Living With "D"

Famous People With Bipolar Disorder

hattuuch — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:19:03 +0000

Much of this list was obtained from the Internet.

Actors & Actresses

Ned Beatty
Maurice Bernard, soap opera
Jeremy Brett
Jim Carey
Lisa Nicole Carson
Rosemary Clooney, singer
Lindsay Crosby
Eric Douglas
Robert Downey Jr.
Patty Duke
Carrie Fisher
Connie Francis, singer and actress
Shecky Greene, comedian
Linda Hamilton
Moss Hart, actor, director, playright
Mariette Hartley
Margot Kidder
Vivien Leigh
Kevin McDonald, comedian
Kristy McNichols
Burgess Meredith, actor, director
Spike Milligan, actor, writer
Spike Mulligan, comic actor and writer
Nicola Pagett
Ben Stiller, actor, director, writer
David Strickland
Lili Taylor
Tracy Ullman
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Robin Williams
Jonathon Winters, comedian

Artists

Alvin Alley, dancer, choreogapher
Ludwig Von Beethoven
Tim Burton, artist, director
Francis Ford Coppola, director
George Fredrick Handel, composer
Bill Lichtenstein, producer
Joshua Logan, broadway director, producer
Vincent Van Gogh, painter
Gustav Mahier, composer
Francesco Scavullo, artist, photographer
Robert Schumann, composer
Don Simpson, movie producer
Norman Wexler, screenwriter, playwright

Entrepreneurs

Robert Campeau
Pierre Peladeau
Heinz C. Prechter
Ted Turner, media giant

Financiers

John Mulheren
Murray Pezim

Miscellaneous

Buzz Aldrin, astronaut
Clifford Beers, humanitarian
Garnet Coleman, legislator (Texas)
Larry Flynt, publisher and activist
Kit Gingrich, Newt’s mom
Phil Graham, owner of Washington Post
Peter Gregg, team owner and manager, race car driver
Susan Panico (Susan Dime-Meenan), business executive
Sol Wachtier, former New York State Chief Judge

Musicians

Ludwig van Beethoven, composer
Alohe Jean Burke, musician, vocalist
Rosemary Clooney, singer
DMX Earl Simmons, rapper and actor
Ray Davies
Lenny Dee
Gaetano Donizetti, opera singer
Peter Gabriel
Jimi Hendrix
Kristen Hersh (Throwing Muses)
Phyllis Hyman
Jack Irons
Daniel Johnston
Otto Klemperer, musician, conductor
Oscar Levant, pianist, composer, television
Phil Ochs, musician, political activist, poet
John Ogden, composer, musician
Jaco Pastorius
Charley Pride
Mac Rebennack (Dr. John)
Jeannie C. Riley
Alys Robi, vocalist in Canada
Axl Rose
Nick Traina
Del Shannon
Phil Spector, musician and producer
Sting, Gordon Sumner, musician, composer
Tom Waits, musician, composer
Brian Wilson, musician, composer, arranger
Townes Van Zandt, musician, composer

Poets

John Berryman
C.E. Chaffin, writer, poet
Hart Crane
Randall Jarrell
Jane Kenyon
Robert Lowell
Sylvia Plath
Robert Schumann
Delmore Schwartz

Political

Robert Boorstin, special assistant to President Clinton
L. Brent Bozell, political scientist, attorney, writer
Bob Bullock, ex secretary of state, state comptroller and lieutenant governer
Winston Churchill
Kitty Dukasis, former First Lady of Massachusetts
Thomas Eagleton, lawyer, former U.S. Senator
Lynne Rivers, U.S. Congress
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States

Scholars

John Strugnell, biblical scholar

Scientists

Karl Paul Link, chemist
Dimitri Mihalas

Sports

Shelley Beattie, bodybuilding, sailing
John Daly, golf
Muffin Spencer-Devlin, pro golf
Ilie Nastase, tennis
Jimmy Piersail, baseball player, Boston Red Sox, sports announcer
Barret Robbins, football
Wyatt Sexton, football
Alonzo Spellman, football
Darryl Strawberry, baseball
Dimitrius Underwood, football
Luther Wright, basketball
Bert Yancey, athlete

