I have bipolar depression (type 2), and my mania is usually different than type 1 - it's more heightened anxiety and paranoia. But when I was prescribed prednisone for Bell's Palsy, I took out 5 new credit cards and maxed them all out. I'm still paying it off. Hearing Dr. Jamison talk about that being a major feature of mania really hit home!!
I hope you have lots of snaks ready for her. All the mental support (be ready to accomodate the need to speak about all the crazy, cool, gross instances of her everyday life) and all the encouragement to attend to herself, because the system will not! But as patients, family members and medivcal staffs, we can be on each other's teams and gang up against all the parts of the system that just do not work anymore and hurt everyone (but the ones profiting from the misery) Best of support to you and your daughter!
43:04 “We should also talk about a system that encourages endless discussion about burnout” WHAT A PHENOMENAL THOUGHT. SHE HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD.”
When has anything in "endless" and "bad measure" been good to anyone! Things must be discussed AND baby steps towards change must actually be taken by ALL who participate in the "problem". Not "either, or", it has always been "AND".
Bipolar 1 here (with or without the hallucinations, depends). I finally accepted my diagnosis 5 years or so ago. I always wonder where I could be today if I didn’t waste most of my 20s on that exhausting roller coaster
Gosh darn it I wanted the Spanish word for fever, lol!! Also, as a lifetime sufferer of Major Depression who has been misdiagnosed as Bipolar many times by Dr's who refused to believe that I've never been manic, I appreciate her mentioning how often it's misdiagnosed!!
Thank you for having Dr. Jamison! I was diagnosed BP2 after an unfortunate interaction with Cymbalta, and at the time had no one to turn to in my life who could give me any indication of if I could expect improvement, how to piece apart contradictory information from different providers, if I was going to remain this unrecognizable version of myself, if I was going to become the monster that people with bipolar parents described to me. I've read many of her books since then, and they've been not only informative but hugely comforting. This illness stole a phd from me, but after 5 years of trial and mostly error with medications, recovery and re-strategizing, I'm now in PA school and looking forward again.
Thank you, Dr. Jamieson, for writing The Unquiet Mind. Your book made me feel that I am not the only one who suffers from bipolar disorder and that it is possible to live with it ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Just seeing this now it's been a month since it came out. But one of the things I really liked hearing was encouraging the med students to seek help instead of curling up in a ball when depression hit. That great advice as it also helps the doctor to be empathetic towards a patient being hesitant about getting care. There is a certain vulnerability having to reach or look at a diagnosis that may require extra support. Worked in medical/dental Admin for 30 years and with all the changes, rules, regulations HMO's PPO's , medicine is not the same as it was when I started so encouraging support is I firmly believe, Paramount.
Not trying to write a book, but I have had MDD since my 20’s I am 68 now and was diagnosed with bipolar about 5 years ago. In my social media and actually some family members I find that there still is a huge stigma.
Being bipolar is not a death sentence: I have bipolar disorder tipe 2 with comorbid ADHD. I have been through tough times in life, but I didn't accept being bipolar and didn't follow treatments, so I was always in crises. After being hospitalized for 12 days and undergoing treatment and convulsive therapy, I got better and accepted the diagnosis. Since then, I haven't had strong crises anymore. My life has changed: I went to university, studied Law, became a lawyer, did postgraduate studies, and work a lot. I live a normal life, but I avoid coffee, energy drinks, and alcohol. I exercise six times a week and sleep at least six hours a day. Additionally, I regularly see mental health professionals: I go to a psychologist twice a month and to a psychiatrist once a month. I take slow-release lithium carbonate as prescribed. We continue the fight with great determination. Disorder Type 2. My family does not know, even when I was hospitalised a few years ago. They did not find out because my two partners at my law firm organised everything with the psychologist and psychiatrist. Only my partners know about my bipolar disorder. My current girlfriend does not know that I have bipolar disorder. I am working with my psychologist to decide whether or not to tell my girlfriend. I believe the worst part of life for someone with bipolar disorder is the stigma and prejudice. Everyone thinks a person with bipolar disorder is always aggressive. I have never been aggressive with anyone, even during moments of crisis. I have never driven a car irresponsibly. I live a normal life, work a lot, and study constantly because my profession requires me to stay updated. However, I do take my medication. Never stop fighting for a better day, and believe in yourself. Hugs from Brazil.
