Question:
My doctor, a recognized leader in the field, says that Bipolar disorder is like a fever. A fever is a symptom, which can have many different causes. He says Bipolar relates to potentially hundreds of mental diseases. So what do you think?
Answer:
My symptoms are extreme anxiety, racing thoughts, sleepiness, suicidal depression, very active creative moods, somatic complaints and (no longer) binge drinking. Those are my symptoms. Bipolar is the name given the disorder. In psychiatric conditions symptoms often overlap. This can also happen in physical illnesses. IMO bipolar is the package deal and the individual parts are the symptoms. Yes, you have those symptoms/subsequent conditions. But in a FEVER you can also have subsequent conditions like delusions, organ failure, etc. So it seems Bipolar might still be considered as Symptom, not disease. I think Science is in it's infancy. We know that symptoms of bi polar can be simulated or induced by ingesting certain chemicals. And when scientists study this method they come to certain conclusions about what chemicals are responsible for this mechanisms in the brain. And yes, the Why certain people have an excess or not enough brain chemicals or neurons or synaptic firing process's is still a mystery. But I think some progress has been made with functional MRI's, at least science has been able to capture a migraine On a Functional MRI. So we know that there are observable changes in the brain. Sure, you have some interesting points. At the same time, many Bipolars do not respond to salt (Lithium) but require some different tail of drugs. Both patients may be labeled "bipolar" but have wildly different causes. T1's and T2's are both labeled diabetics. The diseases have two entirely
different causes and are still under the disease "diabetes". IMO bipolar is
the same principle. With me I have to read things a couple of times to understand all of what is being said. I think also when I read things I always have my Skeptical hat on and like anything you have to be able to extract the gem from the rock. For better articles about consciousness there are always those that study robotics and simulating human consciousness. There always seem to be a split between philosophy/theology and pure reason I guess, not sure if I am using the correct words exactly but I think you might get the gist of what I am trying to say.
