Attention Whores?

[freckles]

freckles,

I don't understand the sentence in bold. Could you explain? Thanks!

not a problem. one of major reason why I have no patience; I never really could word it right sometimes!

okay, since oceanbreeze (and all others including you too I am sure) would like society to see that bipolar people can be stabilized TOO so I was saying it's hard to even out that blinded stereotype because when bipolar people are getting treatments, they look more of "normal" (stabilized)...right? so, then society couldn't tell they are ill-ed unless they were told. like britney spears.

I can hope this will happen at least some how ... zillion of people needed to be educated!

 

[Oceanbreeze]

imdeafsowhat,

If the friends you know are doing well in employment and school without medication, that's great. However, I would strongly encourage them to see a psychiatrist to begin treatment with mood stabilizers and/or antipsychotics. This is because bipolar tends to become progressively worse as one ages -- especially when a person is unmedicated. In other words, with each manic and depressive episode, they become more pronounced and increase in frequency throughout a person's lifetime (This is why medication is required.). Just thought I'd offer this friendly advice from someone who has first-hand experience with bipolar.

Hear Again. I would also concur with what you said. Bipolar disorder can be a ticking time bomb in an unmedicated person. They may seem like they've got a handle on it, but it eventually spins out of control.

 

[freckles]

I'm sorry freckles, but I disagree with the sentence in bold. People with bipolar aren't "attention whores." As I mentioned in a previous post, their extreme behavior is caused by a chemical imbalance and is something they can't control.

I'm not an "attention whore." I'm a person who happens to have bipolar.

Hope you understand my point.

no no, your point was my point. just being sarcastic in that post - see the quotes? since vampy is applying attention whores as to all, any of people which I disagreed of too.

I sincerely apologize for any confusion.

 

[Jiro]

LET'S STOP THIS BIPOLAR DISORDER TALK! This was NOT OP's intention. Again - the term "Attention Whore" is referring to a type of ANNOYING personality... NOT medical illness. Pretty much every one of us have encountered an incredibly ANNOYING & illogical person who craves for attention.

Please stick to subject. Share your experience with an annoying person who craves for attention aka ATTENTION WHORE.

 

[Hear Again]

not a problem. one of major reason why I have no patience; I never really could word it right sometimes!

okay, since oceanbreeze (and all others including you too I am sure) would like society to see that bipolar people can be stabilized TOO so I was saying it's hard to even out that blinded stereotype because when bipolar people are getting treatments, they look more of "normal" (stabilized)...right? so, then society couldn't tell they are ill-ed unless they were told. like britney spears.

I can hope this will happen at least some how ... zillion of people needed to be educated!

Now I understand. Thank you for the explanation!

...and I agree. Many, many people need to be educated about the facts regarding bipolar.

 

[Hear Again]

no no, your point was my point. just being sarcastic in that post - see the quotes? since vampy is applying attention whores as to all, any of people.

I sincerely apologize for any confusion.

No problem, freckles!

 

[freckles]

LET'S STOP THIS BIPOLAR DISORDER TALK! This was NOT OP's intention. Again - the term "Attention Whore" is referring to a type of ANNOYING personality... NOT medical illness. Pretty much every one of us have encountered an incredibly ANNOYING & illogical person who craves for attention.

Please stick to subject. Share your experience with an annoying person who craves for attention aka ATTENTION WHORE.

well, sadly, to many people illnesses are attention whores ...which is why this subject had started. . . it's not exactly off topic; don't forget tomato and tomatoh!

by the way, how do you know it wasn't OP's intention when he clearly posted his opinions of bipolar as attention whores?

and I thought I kept it generalized, some illnesses. not all attention whores are "attention whores"...confusing eh? this is how confusing this thread is! when someone (hint hint) mentioned someone with diagnoses!

you're welcome, hear again!

 

[Jiro]

well, sadly, to many people illnesses are attention whores ...which is why this subject had started. . . it's not exactly off topic; don't forget tomato and tomatoh!

by the way, how do you know it wasn't OP's intention when he clearly posted his opinions of bipolar as attention whores?

and I thought I kept it generalized, some illnesses.

you're welcome, hear again!

because read OP's first post. Not one mention of any medical illness such as bipolar disorder. However... things took a wrong turn and it got messy and confusing. It's merely a description of an annoying personality.

A lonely hermit doesn't mean he is clinically depressed or suffers a phobia of meeting people. A person is a lonely hermit because he chooses to be so by his own choice - hence a personality he formed for himself. There are some people who form an annoying personality to gain attention. That's what we should stick to.

 

[Jiro]

when someone (hint hint) mentioned someone with diagnoses!

oooo Diagnosis! Dr. House's very favorite word!

 

[jillio]

If any of you would like to have a first hand account of what it is like to have bipolar, check out Julie Fast's website at:

Julie Fast BipolarHappens.com Blog

Julie has bipolar II with psychotic features and has written two books about the disorder:

"Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder"
"Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder"

as well as a book about coping with depression:

"Get it Done When You're Depressed."

I've read all three of them and they are an excellent read.

There is another good book out there called "An Unquiet Mind" written by the head of a university psychiatric department who also happens to be Bi-polar. Her story is very inspiring.

