Are "headcases" really crazy?

Dirk · May 14, 2009

Got this idea when Deanhills wondered absent-mindedly whether the sane people were in the nuthouse or out. So, some credit to him. Here we go:

Bipolar disorder doesn't exist. It is not a psychological problem and is not an overstated form of paranoia. The Government/Establishment really is after these people and they only seem crazy to us because we subconciously believe that the Government would not do such a thing.

Discuss. *lays back, smiling contentedly*

curious · May 15, 2009

No mental illnesses exist if there are no standards of behavior. But there are. If nothing else, we have a standard that says deviating too far from the middle ground is a burdent on society. Even being too smart can be a problem.

Bi-polar disorder can be defined within that standard. While we all have some swings between a manic state and a depressed state, the states themselves are only slight deviations from the norm.

With bi-polar disorder, as best I understand it, the swings are dramatic, and sometimes rapid and precipitous. They are way outside the norm.

However, for the less severe cases it is difficult to diagnose, because to be sure, several cycles should be observed, and if the period is long, it takes a tremendous amount of time to observe a pattern.

One of the problems is that what are called long-cycle bi-polar disorders, where a cylce can last a year or even more, large periods of it look like 'simple' depression. If a bi-polar person first seeks help in a depressive state, that person is likely to be given an antidepressant. Unfortunately, antidepressant tend to amplify the swings, so the patient will get worse, and maybe have an extreme manic state, as the result of being given the wrong medication.

Personally, I think we are all long-cycle bi-polar people who have such long cycles that we die before we get through more than one or two complete cycles, and that defines normal.

Intrepid237 · May 15, 2009

Dirk said:
Got this idea when Deanhills wondered absent-mindedly whether the sane people were in the nuthouse or out. So, some credit to him. Here we go:

Bipolar disorder doesn't exist. It is not a psychological problem and is not an overstated form of paranoia. The Government/Establishment really is after these people and they only seem crazy to us because we subconciously believe that the Government would not do such a thing.

Discuss. *lays back, smiling contentedly*

I don't think that bipolar disorder is a conspiracy of the government lol. But in regards to thinking sane people were in a crazy house... not unless they wanted to be. I guess a court could order someone to go there if a psychological evaluation said they were crazy but they weren't, but that's a long shot to say the least.

In the 50s and 60s, however, there were normal people in the nuthouse against their will. Institutions held homeless people and many others against their will. Kennedy ordered that this practice would be stopped. Just one more reason the world sucks without JFK.

curious · May 16, 2009

There have been even more recent changes in the law that strongly restrict the ability of relatives to commit an adult to an instituion. There were a lot of cases of husbands or wives being committed by their spouses as a convenient way to be single and have control of the money.

There was also a wave of releases of schizophrenics durint the Reagan Administration as a cost-saving measure. The idea was that if medicated, they were capable of functioning. However, they usually hate theri medications because it makes them feel foggy and dull, and there were no provisions made for regular medication to even be provided, let alone required.

deanhills · May 17, 2009

Dirk said:
Got this idea when Deanhills wondered absent-mindedly whether the sane people were in the nuthouse or out. So, some credit to him. Here we go:

Bipolar disorder doesn't exist. It is not a psychological problem and is not an overstated form of paranoia. The Government/Establishment really is after these people and they only seem crazy to us because we subconciously believe that the Government would not do such a thing.

Discuss. *lays back, smiling contentedly*

Some of it was tongue in the cheek, but maybe I was also influenced by the recent movie by Clint Eastwood "The Changeling" where a mother who was in dispute with the LAPD was committed to an asylum without being legally certified as "mad". A police officer got irritated by her stubborn insistence that the "son" they returned to her was not her "son". She managed to take on the LAPD and proved her case. But yes, I have to wonder at how many people who are not really crazy are committed to asylums by family who want to get rid of relatives with problems, or want to control relatives and/or their financial affairs.

DodgeFB · May 17, 2009

curious said:
No mental illnesses exist if there are no standards of behavior. But there are. If nothing else, we have a standard that says deviating too far from the middle ground is a burdent on society. Even being too smart can be a problem.

Bi-polar disorder can be defined within that standard. While we all have some swings between a manic state and a depressed state, the states themselves are only slight deviations from the norm.

With bi-polar disorder, as best I understand it, the swings are dramatic, and sometimes rapid and precipitous. They are way outside the norm.

However, for the less severe cases it is difficult to diagnose, because to be sure, several cycles should be observed, and if the period is long, it takes a tremendous amount of time to observe a pattern.

One of the problems is that what are called long-cycle bi-polar disorders, where a cylce can last a year or even more, large periods of it look like 'simple' depression. If a bi-polar person first seeks help in a depressive state, that person is likely to be given an antidepressant. Unfortunately, antidepressant tend to amplify the swings, so the patient will get worse, and maybe have an extreme manic state, as the result of being given the wrong medication.

Personally, I think we are all long-cycle bi-polar people who have such long cycles that we die before we get through more than one or two complete cycles, and that defines normal.

As someone who deals with "Bi-polar disorder " it is very real. It took a few years for me to see it. I thought the judge was just mad because I choked the doctor he sent me to. But now I can tell when I am about to go "manic". I feel really strong and sure of myself. And then there are the days that millions of dollars and a new pony would not make me feel any better. And I 2nd guess myself at every turn. Anyone can joke about it if they wish. And I still think I did the right thing choking that damn doctor.

Dirk · May 18, 2009

DodgeFB said:
As someone who deals with "Bi-polar disorder " it is very real. It took a few years for me to see it. I thought the judge was just mad because I choked the doctor he sent me to. But now I can tell when I am about to go "manic". I feel really strong and sure of myself. And then there are the days that millions of dollars and a new pony would not make me feel any better. And I 2nd guess myself at every turn. Anyone can joke about it if they wish. And I still think I did the right thing choking that damn doctor.

A lot of people in this world need choking, i'd say.

deanhills · May 20, 2009

Dirk said:
A lot of people in this world need choking, i'd say.

My thoughts exactly.

DodgeFB · May 21, 2009

Dirk said:
A lot of people in this world need choking, i'd say.

And there are lots that I would like to choke. Too many for me to do it all. But if given the power would quickly sign off and send "chokers" out to help with the task.

Dirk · May 22, 2009

DodgeFB said:
And there are lots that I would like to choke. Too many for me to do it all. But if given the power would quickly sign off and send "chokers" out to help with the task.

Ooh, ooh! *Dodge - down the hall, to the left* No, no! I volunteer! I'll do the CEOs!

Ralph47 · Jun 16, 2018

DodgeFB said:
And I still think I did the right thing choking that damn doctor.

Did you go to JAIL for it, or did you weasel out with a "medical excuse"???

Are "headcases" really crazy?

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