Dear readers, I owe you all an apology. I was wrong in my post about Catherine Zeta Jones’s diagnosis of bipolar II to compare bipolar II to Diet Coke. It was flip, inappropriate, and a lame attempt at humor. I hereby admit that I was wrong. So there is no need to further bash me.
I was wrong because it suggests that bipolar II is not as serious, not as painful, not as debilitating as bipolar I. But, as a person diagnosed with bipolar II myself, I certainly know that isn’t the case. I realize that the depressive cycle for someone with bipolar II can actually be more severe than the depressive cycles of folks with bipolar I. And sometimes the depression can be psychotic.
I was there myself, although I’m not sure if it was the illness that made me psychotic or the drug cocktail of about 20 pills that my psychiatrist at the time, who was in bed with big Pharma, prescribed for me.
And I’m very aware that a person with bipolar II can cycle much more rapidly than someone with bipolar I, which makes bipolar II more dangerous in some regards, and definitely more difficult to diagnose.
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Good for you for recognizing the limitations of your comparison. I understood what you meant when you compared it to Diet Coke, and that you didn’t mean that it was to be taken less seriously, but it may have come off that way to some people. Bipolar II is serious business, just like Bipolar I. I’m sorry you have to go through it.
Suzy
Dating a Clinical Psychologist can be mind opening experience. One such was learning I was Bipolar II and was undiagnosed. Fortunately my dietary habits helped me, low sugar and low fat intake, managed my mood swings. Stress is my problem, when I’m highly stressed then hypomania raises it nasty head. Does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with highly stressful lifestyles? I’m exhausted by the end of each day.
Thank you for your apology. I know from reading your blogs that you have suffered just as all of us with that dreaded disease suffers. Mistakes happen to us all.
May God bless your day today.
Just dropping in to say hi, and to say that you didn’t deserve any of the bashing. Also, that you’re a great person for having an open heart and a sense of humor for what is often deemed a difficult topic to discuss openly.
*As a side note, I’d just like to say that I am not Therese’s mother pretending to be a random commentor, though I am a fan.
We all put our feet in our mouths half the time when trying to communicate an idea Therese. It takes a big person to say sorry , so kudos to you for doing just that! I’m sure your readership understood you were not belittling a serious illness anyway; as it is something you yourself suffer from.
Before I say anything, I want Therese to know that my comment is not an attack on her writing, nor an invalidation of the pain suffered by someone with Bipolar II. I am not posting this in angry or offended response, just to ensure that no further misconceptions stem from this discussion between Bipolar I and II.
I know many people with Bipolar II felt offended by Therese words; but, I want some of you to look at how you articulated this anger and hurt. Many of you, instead of trying to validate the suffering of Bipolar II, tried to find ways that II is worse than one (the depression is worse, higher risk for suicide, etc). As someone with Bipolar I, I am going to say it: some of it was hurtful, though I know none of you meant it – or mean it – that way.
I am depressed far more than I am manic, and when I am manic, I am usually not euphoric – just irritable, agitated, angry and out of control. In fact, I am mixed more than anything else – depressed and manic at the same time. In other words, I will feel completely depressed, hopeless, suicidal; but will be irritable and agitated enough that my thoughts race or I would still have energy (which doesn’t improve mu functioning – it makes it easier to kill myself). I also, though the DSM-IV will argue with me on its possibility, cycle so rapidly that I can go from destructively manic or mixed to planning my suicide within a day. More so, I can count my manic episodes on one hand (less than); but, I have been chronically depressed and suicidal. My mania – which, as stated, is usually just dysphoric mania – does not take away from my depression, which is chronic. Right now, I’m in a severely suicidal state (under the care of a doctor). I will likely not be euphoric any time soon – in terms of full blown euphoric (instead of dysphoric mania/mixed), it’s only happened two, maybe three times. I have been hypomanic, though.
Of course, severe and frequent euphoric mania is gravely serious and dangerous. There is no self-control. People do things that put their life, or others, at risk. It’s not just shopping and sleeping around. It’s psychosis, drug/alcohol use, randomly taking trips with no preparation, being fired from work, and so forth.
But, really. I never once said Bipolar IIs suffer any less, other than that their mania is far less severe. I know you suffer greatly – I once was Bipolar II, and then the severe mixed states and dysohoric mania started to kick in. So, please don’t suggest that my depression is less severe, that my cycling is less severe or that my suicide risk is somehow lessened. That is just as bad and invalidating as saying Bipolar II isn’t that bad. It’s offensive, it’s hurtful and it needs to stop.
We’re all in the same boat, the waves just rock a bit differently. Suggesting that any of the waves are more or less severe is ridiculous. Especially if it’s in defense of your own waves.
NOTE: Once again, this is not out of anger or bitterness. Just be aware of what you say. As, responding to feeling invalidating by invalidating someone else is just as bad as invalidating someone in the first place. Don’t complain when you turn around and do it yourself.
Also, in the first post, I did converse with a couple of you in response to such comments. I know you said it out of anger and offense. I do. Just, please be aware.
