As many of you know, I suffer from Bipolar Disorder (Type 2, to be specific). A friend on Facebook from the UK sent me a link to a series of videos by British Actor Stephen Fry, who himself suffers from it. Here is the first part of the series. You can find links to the rest of the episodes below this first one.
Part One:
Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve | Part Thirteen | Part Fourteen
I wanted to post this because I receive a lot of email from people all over the world about their experiences with the illness. Knowing that I have it, and have talked about it in the past, many have chosen to share their stories with me. I thought posting this video series might be a positive with regards to it being a vehicle for them as well as those who might not understand it.
Report
Absolutely fascinating..be well Matt.
Report
It’s important to understand bipolar “disorder”, particularly how those who cope with it do so in a climate as hostile as ours, a climate towards which very few wish to direct their attention when this subject is mentioned. For me, every day involves an internal struggle, but I never lead on as if anything is wrong; in my line of work, as in most lines of work, image is everything, leaving no room for “feelings”.
Report
Hey Matt-
When were you diagnosed with the bipolar disorder? I presume it was after you split from the rest of MGB. If this is the case, do you think that the bipolar disorder played a major role in your decision to leave MGB?
Report
Actually, just this last October, after I was rushed to hospital and spent just under a week there. I don’t really want to get into the reasons why I was, not at this time. But it was ultimately something that led to getting help, so it was a massive negative that led to a positive path.
Report
I saw this when it aired last September. I’m a great admirer of Mr. Fry and was deeply moved by his frankness and honesty—as I am a great admirer of yours, Matt, and continue to be both moved and inspired by your openness and honesty, on this blog and in your music of late. I’ve even been inspired to be a little more honest in my own life—with mixed results so far, but I’m doing it nonetheless.
I’m glad you’re getting help.
Report
In addition to that, and to answer your question, I will say that the making of the Audio Of Being was a time in which the symptoms of my illness were certainly prevalent. Fame, itself, has caused the conditions of my illness to become heightened, that is certainly the truth.
Report
These are really good. Thank you for posting - I will most definitely be sharing them. Understanding is so important for healing to begin, on all sides. “Massive negative”(s) sure leave big holes…every little bit helps.
Report
Thanks for these– I’m going to definately watch the whole thing. The first video described me so perfectly it’s creepy.
I know that I’ve always suffered from severe depression (hell, I can remember it as far back as when I was 12 years old), but I had never considered being bipolar until you started talking about it. And the more that I’ve thought about it, learned about it, I’ve realized there’s no question, I definately have it. And I’ve started getting the help I need. Because honestly, I was starting to think that suicide would be the only way to “turn it off”.
Report
Aww, leave the drawings up Matt! I really like them.
Report
Having watched these today, I am seriously considering sitting down and truthfully writing an entry about what happened to me last fall. If I do that, I will explain the drawings and where they were done and what frame of mind I was in when I did them.
Report
The drawings make so much more sense now.
I can only speak from my experience with life. I experience highs and lows and many of the symptoms, but Bi-Polar? I doubt it. Seems to me it’s probably just a bad coffee addiction where highs cause me to exhibit extreme happiness and fleeting thoughts.
There is much to know about this disorder and I’m unqualified to speak at any length on it. But I would argue that BP is less a chemical imbalance and more a result of a lifestyle which exhibits symptoms of the disorder. Although I’m no scientist so I have no idea of the technicalities.
That isn’t to downgrade the disorder. I would say that I consistently do not reach extreme highs or lows because, my life is only shitty at worst and only pleasant at best. I think those particularly in the entertainment business (as many of those interviewed in the documentary) suffer BP simply because their lives have been extreme highs and lows.
And so being such they are crafted by their past into humans that must deal with this struggle on a daily basis.
As for drugs…they can induce aroused states which, if you so come to enjoy them, they become an channel for all of your highs, and so you continue with drug use to recall those highs…those familiar thought processes.
Just some thoughts.
Report
Thanks for being so candid with us on this issue and answering my questions. Tell us what happened last fall when you’re good and ready to. If it takes another year for you to do so, so be it.
Sorry to keep pushing the issue, but there are so many questions I would love to ask you… Are you still social with the other members of MGB and were they supportive of you when it came out that you were diagnosed with the bipolar disorder and when news broke of your divorce?
Report
Unfortunately, I haven’t spoken with them since the band broke up, and that was, of course, before I was got married. I am also no longer friendly with Rich, whom I have not spoken to in more than a year’s time.
