I have, since the beginning, thought that Britney Spears was a bipolar. Her alcohol addiction, her cavalier attitude toward her two kids, her shaving her head, going “comando,” and attacking a car with an umbrella – are all signposts of mental aberration, in this case, bipolar disorder. Why the doctors in her rehab centers haven’t diagnosed her with it, is a mystery to me. Perhaps laying the stigma of mental illness on a “star” would ruin her career, and send her agents, publicists, and other hangers-on running for cover.

There is another way of looking at it. If Britney WERE given such a diagnosis, she could receive the proper treatment, and perhaps be a “poster child” for the disorder. educating her fans (and some NOT so fans) that she suffers from an illness she CAN’T control.

Perhaps if she were sent to a REAL mental facility, some astute psychiatrist would test her and prescribe treatment that would help this poor soul; she CAN’T be happy in the state she’s in. She can’t even be a good mother to her children. Would you like YOUR Mom to be a pole dancer??

Won’t SOMEONE see to it that she gets the diagnosis and treatment she so clearly deserves, so that she can become, again, America’s darling pop star, who thrilled countless numbers of fans just five short years ago?

The other article, by Marja Bergen, on finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder, says what I FEEL about the illness. At this point in my life, I’ve lived with bipolar disorder for 39 years. I don’t even remember what it was LIKE to be “normal.” The disorder has BECOME my life; I can’t imagine living without it. My Christian faith has become stronger, if only knowing that every breath comes from the Creator. My “flights of fancy” in my imagination go so much further than they ever did in my youth.

However, it WOULD have been nice if I HAD remained “normal;” what a different life I would have led! But at this point in my life, I don’t think I would have traded bipolar for normalcy. The “highs” of a hypomania are so far beyond anything a novelist could imagine. So much synchronicity, coincidence, and just plain “scary” opportunities appeared during an episode. If I were to write a book about them, it would fill more pages than “Atlas Shrugged!” And no one but a fellow sufferer would believe them!!

I feel sorry for my Mother, who was my life-long supporter, who never understood my illness. Perhaps, in Heaven, she’s looking down and NOW understands with clarity just what I was given this life for…

I am writing this is the hope to warn others whom support spouses diagnosed with Bipolar. Although I am sure there are many supports that are helpful, I would like to share how a support mechanism in the form of a Chat Room played a significant role in the break up of my marriage. The chat room sharted as a positive support but ended in total ruin of my marriage.
My wife began to lie about who and what she talked about. Resulted in the total neglect of my 8 year old son and his basic needs and also resulted in the forming of inappropriate relationships with other members of the Chat Room. She had even been elevated to that of “Host” status which only resulted in her spending even more time in this Chatroom. On average she was spending 70hrs. a week in this Chat Room. Day became night and night became day. I was also receiving $300.00 to $600.00 phone bills on a monthly basis. I believe the Chat Room was located somewhere under the site “About Bi Polar”. Please be very weary about this site as it may start out innocent, it becomes addictive and the relationship there are truly full of some very sick people because most individuals are not seeking other proper supports to keep their Bipolar in check or at least using other supports to provide objective advice. This really isn’t sour grapes but it is a warning to others of the pit falls of your mate becoming involved in these types of activities.