Personal Reflections on Manic-Depressive Illness

[1extenderpro]

great vidoe sharing

[Seyth7]

Totally empathise with all of this. Finally got around to getting myself officially diagnosed for Major Depression... after five years of being aware of it and more than eight years living with it. The effects are dramatically similar- I hated the idea of medication... and it worked for me.

[MrPEDOCTOR]

Depression is main mental illness.

[nelrish24]

w0w

[mmatw2]

I went through two idiot doctors that were just in for the cash...real zeros. but i did find three that cared and helped. they made up the difference. i guess it is just luck of the draw.

[xtremekajaker]

What a wonderful lady! Thank you so much! It helped me a lot to understand/feel my illness better.

[mmatw2]

this LADY saved my life in 1999. She is a beloved and wonderful lady.

[CharmedQuarkZ99]

@mmatw2 Most become psych med zombies, and the psych department does nothing about gross and vulgar boundry violating against their own patients. Dr Jamison is a good wrtiter; but sadly her co-authored book 'Touched With Fire' gathers dust on doctors bookshelves. Behaviorits lack creativity, and humor. Run from psych meds friends. I became a 'village idiot' before I figured out their game. They really dont give a fig about you; unless you are 'in the loop'

[RETIREMESOON]

@mmatw2 She just saved my marriage and life.Finally,..... the TRUTH HAS SET ME FREE :0)

[zeroskillsful]

pls let me buy a copy of this wonderful lady's book!!! where have i been...yes i know i'm here. i don't have credit card overload but everything that majestic lady said is soo true!!! I fight the darkness of inadequace every day and becomr frustrated with myself because i know what i want to deliver but it comes out wrong. the darkness and the self loath i feel is real, and those close to me laugh it off and say "take yr antidepressant old girl." pls is there a way i can get in contact wth ath

[artistCeraso]

I read dr kays book "the mind of fire" my phy gave it to me.Great book ...however I lost in my last house fire...3rd fire...Space cadet bipolar disease>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[matthew12222]

The depression seemed to suck. I guess the point was things were just too out of control, poor lady.

I'd argue that without strange "ill" people who are different we'd live a dull existence.

Hendrix, other musicians, actors, writers, leaders, artists, etc. If all these people were identified and "balanced out" They might still be here, but most likely not produced these wonderful gifts for the rest for us.

In this case, this woman was lucky her problem just fit in with her profession.

[utkyle12]

@matthew12222 That's an interesting idea. There's a book called "Neurodiversity" that expands on that idea. I believe there is a level of functional impairment that is necessary for people to live happily, but the model of "broken brains" is becoming out of date.

[SAntonoyannakie]

"Don't be too embarrassed by your lack of co-ordination or your inability to do well the sports you once did with such ease".

Well, it's easy to say so when body movement, high levels of accurate co-ordination and physicality are not in fact your profession and inextricable from your life and identity. What about dancers and athletes on lithium or other anti-psychotics?

[Painnnnful]

@SAntonoyannakie It was supposed to be sarcastic..

[SAntonoyannakie]

@Painnnnful Sarcastic or not, I'm still struggling to be able to continue dancing professionally on medication.

[tenyearsold9]

I didn't understand what my son has been going through in his life until I read Dr. Jamison's book. Now we can talk about it.

[marioagassmann]

please pur with subtitles in spanish, if is posible , tanks

[obbytaylor]

Hola! me parece excelente lo que dice en la conferencia Leí el libro y me parece una tremenda enfermedad aquella sinceramente pienso que es muy valiente al contar su historia y revelar detalles tan personales Con su testimonio no tengo dudas de la enfermedad y me queda claro al tener personas conocidas con ese trastorno lo difícil que puede llegar a ser padecerla Le doy la gracias a Kay por su relato que me acerca a la realidad de los que llevan para toda su vida la enfermedad. Paola; Chile

[pdhomo]

deer me!

[napaliview]

Thank God for this....its just too impossible to explain ourselves actions and the illness to others. This does it for us. Thanx Kay

[trickmastermonkey]

I'm taking an abnormal psychology course and one of our required readings is her bestseller book, An Unquiet Mind

[barkulator]

6:25 she mentions reasons why bipolars don't want to take meds but she leaves out the fact that the drugs can harm you. They *always* leave out the fact that the drugs can shorten your life. The will *never* tell you that the drugs can shorten your life.

