Reactive depression or Bi Polar?

Reactive depression or Bi Polar?
M

mark250676

Registrant
OK this is an unfair question and I need to see someone thats qualified to get the answer but I'm mulling this over at the moment due to a program on BBC 2 t the moment.

For those that don't know stephen fry is a very popular celeb in the UK. About 6 years ago he was diagnosed as having bi polar disorder. His latest program is all about his journey.

It suddenly struck me that my spending sprees may be a mild form of bi polar. I've always though I was suffering from reactive depression since my abuse at the age of 7. But now I'm not so sure. Can you develop bi polar from a life event?

Or am I just looking to blame a condition for my bursts of fiscal madness?!
 
Mark,

As I understand it there is no one cause for bipolar disorder, though genetic factors seem to play a major role. Psychological influences can also be involved, so I would imagine that if someone has a tendency for bipolar it could be exaggerated by a traumatic life event or series of events. For good information a google search ought to lead you to a number of authoritative internet sites.

But I wonder if a better explanation for your spending sprees would be a need to feel good about something, or to be achieving something to take your mind off other larger and more important tasks. In other words, the old problem of retail therapy!

About three years ago I went into that one in a (fortunately) limited way on Ebay. I would look for CDs and go through the whole ritual of watching the items, bidding, winning or losing, sending bank transfers (common in Germany), feedback, and so on. It cost me more time than money, and what I was really doing was trying to avoid dealing with something I could no longer deny - the fact that I had been abused as a child.

Much love,
Larry
 
Larry,
Been there with DVD's and I had to get as many new releases as possible. Then I saw a program about perps and one was obsessed by star trek and collecting DVD's. So I ended my link with DVD's.

Even now they have some control!

Mark
 
Mark,

In my effort to stop my fidgety thing with Ebay, one thing I tried that really worked well was to develop and expand existing interests in a creative engaging way.

In my case, I have been a guitar player for decades but gradually set it aside for awhile as I got bogged down in work, family priorities and so on. The usual story - no time for myself. But about 5 years ago I joined an organization devoted to the blues and started attending their workshops, weekends and meetings. It was a great way to direct my energy into something productive and creative without hitting the bank account so hard.

It was also a way to meet new people and make new friends. At first I was very apprehensive, but it all worked out great in the end.

Perhaps something like this would help you. Pick out an interest you might be keen on developing, and see where it takes you. You can pick and choose what you want to do and proceed at exactly your own pace.

Much love,
Larry
 
Hmm. It's an unfair question because none of us are your therapist (if you have one). It's hard to say what is responsible for the behavior, although like someone else said, bipolar disorder is I think a genetic thing, which can be exacerbated by life events. The depression, the low feelings of self-worth, could perhaps trigger such behavior, to feel better about yourself.

Take care of yourself.

Leosha
 
How do you explain diss, I cannot without saying hey, I am three ppl not the one you talk to, and would they just lock me away?

So, if I say that a lot of the time I am the little kid who is hurting, and sometimes the adult etc., I dunno about telling this to ppl.

I piss my pants still, like its all the same as when I was a kid, and yet, I cannot understand it, just as I never understood it then.

Should I just tell them that I live in a kids mind sometimes?

ste
 
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