Is Gore manic depressive?
Al as Manic-Depressive
by Alexander Cockburn
And Al? My feeling that he has been hyper-manic amid the Florida count is buttressed by this communication from a friend in the Midwest. "I’ve sometimes wondered if Gore’s self aggrandizing lies are a symptom of the manic phase of a manic-depressive illness. The other day I was arguing with one of our more distinguished faculty members and was just about to truck the idea out, saying ‘Those lies...’ when he interrupted me with, ‘Oh, that’s manic-depression,’ adding, before I could express the lovely satisfaction one feels when a baseless notion is validated. ‘Not a big deal. I’m manic-depressive. Means I get a lot done–even if I drive my staff nuts.’ He then said (as he dashed off in a characteristically manic way), ‘He couldn’t have a severe case or people would notice that he’s medicated.’ It seems to me though that people have noticed that Gore occasionally seems (over)medicated."
Admittedly, we should be cautious of such offhand diagnoses, but this interpretation does explain a lot about Gore–although as a friend points out, most bipolars, during a manic episode, engage in reckless, pleasure-seeking behavior with disastrous consequences such as dangerous sex, drunk driving, shoplifting and so forth (though you could easily argue that running for president is a reckless, pleasure-seeking activity with disastrous consequences). Here are some relevant definitions from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, 1994.
"Criteria for Manic Episode
"A. A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary).
"B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree: 1. inflated self-esteem or grandiosity. 2. decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep). 3. more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking. 4. flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing. 5. distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli). 6. increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation. 7. excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)."
There’s been virtually no speculation about Al’s psychic equilibrium, which makes one wonder about Tipper’s recent eagerness to advertise her own depressive episodes. Perhaps this has been a strategy designed at least in part to distract attention from Al’s zigzags between manic arrogance and numbed withdrawal. Recall his disastrous comportment in the first and second debates. To be sure, there is no advantage to Gore’s opponents to ascribe his behavior to disease when it’s much more easily and effectively attributed to vanity and habitual deceit.
Anyway, it’s risky to suggest disease when the signs are so ambiguous and not necessarily "abnormal." On the irritability factor, noted by DSMIV as part of the manic phase, Gore is notoriously irritable and unpleasant toward his staff.
nypress.com |