[sbergman27]

@barkulator : Please be more specific. How, exactly can drugs for treatment of bipolar disorder "shorten your life"? By how much? In what way? How unlikely? Where is the evidence? You didn't bother to say. You only made a fuzzy claim without evidence.

[barkulator]

@sbergman27 Seroquel. By how much: no way to tell exactly, like cigarettes. In what way: metabolic syndrome, diabetes, liver damage. How unlikely: greater risk than I am comfortable with. Where is the evidence: Ask an honest pdoc, or see Seroquel vids on youtube.

[1214gaia]

@sbergman27 I think what barkulator is saying is that many atypical antipsychotics (like Seroquel), which are sometimes used in Bipolar I with psychotic features, often have serious side effects. It is true that among them are metabolic dysregulation often leading to diabetes; weight gain; elevated liver enzymes; and distressing neurological symptoms.... (cont.)

[1214gaia]

@sbergman27 -- (cont.) It's a serious risk-benefit issue; however, I bet that Kay Jamison would say that she would opt for lithium despite a long stretch of brutal side effects. She very nearly died at age 28; the cost of her illness outweighed the enormous difficulties of her medication. There are few easy answers. Whether agitated psychotic depression or liver disease, any life-threatening illness is just that: life-threatening.

[mmm9mmm9]

These mad people are putting lithium in oure drinking water with oure floride

[mmm9mmm9]

Kool ,She is still there, reminds me of my biolgy teacher

[fatimaajmal]

"The freedom from the control imposed by medication loses its meaning when the only alternatives are death and insanity" -Couldn't have said it better. This talk was spot on.

[CharmedQuarkZ99]

A few who 'deserve' support, emapthy, kindness fill auditoriums. The sad reality for most is hate, cruel jokes, slander after leaving the Clinic. The System stands by and does nothing. How many more 'famous dead people'. Dr. Jamison co-wrote a book defining the link between creativity and 'madness'. A best seller that gathers dust on bookshelves in psychiatrists offices. Strongly suggest looking into 'Adult Indigo', 'Crystal Children'. Gifted children are victims of 'Bio-Psych'

[nordicbeauty28]

Love you Dr.Jamison

[lpicardster]

Why is Dr. Redfield slurring her speech? Is that a side effect of lithium?

[carlwal01]

thank u for the lecture god bless your soul kay

[foxleyleon]

some people state that manic depressives are at a superior state of intelligence.(when manic of course). We have so much evidence that it is true. but why do we appose it??

[WJJ1968]

Very informative. Thank you for posting.

[PsycPro2010]

We obviously need more doctors like Dr. Kay!

[shangrilaization]

Dr Jamison..I have never had a role model but I really want to say that you are my role model.

I am not from medical field but always wanted to study psychology. If i can be iota of what you are, I would be contented.

[Jetaimebien2]

this was such an informative and great video.! bravo!!

[dillidi]

A remarkable, brave and courageous woman who is to be admired for her tenacity in telling the truth at great risk to herself and her career. I am truly humbled by her!

[paintersron]

Great courage

[darintaylor79]

anyone know how to get a hold of her for a possible consultation, I have bipolar and live in florida, just email me if you know if she does one on one. i have a dr. but she seems like the best in the world.

[DritonGusia]

There was a time when I felt a set of feelings that made me say:I'm manic

I was full of energy, insane readiness for war,blood-thirst,great pride full of euphoria,hubris,and great artistic inspiration

When I listened to Mayhem (a black metal band),songs all about apocalyptic war and misanthropy,I felt myself falling in trance,wanted to cut my skin

I always visualized my surrounding in burning ruins,and corpses drowned in blood,I loved that

I felt that no one but me exists. And I can do anything

[foxleyleon]

@DritonGusia eeeew. grandiosity and a mixed state of hypo mania. i like Avalanch but u prob don't understand Spanish.

[gaia1214]

I know how catty this is and, God help me, I'm sorry because I respect her work, but...Dr. Jamison needs a better bra. I saw her live in grad school and there was the same problem. I'm sorry, it's distracting!  Just sayin'.

[socoagogo]

Wow I have had this illness a long time and was just recently diagnoised. Thannk G-d for her ability to write & speak as this was the warmest heartfelt story for her to share

[foxleyleon]

@socoagogo She makes u feel shameful of it. mostly because she is. wheres the humble grandiosity. that energetic look you see yourself in the mirror. surely it is not all bad

[MrMartinnJ]

The way she talks about this awful disease is very empathic. That is the most important for me. She is in an unique position of being the 'ultimate' expert. Although the illnes comes in many shapes. Raising awareness the way she does can save lives.

