Frank, sorry it took me a week to see this post from you. To respond to this question from you:
<<Your last post stated you are:
diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder--bipolar 1, or severe manic depression. This illness has the highest suicide "success" rate of all, much higher than for depression alone. Without medication, 25% of manic depressives commit suicide, successfully.
How were you diagnosed.... meaning what were the symptoms? Anyway I hope you are at ease with yourself and I hope you are on course with your regime and medication. >>
Well, I was diagnosed bipolar during my 2nd psychotic episode. My particular case is so severe, there has never been any doubt as to the accuracy of the diagnosis. I have had 5 psychotic episodes, each one complete with delusions, flights of ideas, rapid speech, terror, grandiosity, bizarre behavior. The medications work pretty well, but I, like many bipolars, go through phases where I "forget" to take meds... So, the illness can progress and get worse in those times.
Anyway, I am completely against physician assisted suicide. I think it may undermine the treatment options for people with depression, and secondary depression due to painful illness. Physical pain is awful, yes, but many people believe severe depression is as bad as a severely physically painful condition. |
