Why do we have so many Bipolar people these days? It seems like one out of 4 people are Bipolar.?

Question

When I grew up in the 60's I never knew anyone with the illness. I mean these people today are REALLY sick. They're not making this up. They scream and talk nonstop, jump up and down, think they have super powers over others, etc. It seems like when the 80's came along Bipolarism was born. Does anyone know what caused this? Your thoughts are appreciated.

Answer 1

I'm a little appauled that you got so many ignorant answers!

In the 60s, bipolar was called manic-depression. It was treated with Lithium and a few first generation anti-psychotics. Not much of a med selection. It is still treated with Lithium. I am on it and I love it. We now have other mood stabilizers, so nearly all can find something that really does work.

Back in the 60s, people didn't talk about mental illness. We also had those big mental institutions to warehouse us crazies.

In the 80s, manic-depression was renamed bipolar. Why? Good question. Bipolar doesn't describe it. There are no poles, and you can be both manic and depressed at the same time.

Today, science and psychiatry recognize that what once was thought of as a type of untreatable depression is actually a form of bipolar and it responds to bipolar meds. That adds a little to the number.

Approximately 1-2% of the population is bipolar. That stat has remained fairly constant. The illness has a strong hereditary link, and you have to have the right gene make up to ever get it. So, population explosion might explain some of what you are seeing, but it's not a contagious outbreak, lol. Btw, regular life adult stress isn't gonna trigger bp. Something seriously stressful in childhood is what probably does it. Perhaps increasing divorce rates play a little into setting it off. Who knows.

Here's another stat. The average length of time to be properly diagnosed is 10 years for those with Bipolar Type II. That's a lot of hell to go thru, and it's partly why pdocs are making the diagnosis sooner, even if they temporarily over diagnose. Better than having your patient commit suicide, if you know what I mean.

Last, because there is greater acceptance of mental illness in society, bipolar children are being diagnosed bipolar earlier. Past trend was to stick with the ADHD or problem child label much longer.

And, the suicide rate is 15-20%. It's a serious illness. Actually, it is a neurological brain disease. It is not something that can be fixed with talk therapy.

Answer 2

It's possible, and it does very much sound like it. It also sounds like there might be a seasonal element to it, which is actually not terribly uncommon with bipolar. If it was a reaction to drugs, that is technically supposed to rule out a diagnosis, but we do usually respond to antidepressants with mania... I think it's good that you're going to get an evaluation, maybe shop around for a good pdoc and see what they say (tons of them are not knowledgeable when it comes to mood disorders, so it might take some trial and error). As someone who is already diagnosed, I agree, it really does look that way. Edit: someone else suggested that it couldn't be type II if you had mixed states or mania. If you have full-blown mania, that's true -- you'd be type I, not type II. There's also dysphoric hypomania, which isn't necessarily a mixed state; it just involves a lot of anger and irritation instead of the happy productive behaviors associated with euphoric hypomania. That said, the hallucinations might bump you up to type I. Regardless, it sounds like a version of bipolar, whether you fit into a distinct category or not; that's what the Bipolar NOS diagnosis is for. It's a spectrum disorder, and trying to fit it into a couple distinct types is a futile endeavor.

Answer 3

In the sixties, it was called manic-depression. Most people with this disorder were in and out of institutions. Therefore, a lot of manic-depressive sufferers kept it hidden.

Mental health had changed in the 80's. Most Bipolar patients were given newer meds and seen on an outpatient basis. People were willing to receive this treatment.

Today, it does seem every other person is "bipolar". Most have mood disorders similar to Bipolar such as ADHD and Hyperthyroidism just to name a few.

Bipolar runs in families (it's genetic). However, only 1% of the population has Bipolar Disorder. The other 24% are either misdiagnosed or have other mood problems.

Footnote. One out of every four persons with bipolar disorder commit suicide so it is a very real problem that is lifelong and debilitating.

Answer 4

the advancement of medicine is what makes it seem like so many people are bi-polar. in the 60s, we didn't know about alot of medical illnesses, but it doesn't mean we they didn't exist, it meant that we didn't have a name for it. Now, there are awareness commercials and everyone knows the symptoms of bi-polar thus making it seem like more people have bi-polar disorder. Not only that, but every mental illness is individual to that person (meaning the reason why, or how they developed it. for example Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be from a number of things like rape or war). Today, there is a lot more going on in the world that stresses people out and can cause mental illnesses.People are being treated only with medication (which is not the answer, the best type of treatment is medication and talking about it)
here's some statistics that apply to all mental illnesses:
1 out of 5 adults and 1 out of 4 teens develop a mental illness every year.

there are many factors and statistics to back it all up. I know my thoughts seem pretty scattered..but feel free to email me about this. I recently saw a speaker on mental illnesses and he provided the information i think you're looking for, so feel free to email me.

Answer 5

People have more stress these days which probably aggravate things. In those days people were self medicated and there wasn't a name for it. Also, we know the symptoms now and can more easily see when there is a problem. Now we understand that a person is sick and their behavior is related to that whereas back then people just took those behaviors at face value and decided that it was just the way someone was.

Answer 6

Look, In my experience, People that are diagnosed as "bipolar" really aren't. SOME are, but most aren't. I believe the phychologists/phychiatrists, are over diagnosing people, and pumping them full of meds.Obviously, Phychology is a tough field. IF you don't say just about everything that is on your mind, Then you steer the dr. down tne wrong path.They go by what you tell them. In some cases however, people may malinger a mental illness, just to get meds or appear "intimidating". "don't **** with me!!!!!!!!!!!I'm CRAZY. I will rip out your soul!!!" you know, that type of ****.

Answer 7

"The sugar-laden American diet has led to a national epidemic of hypoglycemia, an ailment characterized by irrational behavior, emotional instability, distorted judgment, "and nasty personality defects." - Dr. Emanuel Cheraskin

"It is an alarming fact that countless Americans suffer-unsuspectingly-from the debilitating effects of hypoglycemia, a diet-related condition caused by low blood sugar. Unless the symptoms are diagnosed, a multitude of mental and physical disorders can go undetected." - Dr.Harvey M. Ross

Answer 8

I do not know what caused it but all opinions and leads to the cause should be brought out in the open now and the scientific community needs to come forward now.

Answer 9

What happened was psychologists have tried to paste a label on everyone who expresses anti-social behavior so that they become a disease rather than someone who is out of control. For instance, drunks used to be called drunks. Now we call them alcoholics and pretend that its a disease so that they don't feel bad about hurting other people when they're drunk. Kids with attention deficit disorder are only in need of some serious discipline, but it's easier to call it an illness and give them drugs for it rather than forcing them to comply with societal expectations for behavior. I refuse to be politically correct.

Answer 10

back then it was called manic depression and thay recalled it dipolar and it was treated with lithium and it is treated at the moment with mood stablisers