[jpkeelty]

Wow... how awfully brave to share her story. As a person with Bi-polar ... that level of disclosure is terrifying at best.

[spinjamn]

I haven't read her book but how was she able to go to work and teach everyday if she was that depressed?

[medic345]

I've experienced a number of highly-skilled, astonishingly advanced and high-performing professionals that suffer from several bipolar disorder. The research well documents the ability for many, though diagnosed with any of the bipolar disorders, can lead amazingly successful lives.

[pjtheman1]

the illness is also known now a bipolar disorder but she she had periods of manias where her thoughts would race and and she would go on spending sprees do a million different things and then after she would have periods of depression where everything she had to do became a task and she would sometimes become violent and suicidal but a very effective treatment is lithium which solves most of her problems but it wasnt that easy...- its a great book you should really consider reading it

[wingchild]

Being bi-polar, or manic-depressive, is to be constantly shifted between the depressive state (where you don't want to do anything) and the manic state (where you're wrapped up in the highs of everything). Perhaps her best work came while manic?

Maybe she simply taught while depressed for the same reason we all attend our jobs regardless of feeling - bills have to be paid no matter what.

[skatoolaki]

@spinjamn With great effort. You should read her book; it's very enlightening and explains what it is like for those of us who suffer from this disease.

[thatmanley55]

Thank you to Dr. Jamison. She is a (quality of) life saver. Her writing is so superb and important that she enabled me to regain my ability to read.

[starkserious]

Excellent personal story and info on depression, but she needs to add some vocal variety to keep audience engaged. It's too monotone. There's a woman in the audience asleep in the video.

[sakkamarra]

Is it truly a mental illness if suicide is really the best choice? If someone's life truly sucks, as in they are very ugly, very naturally unintelligent, friendless, severely wronged by individuals or by society acting as a whole, and possibly living an uneventful existence on par with a life-term in prison, wouldn't suicide be not the choice of a mentally ill person but actually someone with extreme mental clarity, sanity, and rationality.

There is no rational reason to live after all.

[harryiiis]

I dont think there is really ever a 'rational' reason to kill yourself.

[sakkamarra]

I could just as easily ask the same of you. Is there a truly rational reason to live?

The unfortunate answer is that there is not an inherently rational reason to do anything. A person has to imbue something with abstract meaning before they can care about it, and assuming that there is no objective meaning, only subjective meaning, then why is it insane to not imbue something, such as a life, with meaning at all.

[sakkamarra]

Self-preservation is programmed into our minds. I'm programmed to want to live by instinct. That is not a very meaningful existence and it has more in common with brainwashing than sanity.

I am not suicidal, so don't be worried there. I just think that there are some very justifiable reasons for people to want to kill themselves. Chemically lying to your own brain and instincts about your circumstances and the need for them to change can sometimes be sick in a Brave New World kind of way.

[albumflaps]

Explain ' rational '?

It is subjective. There is no firm truth or context as it is an individualistic form of explaining what is usually unexplainable, therefore mankind can only see what seems to make sense ( or your rational if you prefer) . We know little or nothing of our existence yet still feel the need to try and justify and explain everything in an effort to comfort ourselves of purpose. Instead we should choose to exist and live that existence as best we can. P.S. I'm Manic myself.

[Jackalbot]

Living is the only rational choice. The only other option is non-existence.

[BishopBlackhand]

Generally speaking, bipolar disorder presents with an above average intelligence and crazy people almost never lead uneventful lives.

[happilylil]

i take Vilift for almost 6 months now and i have to say that it's really great, it works for me.

[CitizenCindy]

As a manic depressive myself, Dr. Jamison has been a great inspiration for me. The things she's been able to accomplish despite her struggle with the illness are amazing. I'm grateful for her example.

[babygilbert0]

I agree she is one of heros I love all of her books she's a brilliant writer and psychiatrist and person thank god for her, always an inspiration. Saved my life more than a few times

[thewelford]

I've got the stuff. Every day is difficult. I'm going to forward this piece to some of my friends and family, as I couldn't say it as well. But like I said , some. It is frightening to have and share. Thank you.