In my business “friends” come and go, as do others. They claim not to use you, to be there for you, and when the time comes they aren’t. That’s just the way it is I’m afraid. When the band broke up, and there wasn’t money in it for those that had made a living from it, my list of friends became almost non-existent.
Report
brings to mind the line, “I’ve become spectacular, which is strange ’cause I feel dumb.” makes sense now.
Report
Quoting emu:
I definately would appreciate any insight and anything you want to share about your experiences with the disorder.
Quoting emu:
I have to disagree. I am very much NOT a rockstar and don’t lead any kind of unordinary lifestyle that would have me reaching crazy highs and then crashing down into months of depression all within the span of 5 minutes. It’s quite uncontrollable.
Report
Great series! Today I am celebrating my mothers birthday with my family. She was diagnosed with a mental illness almost 3 decades ago. I’m always so grateful when someone comes out and admits to having a mental illness simply because it is still SO taboo in the world today. It makes it easier for people like my mother who are dealing with the disease and easier for us, the family who support her and just want everyone to see what an amazing person she is. I can’t wait to share the series with her. What a great birthday present!
Report
emu: I understand what you’re saying. I think BP is the result of a tendency to focus on the highs and lows more so than others without BP. Maybe that would lead eventually to a chemical imbalance? Maybe we are born with it?
I agree that you don’t need to be a rock star or have glamorous life to be BP. I think maybe those that end up with glamorous lives are at a greater risk of suffering more in a more extrovert way than those without it.
I don’t know where BP comes from but I do question the science behind it. I would want to know more particularly pertaining to the physical brain…the imbalance. The documentary shows it as being hard to identify at least in Stephen’s isolated case.
Report
Stay well Matt
Report
From what I have seen and heard, the prescribed medications that bring a bipolar person to a place where they can function make the “patient� feel flat (“I can’t write love songs when I’m on these things�… anyone?). I think it’s becase a bipolar person is used to such an extreme range of emotional sensation that feeling how the rest of us do most of the time is a shock to their systems. It is a precarious balance, and most certainly a trade off…sticking to meds is a lesser-of-several-evils option.
When a kid starts smoking pot and drinking at the age of 8 to stop the voices in his head and to try and fill the emptiness that he wakes up to every morning, that is about a chemical imbalance. When that kid ends up spending his teenage years living on the street but manages to grow up and find himself a wife, a good job and a nice home, then loses it all because his addiction to hard drugs as self-medication takes over his life, that is about the same chemical imbalance. Bipolar disorder is a mysterious medical condition. Like cancer. Like AIDS. It is not a choice and it is not a weakness. In fact, the amount of strength it must take to deal with the world as a person who suffers from this disease is unfathomable to me. Having spent my entire 20s watching someone I loved go through this, and having spent the beginning of my 30s trying to recover from the damage it did to me and my life, I have to say it’s a hell I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. For those of you who know what it’s like, I’m right here with you. For those of you who don’t, I hope you can accept that it is what it is, and that you never have to experience it for yourselves.
Report
I believe I have some understanding of it. But I still think we need a stronger understanding of it.
I think the effects of using drugs can be devastating especially if used in excess. On the other hand the use of drugs would seem to help if eventually they can normalize the condition.
I would ask if anyone knows, what exactly is known of the actual physical imbalance?
Report
Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this. I may be a little closer to finally seeking help.
Report
Just in case you’re interested:
“Two Irish researchers have formed a link between a common mental condition and a specific malfunctioning part of the genetic code. The discovery opens up the potential for greatly improved diagnosis and early warning of the condition and the possibility of new treatments. It gives medical researchers a very clear genetic target for understanding bipolar affective disorder, more commonly known as manic depression.
The two publish their findings this week in the American Journal of Medical Genetics . It focuses on a connection between bipolar disorder and an abnormality to chromosome 11q24.2.”
I’ve got the full article that was published in The Irish Times newspaper about a month ago, and would be glad to eMail it to anyone who would like to read it.
Report
Sounds better…sheds more light on the situation.
Report
I’ve been living with my sister for the last year and a half, and it’s been probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life.