Therese, you are a great writer. We all make mistakes – all of us, blogger, author, commenter. I may not agree with everything you write (as a Humanist, I can sometime feel bombarded with religious posts; but it’s your blog – you write Your Truth. Don’t change it); but you truly have talent, and I think being able to say “I’m wrong” is one of the best traits a person can have.
i too have bipolar II and i have heard it described as you did. i can see the validity of describing it like that but i can see why others may be more sensitive. mental illness is a difficult beast. we do our best to describe it to others. sometimes we fall short of our goal. good luck and thank you for your information. i am always looking for more information on bipolar II because that’s what i have and i found your article invaluable.
Therese it takes a big person with a humble heart to be able to admit when their wrong… Yet, Therese, it take a very wise person to write about a subject that gets people talking about mental health… We are all entitled to our own opinion and I think you were expressing yours via the “Diet Coke”… Still look at the buzz you made with that post!!!
I appreciate your apology and your attempt at humor. Humor is a fickle thing, and when you add mental health and humor the line is very THIN and walking requires knowing you will never please every one. Sometimes, I look at my humor based not on how hard some one laughs but rather how it’s gets people talking… With that in mind, I say don’t worry about all post “bashing”… Just look at all the peers voicing their feeling by commenting… You gave them reason to talk about mental health, and to talk about it passionately! Now that is worth it weight in GOLD! You’ve empowered them!!! Oh, and every word they write is SEO gold content too…
Hello. I’m really pleased by this post of yours. I knew what you meant with the analogy, but even so it did come across as suggesting bipolar II wasn’t a big deal, comparatively speaking.
It doesn’t matter if you give that impression to people like us who have it, as we know better, but it DOES matter that other people who don’t have it get a clear picture.
As you certainly know, mental illness comes with a bunch of prejudice and inaccurate assumptions from other people, and I don’t know which is worse: that my disorder supposedly makes me a psycho not fit to be around children or to have relationships or even drive a car, or that it’s mild and insignificant compared to the other, “realer” disorders. I’ve heard both.
I was previously diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder, and actually had a nurse in a hospital tell me that it wasn’t an illness, it was just that I wasn’t trying hard enough, and it was my own fault I wasn’t better. That kind of thing isn’t productive in getting us help, and we need to do everything we can to portray mental illnesses accurately.
On the other hand, sometimes being mentally ill gets so frustrating, and talking about it makes me feel so lectury, that it’s tempting to make flippant jokes about it. It’s exhausting!
Thank you for apologizing. There is enough stigma & joking out there about brain disorders without “one of us” joining in. And I do hope you can find a therapist who will help you get the proper medication. Good meds make all the difference! I had been unable to sleep at all due to the extreme manias I suffered all my life. Literally, each Spring & Summer, I’d be up doing things all night. Now, with meds that work (and it took trial & error over 5 years), I sleep well & can cope with day to day living. I’ve had to make a lot of changes but am happy now & my husband is much happier living with me. Good luck on your Quest for better living despite having bipolar II
Personally I have bipolar II and humor about my condition helps me handle it. I think there is a difference between laughing with and laughing at. It’s in the way that you use it. For people to say I can’t joke around about my condition is like me telling you you can’t take medication for yours. I saw a video from The Onion that was a parody that President Obama had bipolar disorder and it was one of the funniest things I ever saw. I think there is friendly humor and hurtful humor and I wish everybody wouldn’t get so offended so easily, makes it hard to live. If I have to live in a humorless world I will be even more depressed.
Thank you. I feel much better about the previous article now. I got what you were trying to say, but it didn’t quite work. This did.
What a nice person who possesses a kind and compassionate heart. If that is the worst thing you do than your in great shape, I cringe to think of the things I have said and done. What makes it worse is I have had so many that have had great expectations only to see me go down in a ball of flames. You made a great point when you indicated that we sometimes need those around us to do our thinking for us. That should be an altruism as it sure is the most viable comment I have heard in a long time. Bobby
We are so protective of our labels. I know I wear mine like girl scout merit badges each hard won. We talk about our cocktails like they are the elixer of life and offer them to others so that ours can make others feels as stable as we do in our little rocking boats. Therese, I love your blogs. I read one a day whether I need it or not.
First of all, I have to say I respect all of the bloggers for having so much respect towards each other and this disease. I have been suffering from major depression for almost 2 years. Long story short, I was seeing a Dr. who swore I had a sleep disorder. It was found to be true…but their were other things working against me….economy, finance, etc…anyway…I have been on a ton of medications in the last 18 months…I feel better sometimes, but still sleep everyday. I just wait for my world to change, but that does not happen. I have gained 50lbs in the last 3 years, which is ridiculous. I had a hysterectomy, so I thought that may be the issues, but was told this may all stem back to post-pardom…..I need help…my girls are now going to be 7…so 7 years of issues is why I am requesting help
I understand your comparison and I have been diagnosed with bipolar 2 for about 8 or so years.
Coke is bipolar 1 where you have a manic state and diet coke is bipolar 2 where you get a hypomanic state. It is not a reference of difficulty but of differences of quality.
I have a 23 year old daughter that has Bipolar I. I don’t know that much about Bipolar II, but I do know that she has struggled all of her life. It’s like a roller coaster ride without the thrills for her and me. The sad part is people really don’t realize how debilitating that this disease is, especially when it comes to our government. This is disabling disease for some people.
The first thing I read on my first visit to this site was the Diet Coke posting. I’m pretty irritable today, so I didn’t take it well. This is especially since it seems like there’s some perception that people with BPII suffer “less”. I was relieved to read the followup, which DOES describe things very well.
Many thanks!