[Amethysting]

Dr. Jamison uses the term "collective unconscious" and it seems to get a chuckle. Young was brillent, but of course, The Mighty Behaviorists discredited him and others like Carl Rogers. Dr. Jamison is very fortunate to have been surrounded by knowing and insightful people in grad school. The vast majority live on housing assistance and food stamps; and are looked upon as Village Idiots. Why publish Touched With Fire if it is nothing more than a "best seller"?

[gecko1986]

impressing! she made a really good decicioun to talk about her illness!

[ChannelChameleon]

Dr. Jamison is a great writer, and I applaud her for speaking and writing openly about so called "mental illness". Where I come from they hand out appointment cards and pills, then stand by as those who dont suicide become Hermits. I refuse to be yet another famous dead person. Public awareness is very lacking. My own familiy abandoned me. I can surmise there are brillent people living next to dumptsters.

[sweeetly]

which one are you? the manic high one, the the dark lonely depressed one...I say neither...there is a real you that is not in your head but in your heart..let your head drop into your heart...mental dust of breakdown is not there...with Love

[tracytrouble1]

I was born with a chemical imbalance in my brian. I do not like being this way and have ruined many things in my life forever. For the last 8 years I won't even leave my house.

[jgalvan7767]

I know that feeling, I am disabled and have a severe case of Manic/Depression. Keep working with Medical Doctors and see a therapist on regular basis if you can. Try to seek help with others like yourself and talk these things over. I am sure you are very hard on yourself about your "imbalance". Please keep working at it, it really is one day at a time.

[tracytrouble1]

Thank you. I am on medication where you see the doctor for 15 minutes every 2 months, but not anyone one else

[Amethysting]

You have become a "Hermit". Those who don't suicide begin to isolate. They will give you a diagnisis for that too. More and more I stay alone. Say something against a "protected group" and its instant "hate crime" Yet the so called "mentally ill are fair game for mockery. I have met numerous others who have become this way. Some of Us need to start writing books. They go dancing at award dinners and country clubs and do nothing about public awareness. Sorry if I sound jaded.

[dccha]

This is beautiful. I know exactly what she went through. I live it everyday.

Although Im not a big fan of the medication. It feels like my mind stops working, its like I stop feeling.

Why cant I just be accepted the way I am?

Im just different. We all are.

[darkwindmill]

And now I'd like to hear the opinion of all those scientologysts who claim that psychology is a pseudo science and mental illnesses don't exist.

[MaryJamesMurdoch]

Excellent observation Darkwind. I am profoundly disturbed when I hear one of their celebrity proponents (most without advanced education) spouting off to the media and anyone that will listen that psychiatric disorders do not exist; that such disorders are merely personal/moral weaknesses brought on by the patient himself.

[asdf2000]

who says they are brought on by the patient himself? can it not be both self-weaknesses and physical disorder? isn't that how the brain works? or do you not believe in free will?

[MaryJamesMurdoch]

The scientologist say they are brought on by the patients themselves. I believe there different kinds of mental illnesses that present at various levels of severity. I believe that the most severe forms of mental illness should be treated with medication. You wouldn't deny a diabetic his insulin, why should you deny a schizophrenic his Risperdol (or whatever it is they take)?

[stephen53847]

you're right, MaryJames. Too many opinions spoil the efforts to learn.

[stephen53847]

There's no such thing as free will. Our conscious thoughts always follow our biological experiences. Where we believe that we are exerting free will, we are really driven by our body and mind's decisions. We are just the poor suckers that have to try to deal with the desire/fear aspect of so called "free will" consciousness...(did I mean to write that?...)

[asdf2000]

But if that is the case, then what is the function of sentient experience. Why would evolution lead to an experiencer if there are no decisions to be made in the first place?

[0ubermann1]

.well said.

Perhaps......

[planes3333]

@MaryJamesMurdoch

I have cylclothymia (manic more then depression) its sometimes hard, whats worse is when I get debating and fighting with people on you tube. I Used to try to self medicate with herion and meth, but I quit 9 months ago!!

[MachineAmbition]

@MaryJamesMurdoch a lot of them as well as non-celebs against psychiatry say it's a spiritual crisis - for example, the death of the ego. i don't think that excludes the role of brain chemicals, but those people can't seem to reconcile that the material nature of the brain and the potential for the soul, lifeforce, etc.

[planes3333]

@darkwindmill

my doctor is pretty good. I am happy I have so much support. People on you tube can be so mean too. Howeve I know I am loved and stuff, hope all you with mania do well, seriousley..