She had a manic episode where she started to exhibit really bizarre behaviour: she was seeing peoples’ souls, hearing peoples’ souls in music (I’m sorry Matt, but you were the devil), and having all around frighteningly religious episodes where she would condemn all forms of sin (no matter how small). She was living with her boyfriend at the time (who was an asshole, violent music industry exec for a label that shall not be named) who put her under tremendous stress. When she had her mania she was really making our family worry, because even her voice seemed delirious. A family member ended up getting her admitted to Toronto General on suicide watch when she attempted to crucify herself for mankind’s sins. There she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For the first three weeks she refused medication because she was fine and God had a mission for her, and she wouldn’t let them interfere with her mission. After she was released, she opted to live with my mother and I because she was incapable of functioning.
When she first moved in she cried for three weeks straight. The only lapses in the waterworks was so she could study the Bible or listen to music at extreme volumes at any hour of the day. She’s since got “better” in the sense that she maintains some form of order in her life, but for the most part she’s still prone to hysterics. She’s grounded herself entirely in religion, and she makes it very black and white. No offense to Baptists, but unfortunately she’s involved with the Baptist church and everything is fire and brimstone from there on in.
Now, I need to make this very clear: I love my sister, but I have an unearthly amount of resentment towards her. Living with her I am torn daily between accepting her behaviour as the product of a mental illness, and clawing at her throat. She is the most narrow minded, selfish, Evangelical person I have ever met in my life, she sees the abstract as the reality, and imposes her viewpoint on everything even if it wasn’t brought up. Again, I need to make this very clear I love her as my sister, but we cannot co-exist. Her views on other religions, and the lifestyles of myself and close acquaintances are impossible to get around.
I try to be as supportive as I can, but in order to avoid hostile conflict we’ve more or less stopped talking. It’s very sad, but I have to admit that her presence has been more than a small contributing factor to my decision to move out.
Report
This is one of the greatest, most interesting things I have ever watched. Especially because the interviewer/the host is a victim of this disease. My family thinks that my sister in law may be secretly suffering from BP. Her mother has been diagnosed as an extreme case in and out of the hospital. She was diagnosed when she gave birth to her first child. My sister in law is currently expecting in June. I hope history does not repeat itself as she has some clear signs and symptoms.
I hope you stay well Matt.
Thank you for sharing.
Report
Thanks for the link. That was really well put together.
I wonder if anyone would want to push a button to change who they are, regardless of any diagnosis.
You never can judge what’s happening in anyone’s mind. It’s only when you speak with people and spend time wanting to understand their thoughts that you realize we’re all different.
I’m glad many people are working to de-stigmatize mental health issues. CAMH has made great strides to with their social marketing campaign.
No one should be alone in this struggle.
Report
I admire your ability to talk about this openly. I have tried to get help for years, but every time genuine help comes my way, I back out of it because I’m too embarassed to talk about it.
Report
I just wanted to make a comment about the two boys that came up in the film. I have some concern with the way in which we diagnose children these days. I have no doubt in my mind that those two kids had behavioral problems but I really do question the validity of a diagnosis of Bi-polar disorder on an 8 year old child when his older brother has been diagnosed with it as well. The kid has grown up in an environment where his older brother, who is most definately somebody that he looks up to, has displayed extreme behavior. There may be some heavy influences of observational learning and modeling taking place. The way they were questioned in the film was even a bit leading. There was a lot of “you feel like ‘insert symptom here’” followed by reinforcing behaviors like head nodding and saying “yes”. Given that in recent years the diagnosis of Bi-polairty has become somewhat questionibly popular (as was/is the case with ADHD) we need to check these situations to make sure that what we are doing is in the best interest of the child.That said, I know absolutely nothing about their specific case beyond what the movie said so it could very well be a valid diagnosis.
Anyways, that’s my rant. Overall it was a very insightful and interesting look at Bi-polar disorder. Thanks for the recommendation Matt.
Report
But I would argue that BP is less a chemical imbalance and more a result of a lifestyle which exhibits symptoms of the disorder
There are definately neurochemical roots to it. Particularly with Serotonin and (i believe)Dopamine. That is why you have to be careful when prescribing psychotropic meds for Bi-polarity and make sure you have the right diagnosis. If somebody presents with a lot of depression and less mania as you would probably see in a case like Matt’s (Type 2) and you prescribed them SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors- type of anti depressant) you can launch them into a manic episode by increasing the amount of serotonin available to them.
Also, there is a difference in the extreme highs and lows of life and the exteme highs and lows of bi-polar disorder. It is much more cyclical and not necessarily brought about by life changes. Especially if you are dealing with a mixed episode where somebody may go from feeling like nothing they do is wrong, that they are the greatest person out there and like they need to tell you everything to later in the same day feeling like everything in their life is so bad, they dont want to leave their house and having suicidal thoughts. There is definately a more chemical side to it than there is lifestyle.
