression or had a family member who has. But if you ask any reliable person WHO ACTUALLY HAS A MEDICAL DEGREE, they will tell you that anti-depressants are not uppers. They are more like vitamins. THEY ONLY AFFECT YOU POSITIVELY IF YOU NEED THEM. Just like vitamins, if you take extra and you didn't need them, there will basically be no impact on you at all. If you take an anti-depressant and it has a positive impact on you, YOU NEEDED THEM.

[Carina]

I understood SNR's post to mean that doctors can prescribe stuff to mental health patients that can do harm, depending on the type of mental health issue because the doctor hasn't taken the time to make a proper diagnosis.

I do not read SNR's post as a rant against psychotropic medications.

[honeyryder]

Perhaps you're right. I'm sorry, I get a VERY touchy about this subject, because so many people need anti-depressants and don't take them, and it's often because of this particular misunderstanding. Or, they might not be a sufferer, but just people who spread this misconception, and by doing that they contribute to the social stigma that depression-sufferers are already trying to deal with.

[somenewromantic]

Well, I have dealt with the depression of a loved one (my mother had bipolar disorder, and believe me when I say SHE NEEDED DRUGS!!!!! She just refused to take them.)

I am ALL for medicinal treatment of psychiatric disorders, and I know AD's aren't uppers. A friend of mine recently told me she'd had a doctor prescribe her Lexapro as needed.......yeah, right.

I also know that when several family members died two years ago, my doctor decided I had 'exceeded' the 'normal grieving process' (WTF?) and prescribed antidepressants to me.

And the drugs caused SEVERE DEPRESSION. Depression is not just sadness--it's nothingness; sadness would have been preferable to what I was feeling. And everytime I would tell the doctor I was getting much worse, the son of a beeaatch would up the dosage or switch the medication.

THAT'S my problem with doctors prescribing these drugs without proper background, that's my point.

And when I finally did go see a psychiatrist, she took me off the meds pretty much cold turkey, because of the mess I was in. (Because YES, if you don't need these medications, they WILL cause things like suicidal ideations.) She gave me anti-anxiety meds (Xanax and Ativan), appetite stimulants--I had lost too much weight on the meds--and something to help me actually sleep all through the night..........and sent me to a therapist, to talk about how I was feeling.

I am very grateful to her......and yes, I still see her, because, almost two years later, it still bugs me that those medications actually got me to a place where I could even THINK I was going to, well, kill myself.

I want the doctors to be more responsible and discerning when prescribing these meds, that's all.......

[ShutterMaze]

Hopefully, if someone may be suffering from BP, their doctor will refer them to psychiatrists, who will be able to provide proper diagnosis, and prescribe medications that are indicated for the treatment of BP.