I tried meth and heroin to help me but it made it worse. I also need to me kinder and more mellow and stop arguing with people on u tube

[pancho8721]

@darkwindmill your being glib Matt

[pancho8721]

@darkwindmill I was being sarcastic

[Eyes5150]

@darkwindmill Cos most people who become Scientologists have a mental/emotional disorder themselves. I think it was something called "Denial".

[retrogawd]

@darkwindmill My good friend. Psychiatry is for the opinionated

[babygilbert0]

(previous reply to NOxyde continued) there magnificent contributions to the world at large

[babygilbert0]

If eugenics was put into practice, who would be able to judge the people that contribute enough to society and the people that don't. What would stop these descion makers from basing there chocies on racial bias? What qualifications does one need to decide who has the right to live or reproduce? If you put the mentally ill in one catagory and said they had no right to live some of the greatest, writers, artists, psychologists, mathmaticians, and bussiness men would never have had a chance for,

[mossypest]

I liked you better when you were giving away snake bite kits

[jerms88888]

you are correct, morality is subjective. i subjectively believe in the supremacy of the rights of the individual over the rights of an unidentified mass public, who allegedly might benefit from eugenics.

[jerms88888]

the so-called "logic" of eugenics is itself spurious. historically, it has failed. after the slave trade was abolished (but while slavery was still being practiced in the US South), eugenic practices were attempted to achieve marginal increases in economic output.

[jerms88888]

the result was major social unrest, both within the black community (whose families were torn apart, who were bred like wild animals) and also within non-black communities in the North and in Europe, who came to a consensus of slavery (including its eugenic policies) was immoral. finally the question had to be resolved by war.

[jerms88888]

it's just one of these crazy moral judgements people keep making, that we should treat others like us with a modicum of respect, and not treat them like vermin just because they may look different or may be sick or ill.

[jerms88888]

generally people care about their children, their parents, other human beings in general...

you are reducing human struggles with debilitating illnesses to a pseudo-scientific justification for an ethos of hate and immaturity...

[jerms88888]

evolutionary fodder?? is this a joke??

this is someone's mother, someone's father, someone's child...

[Blacklistedgang]

you are fodder

[HeftyHeathen]

Wow,

Well that was an honest answer. I disagree with you , but must respect the force of your conviction. Thanks for telling me what you really think, rather than paint it up politically correct for guise. That is somehow a show of character integrity. The fact that I disagree with you, notwithstanding.

[HeftyHeathen]

NOxyde People are not fodder. Why should you say they should die if technology could say no.

If you most loved one had mental illness you would probably not call them fodder.

Reread the Selfish Gene-Dawkins, You read it wrong. He would disagree with you.

Mental illness in the genome would not have survived natural selection and would have been extinct long ago-if you were right.

You would make a better Nazi, than an arm chair scientist. Try to read much more and please don't breed.

[McConsumer]

Basically, but why so blunt about it? I believe in legalizing drugs. This will undoubtedly lead to lots of suffering. But only those without the will or wisdom will succumb, and then it will be out of our society. However, I will never cease to feel compassion for those that suffer through it.

[quixotica]

Probably some would-be recovering drug addict, no doubt.

[quixotica]

N0xyde, I hope you get every last dripping bit of karma owed to you on that one.

[comingback123]

I think that you would get along well with social darwinists...

[koreniebear]

I know this book and this woman all to well. i have read these pages over and over again and have lived this book my whole life. Dr. Jamison is a huge role model of mine and i am so proud to be able to have a role model that i cab relate to so well.

[Nyhee7]

I hope the best for you all. I don't think that there will be advances in this area of psychology until the environment and the thought process's responce to environment have been taken into consideration. It's not all physical, the brain is changed yearly by thoughts and the environment. Why does science ignore that?

Good luck, all, I hope you find loving people to help you survive this, and I hope you love them back.

[xxZanexx]

hmm.. I got Bipolar. I'm currently going for a PHD 0o. Extremely easy work, just takes a loooooong time. But I have beliefs that there are way better methods than lithium, I have what I like to call control over my states.. I think people just need to be steered in the right direction rather than forced into being like everyone else. Einstien was bipolar, but he was also a Genius. Maybe if there were more advanced thearapeutical methods and better systems of education it could turned to an asset

[vangobel2]

Just beautiful. Thank you Dr. Kay for your courage, honesty, expertise and message of healing & recovery.