TV & Radio

Dick Cavett
Jay Marvin, radio, writer
Jane Pauley

Writers

Louis Althusser, philosopher, writer
Honors de Balzac
Art Buchwald, writer, humorist
Neal Cassady
Patricia Cornwell
Margot Early
Kaye Gibbons
Johann Goethe
Graham Greene
Abbie Hoffman, writer, political activist
Kay Redfield Jamison, writer, psychologist
Peter Nolan Lawrence
Frances Lear, writer, editor, women’s rights activist
Rika Lesser, writer, translator
Kate Millet
Robert Munsch
Margo Orum
Edgar Allen Poe
Theodore Roethke
Lori Schiller, writer, educator
Frances Sherwood
Scott Simmie, writer, journalist
August Strindberg
Mark Twain
Joseph Vasquez, writer, movie director
Mark Vonnegut, doctor, writer
Sol Wachtler, writer, judge
Mary Jane Ward
Virginia Woolf

support from family and frined

hattuuch — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:47:32 +0000

Family members often feel helpless when a loved one is depressed or manic. Family members and friends can help by:

Encouraging the person to take his or her medications regularly, even when feeling good.
Learning the warnning signes for suicide, which include:
- Drinking alcohol heavily or taking illegal drugs.
- Talking, writing, or drawing about death, including writing suicide notes.
- Talking about things that can cause harm, such as pills, guns, or knives.
- Spending long periods of time alone.
- Giving away possessions.
- Acting aggressive or suddenly appearing calm.
Recognizing a lapse into a manic or depressive episode and helping the person cope and get treatment.
Allowing your loved one to take enough time to feel better and get back into daily activities.
Learning the difference between hypomania and when he or she is just having a good day. Hypomania is an elevated or irritable mood that is clearly different from a regular nondepressed mood and can last for a week or more.
Encouraging your loved one to go to counseling and to join a support group, and joining one yourself if needed.

Bipolar Disorder – Home Treatment

hattuuch — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:43:44 +0000

Home treatment is important in bipolar disorder. In addition to taking your medications every day as prescribed, you can help control mood swings by:

Getting enough exercise. Try moderate activity for at least 30 minutes a day, every day, if possible. Moderate activity is activity equal to a brisk walk.
Getting enough sleep. Keep your room dark and quiet, and try to go to bed at the same time every night.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet. A balanced diet includes foods from , such as whole grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and protein. Eat a variety of foods within each group (for example, eat different fruits from the fruit group instead of only apples). A varied diet helps you get all the nutrients you need, since no single food provides every nutrient. Eat a little of everything but nothing in excess. All foods can fit in a healthy diet if you eat everything in moderation.
Control the amount of stress in your life. Manage your time and commitments, establish a strong system of social support and effective coping strategies, and lead a healthy lifestyle. Techniques to relieve stress include physical activity and exercise, breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and massage.
Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs.
Learn to recognize the early warning signs of your manic and depressive episodes.
Ask for help from friends and family when needed. You may need help with daily activities if you are depressed, or you may need support to control high energy levels if you are experiencing mania.

Bipolar Disorder – What Increases Your Risk

hattuuch — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:33:14 +0000

Bipolar disorder can be passed down through families. If anyone in your family has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, your risk of developing it is higher.If you have bipolar disorder, changes in sleep or daily routines can increase your risk for a manic episode. Antidepressant medications can trigger a manic episode in someone who is bipolar This may occur, however, before someone is diagnosed as bipolar disorder, while he or she is seeking treatment for an episode of depression.

A stressful event may trigger an episode of mania or depression.

Your risk of either a depressive or manic episode is increased if you do not take your medications as prescribed by your doctor. It is common for people to stop taking their medications during a manic phase when they feel good. Even if you are feeling better, you must take your medications regularly to control bipolar disorder.

Alcohol or drug use or abuse puts you at a high risk for having a relapse of mood disturbances.

Bipolar Disorder – What Happens

hattuuch — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:23:48 +0000

with bipolar disorder you alternate between episodes of depression and mania. In between, you may return completely to normal or have some remaining symptoms. The extreme mood changes may come on suddenly or appear more slowly.During a manic episode, you may be abnormally happy, energetic, or very irritable for a week or more. Initially, you may feel incredibly productive or creative. You may feel powerful and seductive and think there is nothing you can’t accomplish. But as a manic episode progresses, you may behave wildly and irresponsibly, spending a lot of money, getting involved in dangerous activities, and sleeping very little. You may also have a hard time functioning in your job and relationships.