Report
I’m somewhat surprised to hear you no longer communicate with the members of your former band. I understand the music industry is mostly all dollars and cents, but I figured you put MGB together with musicians you were friends with beforehand. Was that the case or did everyone just meet one day and end up getting along? It is unfortunate that things turned out the way they did between you and them.
Have you been approached by any other bands as of late that are hoping to collaborate with you in some aspect? I ask because I recall you doing some work with Limblifter on I/O…
Report
I’m so glad you appreciated the documentary as much as I did. I really hope it does help others understand it. I have friends who watched it (who had little to know idea about mental illness in general before) who said it really opened their eyes and made them understand what people go through. So here’s hoping it has a positive effect on anyone else reading this.
Report
I found this out awhile ago when I was first diagnosed. I’m bipolar 1. It’s very informative.
Report
Thank you.
Report
Thanks for posting that.
Report
Thank you so much for posting this Matt. It’s always nice to know that there are other people who have to live with the same illness, and that you’re not alone in feeling this way. I’d suffered with being Bipolar long before I ever knew I was, having only been properly treated for the disorder in the past year.
I hope you’re doing well with everything Matt, thanks again.
Report
cfile2: thanks for the info. It was very informative. It is good to know there is definitely a neuro-chemical side to it.
I guess good question to ask would be where to draw the line from being normal to being Bi-polar. I know I’ve gone from states of feeling on top of the world and energetic, fueled with thoughts, to feeling worthlessness with low self-esteem, and a certain disharmony with society and people. I will agree that when feeling low during these times, I consider myself slightly depressed (it is at least depressed for me). However I see this in others as well occasionally, so I’m fairly sure this is just part of the natural ups and downs of life.
As far as the two brothers are concerned, I agree that one should be very careful about making quick assumptions. I find it interesting to note that the mother seems to show signs of subtly aggressive behavior, or anxiety. This is only speculation though.
Report
Thank you.. this helps me understand what my bestfriend is really going through!!
Report
Thank you for sharing. You talking about this is going to help alot of people. Take good care.
Report
I am visually-impaired and my narration doesn’t seem to be picking up a link to part 1 of this series. Could anybody help me out? I want to watch this
Report
I am visually-impaired and my narration software doesn’t seem to be picking up a link to part 1 of this series. Could anybody help me out? I want to listen to this but I want to make sure I get all parts.
Sorry for the incomplete post before this, my lovely narration software posted it after I hit the wrong keyboard shortcut by mistake.
Report
Part 1 is embedded, maybe that’s why it didn’t work for you. Try this link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO_ESsTVf78&mode=related&search=
Report
im not the smarted 15 year old out there…what exactly is Bipolar Disorder?, i have heard of it, but i dont remember anything about it
(even though i dont know what is it yet) Hang in there dude
Report
I-Am-The-Walrus:
Bi-polar disorder comes in 2 different forms:
Type 1: Essentially Mania, with or without major depressive symptoms.
Type 2: Hypomania (which is a less severe form of mania) with major depressive episodes.
Basically people move through extreme points in mood where they will be, in the case of type 1, extremely manic. They will have inflated self esteem, grandiouse thoughts, won’t be able to stop talking, etc. On the other extreme (if they have the major depressive symptoms) they will hit emotional rock bottom and become lethargic, unmotivated, sad, have recurrent thoughts of death and suicide. They tend to cycle through these moods sometimes hitting the whole range within one day (called a mixed episode). A lot of the cause of it comes from an imbalance in neuro transmitters. Serotonin is a big one. People with low serotonin levels become depressed. Some research has also shown a big spike in serotonin when the switch from depresson or normality to mania comes. There is a third disorder in there as well called cyclothmia which is cycles of hypomania with the equivalent in depression. So people go from being slightly depressed to slightly manic.
Report
wow……honestly that sounds a little like me, my friend even jokingly makes fun of , what he calls my “mood swings”, at times i’ll feel absolutly terrible, i dont wanna talk to anyone, i wanna just site in my room and stare at the roof and think about God knows what. Then other times i cant stop laughing and talking with ppl…
Glad to hear your doin alright Matt!
Report
I guess I’m confused. How do you determine if you have a disorder vs. going through a bad time in your life?