[ingfulu]

ÅHHH GUD DET ER MIG HUN SNAKKER OM...

[ingfulu]

Og jeg har ikke mere at sige...

[ingfulu]

og endelig så jeg lyset... I HAVE seen the light finally...

[ingfulu]

wow...

[ladypenelope1983]

I think Dr Kay Redfield Jamison is a genius... thank goodness we have a bipolar sufferer who also works in the field of psychiatry/psychology and therefore has a better understanding of what it is like to be a victim of this horrible disorder.

[plotnonyo]

ya your logic fails

[ikarianwinds]

I have a friend who once went off his meds, "found god", "became god", and nearly killed himself. Possible side affects of religion...innumerable. Adverse reactions: much higher than those of lithium or other mood stabilizers. If you've "got religion" great. But keep it to yourself. And seriously consider augmentation therapy! (i.e., medication: recognition that bipolar is a physical and likely genetic disease that requires appropriate treatment.)

[M1thotyn]

Well theres already numerous things about your personality that I don't like, so maybe we should get you on some of that medication. Kent Hovind or Richard Dawkins, you're all equally insane when there is no one way to reason if you believe that there is, when there truly isn't. Isn't psychosis a detachment from reality?

[srijune]

There is no such thing as 'incurable' - God is the greatest physician ..

:-)

[desper8o]

You are a fool

[ikarianwinds]

You sound a little manic. Does god cure cancer...and MS...or cerebral palsy...alzheimers perhaps? Your god may help you live with such diseases as these but he/she/it will not cure them. And it's cruel to imply that those who have not find good treatment yet do not "have god on their side". And stupid.

[M1thotyn]

"You sound a little manic. Does god cure cancer...and MS...or cerebral palsy...alzheimers perhaps?"

Do doctors? Answer your own question first, else your argument is baseless.

[youtooberr]

Read before you comment. He did not say that doctors can cure those diseases. He was simply refuting the guy that said.. "There is no such thing as 'incurable' - God is the greatest physician .." Therefore, he said "Does god cure cancer...and MS...or cerebral palsy...alzheimers perhaps?"

[NintendoArielle]

If that were the case, then no one would be suffering in the first place. Therefore, your logic fails.

[deadmonikor]

I just want the most effective med with the least side effects for my wife. It doesn't matter what it is. I know that different things work for different people and yes, there may be side effects. Side effects are one thing... So is the basic ability to cope.

[srijune]

There actually exists healing! If you know someone who is seeking for help, there is more than hope. Convince yourself

[draudreyadams]

You're ridiculous.

[ikarianwinds]

A final (I think) note/rant: I think it is a common misconception that Dr. Jamison is somehow "pushing" lithium, simply because it has worked well for her and for thousands of others. However, in the textbook she coauthored titled "Manic Depressive Illness" (1990) there are almost 200 pages dedicated to documenting a broad range of treatment modalities, in addition to lithium. I think she is well aware that lithium is not for everyone.

[ikarianwinds]

There is NO MAGIC BULLET, Dr. Raymond Forbes, D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine). Though your ideas from a dental standpoint are very interesting, I think it's very important never to minimize the complexity of this illness. It is a broad spectrum of illnesses that respond to a broad spectrum of treatments often in very ideosyncratic ways. The evidence you cite on your web page is clinical, which can be very useful when backed with some scientifically controlled studies.

[ikarianwinds]

P.S. Dr. Forbes, you state on your website: "Some bipolars seem to be content to collect disability and half--function in this zombie like state. I don't call that living."  This quote is extremely insensitive, offensive, and tastes bitterly of judgmentalism. Most people don't enjoy being on disability and some may need to "half-function" to stabilize their minds and their lives before they can explore alternative therapies, like your own. Perhaps a little more empathy would be in order here.

[rforbes1]

Kay is an eloquent writer on manic depression. Unfortunately she advocates Lithium as the treatment of choice and hasn't explored posterior pituitary supplementation which is a cure with no side effects. She advocates early diagnosis and treatment which I believe is also essential.

[seeminglysuspicious]

Having had 1200mgs of Lithium per day for the past year with no tangible side effects and a considerably happier bank manager; I have to disagree...!

[rforbes1]

Do you have any high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar. high decay rate, periodontal disease, other bone loss. spontaneous abortion in females. These are things you can expect with posterior pituitary deficiency that Lithium will not correct, so if you think Lithium is a magic bullet, post pit is a better one. You were not born Lithium deficient.