After a manic episode, you may return to normal, or your mood may swing in the opposite direction and you may feel useless, hopeless, and extremely sad. When you are depressed, you may have trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; you may have changes in your eating and sleeping habits; and you may lose interest in things you once enjoyed. Some people become suicidal or harm themselves during episodes of depression. Some feel as if they can’t move, care, or think.

Men tend to have more manic episodes, while women experience more episodes of depression.

Initially, stress may trigger depression or mania. But, as the illness progresses, mood swings may not be caused by any specific event. Without treatment, your bipolar disorder may get worse, causing you to move more often between mania and depression.

أنا تعيسة

hattuuch — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:23:18 +0000

من أنا صغيرة تجيني أوقات أبكي فيها لساعات بدون سبب, كنت ما أحس بطعم الحياة كيف صحباتي عايشين مبصوتين و أنا لأ, ما أقدر أشتغل أو أهتم بنفسي أبغ إحساس الزعل يوقف وأكون مبصوتة بللي عندي و مع إننو بأخذ أدوية من ثلاثة سنين إلى الا الان أنا تعيسة عمري 22 ألمفروض يكون أحلى سبيني بس أنا تعيسة.

still depressed

hattuuch — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:10:45 +0000

Since I was a child I had very hard times, I used to cry all night long tiring to fined reason why I am not happy, there was time when I stop feeling the joy of life and look at people around not understanding how they laugh how they continue with their life there is no reason to live I have to die or else I am going to go crazy, I still live these days and I am under treatment for three years now I just want to know when it is going to stop why just I cant laugh and have fun like any one else i just want it to stop.

لا تحزن

hattuuch — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:43:30 +0000

عندما كنت في أشد حالات الاكتئاب تذكرت كتاب (لاتحزن). كان لدي منذ مدة ولكنني لم أقرءه. عندها أخذت الكتاب وبدأت القراءه … ياإلاهي انه ما أحتاجه. لقد هدئة شدة الاكتئاب لدي حتى أنني أحسست بالسعادة. إن هذا الكتاب -للدكتور عائض القرني- هو ما تحتاجينه إذا كنت في حلات اليأس أو الحاجه لمن يبرد عليك غليل الحزن.

some one told me.

hattuuch — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:18:12 +0000

For years I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I always wondered why I couldn’t manage my relationships, my career, my finances or finish anything that I knew I was capable of! It wasn’t until I was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder that I could see a series of choices made over a lifetime that were caused by the negative symptoms of the illness and not something I was doing on purpose. I still remember the frustration, hurt and pain I seemed to live with daily – This not only affected my self but my loved ones too. I can only imagine what my mother went through!When I was first diagnosed, I read everything I could find on bipolar disorder. I met regularly with my health care professionals and tried all of the medications they thought would help. But after years of unsuccessful treatment, I finally realized that the illness was so complicated that medications were not enough to help me find the stability I so desperately craved.

I also realized that there was so much more than mania and depression in this illness. There were so many problems that the books, doctors and pills weren’t addressing. I just couldn’t accept that I would always have serious medication side effects, chronic depression with suicidal thoughts, manic episodes, psychosis, trouble working and difficult relationships (just to name a few of my symptoms!) All of this was ruining my life and despite all of my medications, I was still barely able to function. HOW WAS I GOING TO LIVE SUCCESSFULLY WITH THIS ILLNESS? I know you are now wondering the same thing. If not for yourself, then for your loved one. It was then that I developed my own comprehensive treatment plan to manage bipolar disorder successfully. I knew that I needed something that worked for me personally and not a cookie cutter idea used for all people with the illness that simply focused on medications. I wanted to get well, not just survive. I called this management system The Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder and within six months of using the system, I cut my symptoms in half and was finally to live a more stable life. You can also create a personal plan for your own set of circumstances and challenges with bipolar disorder. Let’s face it, though the generally symptoms of bipolar stay the same, they way we want to manage the illness can differ. We also need to learn how to ask for the help that really makes a difference so that we can stop the mood swings that are destroying our lives. The Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder took away my confusion on how I was going to live with this serious illness, especially when I was in a mood swing and I was finally able to do what worked instead of searching for an answer only outside of my self. I realized that I had MUCH more control that I thought and that I could get better.