 

[jillio]

If it's an illness that cannot be helped, then she shouldn't even have kids in the first place.

If I knew you had an illness that would put my children at risk, I wouldn't let you around my kids or do anything that would lead you to harm yourself or harm my kids.

She wasn't diagnosed until after her children were born.

 

[Hear Again]

because read OP's first post. Not one mention of any medical illness such as bipolar disorder. However... things took a wrong turn and it got messy and confusing. It's merely a description of an annoying personality.

A lonely hermit doesn't mean he is clinically depressed or suffers a phobia of meeting people. A person is a lonely hermit because he chooses to be so by his own choice - hence a personality he formed for himself. There are some people who form an annoying personality to gain attention. That's what we should stick to.

Yes and no. While a person can make the choice whether or not to be a hermit, it is also true that someone diagnosed with clinical depression can be a hermit as well. In fact, it isn't uncommon for many people with depression to withdraw from others -- especially when they are in a depressed state.

 

[jillio]

Being deaf has nothing to do with putting your kids in harm's way.

There are different types of bipolar disorders. I have friends who are bipolar, but they don't go running around shaving their heads, hitting other cars with umbrellas, driving with their babies on their laps, doing hit-and-runs, etc. Either their bipolar is mild or they are on medication that helps them deal with it.

If a person with severe bipolar refuses to take medication that can help them, then they are willingly putting themselves and others at risk. That's like handing a big sharp knife to a little kid who doesn't know what a big sharp knife is.

If your friend is unmedicated, he/she might do all of the above and even worse. Spears had not been diagnosed when she was engaging in this behavior, and was not medicated. It is exactly this type of behavior that led to her hospitalization, diagnosis, and meds being prescribed. As is the case with most individuals with Bi-Polar. It is the extreme behaviors that they have that create the need for medical treatment that leads to diagnosis. Its not like you can just give someone a routine blood test and say, "Oh, BTW, you have Bi-Polar Disorder." The behaviors have to manifest before a diagnosis is possible.

 

[Jiro]

Yes and no. While a person can make the choice whether or not to be a hermit, it is also true that someone diagnosed with clinical depression can be a hermit as well. In fact, it isn't uncommon for many people with depression to withdraw from others -- especially when they are in a depressed state.

that's why.... for the sake of argument - we're limiting this scope to non-medical condition.... which was OP's intention.

 

[jillio]

yes. we've already experienced this. We've already seen the public's stereotypical view on our disability. I've learned better not to let one bad case ruin it all. In this case - I'm specifically concerned with Britney Spear. I only judge it by person's action and what's she doing is a danger to herself and her children. Like I said previously - until she can demonstrate herself as a stable, functional mother.... that's fine.



she's had plenty of time and help available to her... Unfortunately... MTV Award is her priority.... not her illness and children. She should follow Christina Applegate's example... even though it wasn't mental illness but still - Christina knew her priority.

Stabilizing someone with Bi-Polar takes time. Medication levels have to reach a therapeutic level in the blood stream and be held there for some time before progress is even possible.

 

[Hear Again]

There is another good book out there called "An Unquiet Mind" written by the head of a university psychiatric department who also happens to be Bi-polar. Her story is very inspiring.

Jillio,

Yes, I've read this book as well. There is also a movie by the same name, but unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to see it.

 

[imdeafsowhat]

Brave people, but IMO not smart. Taking medication is *not* a sign of weakness. It is a sign of acceptance and a willingness to take responsibility for one's illness.

Then you go and tell them.

Their stubborness are overrated.

 

[jillio]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. When people experience a *severe* manic episode (as Spears did), their thinking and judgement are seriously impaired. When in this kind of a state, they can't tell the difference between right and wrong nor can they control their actions. As Jillio mentioned, they exhibit extreme behavior, but do not do so willingly.

Again, many people who experience severe manic episodes deny that there is anything wrong with them. That is one of the hallmark symptoms of mania. Therefore, if they don't believe anything is wrong in the first place, that person is in no position to understand that they need help.

If you've never experienced a severe manic episode, this is probably difficult for you to understand, but I can tell you from personal experience that controlling one's behavior when in this kind of a state is impossible without medical intervention.

Exactly!!

 

[Hear Again]

because read OP's first post. Not one mention of any medical illness such as bipolar disorder. However... things took a wrong turn and it got messy and confusing. It's merely a description of an annoying personality.

A lonely hermit doesn't mean he is clinically depressed or suffers a phobia of meeting people. A person is a lonely hermit because he chooses to be so by his own choice - hence a personality he formed for himself. There are some people who form an annoying personality to gain attention. That's what we should stick to.

Discussing "attention getting" behaviors such as those displayed by Britney Spears (according to Vampy) DO relate to the OPs original thread. You are the one who is making the distinction to separate behavior caused by mental illness vs. behavior that is caused by a person's personality. So yes, we are still on topic.

 

[Hear Again]

Then you go and tell them.

Their stubborness are overrated.

If I described some of the past experiences I've had with having a severe manic episode, I bet I could convince them to take meds.

Of course, they are the ones who need to make that decision. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a severe manic or depressive episode before a person realizes that they need help.