Life in and of itself is up and down. There are some things which are moderately stable, but still the bottom can and does drop out of some things.
At what point do you become mildly bipolar(hypomania) or type II as opposed to someone who has been badly burned by difficult life situations and not ready to jump back in the shark tank until the chummy waters clear??
Know what I’m trying to say?
Report
Ya i understand,thats why in my previous post i didnt wanna say “I must have that!” cause who knows….ive only been havin these were depressive states every so often for the past..o 3 years, not my whole life
Report
Matt thanks for posting these videos. i just watched them all in one sitting. It was very interesting.
Report
Good vids there Matt.
In my business “friends� come and go, as do others. They claim not to use you, to be there for you, and when the time comes they aren’t. That’s just the way it is I’m afraid. When the band broke up, and there wasn’t money in it for those that had made a living from it, my list of friends became almost non-existent.
This statement reminds me exactly of what happened to me at about 18 years of age. Until then I was a big-time dope smoker, etc. I always had a big bag of the stuff. The friends were plentiful. Always calling to see what I was up to. You know where I’m going with this. Well, I quit one day and the phone stopped ringing. There would be a big party somewhere around the little hole in the ground town I lived and I’d hear about it the next day. No-one would call me to tell me that night where it was at. I had no dope to share.
I later moved, obtained an education and got my life together. One of those guys is now dead due to a heroine overdose a few years back. Some of the others have had major hard drug addictions, etc.
Report
“I guess I’m confused. How do you determine if you have a disorder vs. going through a bad time in your life?”
I’ll clarify a few things here. First, hypomania is defined as a state of elation lasting 4 or more days that is not as severe as mania in that it does not cause sufficient social impairment (i.e.you can still work and be social etc.). The key thing about the symptoms of hypomania is that it is a change in mood from when you aren’t symptomatic.There are a few other symptoms/signs there but that is th gist of it.
“Life in and of itself is up and down.”
Yes, but an up phase in life is vastly different from a manic episode. For instance, an “up” period in life might mean that your getting married and graduating with a degree. A period that you would probably find happy and would probably cause you to have an elated mood (albeit stressed at times) so you may find yourself on the go and busy in a great mood talking to lots of people or what have you. A manic episode, in contrast is characterized by somewhat eccentric behavior. During mania, the person may not sleep for 6 or 7 days at a time. Grandiouse thoughts race through their mind. A good example was in that clip when carrie fisher said “everybody wants to be with you and loves you, they play songs for you on the radio”. During a manic episode, somebody may actually believe, whole-heartedly, that the song on the radio is being played for them. And keep in mind that while life has its ups and downs, bi polar disorder tends to cycle through.
Did that help clear things up a bit yarrowrowan?
and also, I-Am-The-Walrus:
Just because you have only presented symptoms for the past three years does not mean it is not something to take note of. Bi-polar disorder is early onset typically in adolesence or early adulthood. If you are truly concerned that there may be something there, there are plenty of people out there to help. You can ask your doctor or psychologist about it for more information and a proper diagnosis.
Report
Yarrowrowan:
There is definately a difference between the normal ups and downs of life and what a person affected by the disorder feels. Having been a sufferer of the disorder for a few years I can tell you that what I used to go through as a teenager, before I started having symptoms, was nothing like now. Most of the time there is no rhyme or reason for feeling hypomanic or feeling depressed…it just happens, literally for no reason at all. Then if something on top of that goes wrong in your life it can really destroy you.
It’s really hard to explain, but the difference between a normal person’s ups and downs and someone’s with Bi-Polar is very substantial.
Report
I didn’t know Tony Slattery was in this documentary - I just about yelped with glee when I saw him. I saw him on the British version of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” when it aired on Bravo back in the mid-90’s; he was my favourite player. That whole Cambridge Footlights gang ruled - Hugh Laurie, Slattery and Fry in particular … and they all speak of mental illness (not sure about Emma Thompson). Laurie is an intensely private man but he has stated he does suffer from clinical depression.
There are many profound moments throughout the entire documentary and I hope that those of you who haven’t gotten ’round to it yet to take the time to watch it. It is long, but 1-2 sections a day (some are only ~3 minutes, not all are 8-10) and you’ll have it done in a week. It’s worth it. Regardless of whether you know someone who suffers bipolarism, it’s a fascinating documentary punctuated splendidly by Fry’s charming sardonic humour.