Learn to recognize and prevent the stressful and damaging conversations and behaviors caused by bipolar disorder mood swings.
Learn the difference between depression, mania, psychosis, OCD symptoms, ADHS (ADHD) symptoms, anxiety and more – so that you can treat each symptom effectively instead of trying a one size fits all approach. (I know from years of experiences that this never works!)
Is there anything more stressful than wanting to make friends and find happiness in family and romantic relationships and yet knowing that this illness always gets in the way? The Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder immediately stops the relationship problems bipolar disorder inevitably causes by teaching you how to first manage your own symptoms and then teach those around you how to help you stay stable so that you can have the relationships you dream of.
Learn how to drastically increase your ability to work and financially support yourself.
And finally, immediately know how to successfully manage the illness so that you can have the time and brain space needed to live the life you want to live- free from the control of bipolar disorder.

Is there anything you can do to help my treatment for bipolar disorder?

hattuuch — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:08:05 +0000

Absolutely, yes. First, you should become an expert on your illness. Since bipolar disorder is a lifetime condition, it is essential that you and your family or others close to you learn all about it and its treatment. Read books, attend lectures, talk to your doctor or therapist.

You can often help reduce the minor mood swings and stresses that sometimes lead to more severe episodes by paying attention to the following:

Maintain a stable sleep pattern. Go to bed around the same time each night and get up about the same time each morning. Disrupted sleep patterns appear to cause chemical changes in your body that can trigger mood episodes. If you have to take a trip where you will change time zones and might have jet lag, get advice from your doctor.
Maintain a regular pattern of activity. Don’t be frenetic or drive yourself impossibly hard.
Do not use alcohol or illicit drugs. Drugs and alcohol can trigger mood episodes and interfere with the effectiveness of psychiatric medications. You may sometimes find it tempting to use alcohol or illicit drugs to “treat” your own mood or sleep problems—but this almost always makes matters worse. If you have a problem with substances, ask your doctor for help and consider self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Be very careful about “everyday” use of small amounts of alcohol, caffeine, and some over-the-counter medications for colds, allergies, or pain. Even small amounts of these substances can interfere with sleep, mood, or your medicine. It may not seem fair that you have to deprive yourself of a cocktail before dinner or a morning cup of coffee, but for many people this can be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back.”
Enlist the support of family and friends. However, remember that it is not always easy to live with someone who has moodswings. If all of you learn as much as possible about bipolar disorder, you will be better able to help reduce the inevitable stress on relationships that the disorder can cause. Even the “calmest” family will sometimes need outside help dealing with the stress of a loved one who has continued symptoms. Ask your doctor or therapist to help educate both you and your family about bipolar disorder. Family therapy or joining a support group can also be very helpful.
Try to reduce stress at work. Of course, you want to do your very best at work. However, keep in mind that avoiding relapses is more important and will, in the long run, increase your overall productivity. Try to keep predictable hours that allow you to get to sleep at a reasonable time. If mood symptoms interfere with your ability to work, discuss with your doctor whether to “tough it out” or take time off. How much to discuss openly with employers and coworkers is ultimately up to you. If you are unable to work, you might have a family member tell your employer that you are not feeling well and that you are under a doctor’s care and will return to work as soon as possible.
Learn to recognize the “early warning signs” of a new mood episode. Early signs of a mood episode differ from person to person and are different for mood elevations and depressions. The better you are at spotting your own early warning signs, the faster you can get help. Slight changes in mood, sleep, energy, self-esteem, sexual interest, concentration, willingness to take on new projects, thoughts of death (or sudden optimism), and even changes in dress and grooming may be early warnings of an impending high or low. Pay special attention to a change in your sleep pattern, because this is a common clue that trouble is brewing. Since loss of insight may be an early sign of an impending mood episode, don’t hesitate to ask your family to watch for early warnings that you may be missing.
Consider entering a clinical study.