Oh, you know, you pray and pray and when it works you say your prayers were heard and attribute really all the positive outcomes to the religion you pray under - and not your own efforts in improving the situation, or that of the person in question. And whenever the praying doesn't seem to work, you blame yourself (or the person with the condition) for not doing it well enough. Or you blame it on random people and groups of people for supposedly standing between you/the affected person and the success of the prayer. Cause that's totally how things work 😮💨 I know why I've said "Nope, thanks" even while still a kid. The percentage of people I met who failed to understand the purpose, functions and limits of religious belief systems - by far - outweighed those, who did it well. The few who're utilising beliefs marvelously while still staying grounded in realiy consisting of more than that, were very lovely people. Some of them were/are priests actually. We got along great! Actually some very science based people practice that, too, in (not well applied) religious manner. Guess what: Just as damaging to themselves and their surroundings X'D. Life asks for us to unify a plethora of facets and to cover our needs in holistic manner! Turns out the people who cope with challenges best, are those who know when to pray/follow spiritual practices and HOW(!) and know when to work very scientifically and down-to-earth and evidence based and HOW(!). 😁
Hi guys Dr. Jamison is a clinical PSYCHOLOGIST, not a psychiatrist. I hate to be a "reply guy" and I do love your content. Given your reach though, I think it is important to get terms straight. The functions are different. She is a national treasure and this is in no way a downgrade (a PhD is probably an upgrade!) but "psychiatrist" only refers to people who have gone to medical school. Please update.
Really surprised to hear that doctors have a higher rate of bipolar, I wonder why that is? Do people with bipolar select medicine or does medicine create the conditions for bipolar (sleep deprivation, stress etc)?
Dr. Flannery's face when Kay was talking about covid and burnout super uncertain and concerned. Dude I have no idea, really I'm not sure.. but it sounds like Kay Jamison doesn't like taking covid precautions and keeping the families out of the room of a covid patient... or limiting the number of people to come up and visit a patient to keep people out of the hospital so they don't get patients sick.
Soooo… it’s odd to me that this obviously well accomplished psychologist was called a psychiatrist by someone who is an MD/DO. Please tell me you know the difference between a psychologist (PhD or PsyD) and a psychiatrist (MD/DO). A psychologist has no medical training but some states give them prescribing rights. Mostly they do psychological testing and psychotherapy. I just can’t believe someone who went to med school does not know the difference.
For your situational awareness: While I sincerely enjoyed and appreciate this educational content, I would appreciate using the appropriate titles of psychiatrist versus psychologist. A psychiatrist is a licensed doctor (MD) Medical Doctor who has undergone rigorous training to become licensed as a Medical Doctor [complete medical school, take a written examination for a state license to practice medicine, and then complete four years of psychiatry residency]. A clinical psychologist is NOT a medical doctor. A clinical psychologist obtained a doctorate (the highest degree in the field of clinical psychology) and performed research to obtain either a PhD [research oriented] or a PsyD [applied psychology] and MUST obtain a 3000-hour supervised internship in order apply to take and pass the (EPPP) Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and the Ethics Exam to become a licensed psychologist who has earned the title of psychologist. Dr. Jamison is a clinical psychologist, not a psychiatrist, who is a doctor (MD). Lastly, most people do not know the difference between the two titles, and at one time, I, too, did not know the difference. A psychiatrist makes between $230-350K, and a licensed clinical psychologist makes $83 - 250K depending upon various variables such as length of time in the career field, private practice, consulting, etc.
OMG seriously. I had to see one at Cedars Sinai when they thought I had Pseudotumor Cerebri. Literally spent 3 hours in an MRI to the point where I was cooking. Then saw the neurologist and he literally just said, "You're fine. You can leave now." No explanation of what was or wasn't going on with my brain and spine, no next steps. Just a total jerk face.
I think the current norm (mentally unwell (licences etc notwithstanding) attempting to heal others' mental illnesses) should be seen as what it is -- infectionists with leprosy, cockeyed ophthalmologists, one-armed orthos, etc. Psychological deviations plaguing average psychoanalist are the stuff of legends.
As it turns out, people how have struggles are frequently the experts when it comes to said struggle. Frequently, people who have no personal experience (and research data) with conditions, assume a grat lot of how they work. And they deal quite a damage to patients. We have this little word that is called "Ableism" that closely tis into this. We actually have evidence that peer-to-peer support can do absolutely incredible things when it comes to supporting people in healing or navigating their conditions. Because the countless smal everyday instancs of how conditions affect people, can barely be taught to specialists. It's way too much to learn for someone who's supposed to know about many conditions. As always, the pathway of diversity is the very best for all of us. The more people of different backgrounds attend to an issue or can be picked as supporters on a healing journey, the better. Individuals frequently DON'T respond well to generalised anything. Not meds, not therapy, not treatments.