Report
cfile2:
Lithium Bicarbonate is the usual recommended pharmacological treatment. [Though with side-effects - some have reported of a dampending of all moods.]
There are low serotonin levels for both Unipolar and Bipolar Disorder. Norepinephine appears high during manic states [though low in MD], which suggests its involvement. Though as I’ve pointed out above, new research suggests an inbalance of chromosome 11q24.2.
Report
oneeighty:
I meant too associate low serotonin levels with both unipolar and bipolar disorder. The depression in both conditions is the same. However there are elevated levels of serotonin during the manic episodes. Or were you not disagreeing with me on that?
Report
My brother has been living with Type 1 Bi-Polar disorder for the last 21 years. Well, at least it’s been 21 years since his diagnosis. Obviously, as his brother, I have also been living with his illness for the last 21 years. With Type 1 Bi-Polar, you don’t get to see the “downs”, only the outrageous “ups”. Trust me when I say this; these “ups” are not even remotely similar to life’s regular highs such as weddings or graduations. These “ups” are dangerous, disruptive, frustrating and when they start, the people close to a person experiencing mania just enter damage control mode and hang on for the ride. People in a manic episode often do not sleep, do not shut up, will sell everything they own, cannot be alone, have boundless energy and every belief, opinion, or thought they had in a “normal state” is now plugged in, amplified, and everyone in the vicinitiy must know about it and believe it. Family and friends simply have to wait helplessly for the inevitable, which in my brother’s history has been repeated arrests for social disruption. Only at this point can we get him hospitalized, medicated and safe. When it’s over, there remains a path of emotional and actual destruction, as if the Tazmanian Devil of attitude just tornadoed his way through town. Finally, when he is medicated, my brother shuts down, to a zombie-like existence, unable to function in society and living a bare bones life. It’s a trade off we’re all willing to make; extreme passivity for safety. After 21 years of watching this vicious cycle, I am convinced that when this disorder kicks in, it’s exactly like plugging a guitar into an amplifier or pressing the BOLD key. What’s there before the episode in terms of personality, creativity, intelligence or ability is amplified exponentially, like Popeye on a spinach binge. This is why so many brilliant artists and thinkers are bi-polar. Their limits are removed. Add drugs to the mix and you have human beings thinking and behaving on a unfathomable plane. Along with the risks to personal safety comes the potential for umpredictable brilliance. I’m sure our guitar-toting hero has, unbeknownst to even himself, come up with his most brilliant and inspiring work while living in a not-so healthy mental situation. The human brain functions on its own theory of relativity, with equal and opposite reactions everywhere.
Report
cfile2:
I was disagreeing with that point! As far as I know, the low serotonin levels remain constant during depressive and manic episodes. What I was getting at was norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter, is low during depression but high during mania. But, I’m not an expert by any means and merely want to inform anybody who wants to know more about BP with as much information as I have. [So this could be inaccurate :-p]
Report
oneeighty:
No, you are correct about norepinephrine. It makes sense really because when your sympathetic nervous system is aroused like you would expect in a manic state, norepinephrine levels would hit the roof. But yea, serotonin does increase. This article: http://www.breggin.com/31-49.pdf has a little bit of what I mentioned earlier about SSRI induced mania. It happens quite frequently because often people are misdiagnosed with just depression and then given anti-depressants, specifically SSRIs. And here: http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=20060209190055 under the heading “Effects of high serotonin levels in various illnesses” you can find out a little bit about it.
Report
this is exactly why i continue to read your site. this is an example of the healing properties of group discussion. not only will this make you, the writer, feel better, but, it also helps us all understand what you and others go through on a daily basis.
it takes brave souls to change attitudes and feelings about things that are stigmatized and misunderstood.
it’s astounding how many brilliant minds deal with this disorder, but also equally amazing the products of their struggles. seems like an inordinately high price to pay for the contributions these people make, and have made, to our lives.
thank you for sharing this and your deeply personal feelings.
Report
Thanks.
Report
Ok so it took me a good week to watch all the videos (I know I complain a lot about this internet in this country but really it is ridiculous).
Matt, thanks for putting this up, it is eye opening, and for those of us who have been involved with someone with the disease it is comforting to see that their are success stories out there.
Report
The link to Mr. Fry’s documentary no longer works, but I found another YouTube link for it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yS9o7U33z1k&feature=related
It is through education and relating to others living with this illness that can help us to heal.
“I may have Bipolar, but it doesn’t have me.”
Sharon