Is that supposed to be a joke?? It sounds outlandish enough to be one...Bipolar Disorder is defined as a cluster of symptoms that are OBSERVABLE by trained mental health clinicians. Let me assure you that there is nothing "made up" about the dizzying array of frightening and distressing symptoms that I have and that the millions of other people have who are diagnosed with this DISABLING disorder. God bless you that you are so healthy...and so ignorant.

HInt: Google is a wonderful thing...("bipolar") you can open up a WORLD of knowledge, jsut like that!!! Wow!! and it's SOO easy!!! Come on into the light...just TRY it.

All I know is that...my newphew commited suicide a week ago. So if bipolar makes you suicide...why couldn't it drive you to murder someone else????? I am glad this is on oprah. I want to learn more about it, since I have young kids and it is partly genetic.

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First of all, I'm sorry about the situation your son was involved in but I'm very happy he finally can start living in peace. Especially that they had no children. I have a 17 year old daughter who is involved with a bi-polar 18 year young man. I have seen some of the symtoms on this boy and prohibited my daughter to see him other than a friend. This was more than a year ago. She kept seeing him and is still doing so. People call me racist because I don't support or agree with this relationship. Not rare, non of these people have a love one involved with a bipolar person. I have given everykind of information to her but nothing seems to help. As a mother, I'm only trying to avoid what's coming. I know that many people have the desease "under control" but there is no garanty. I wish there was a support group for people in my situation. People that would understand why mothers are against these relationships. I don't think that any mother would want their children to be involved with a alcoholic who is not drinking at the moment.

ashercm, i'm so glad to see a your story. i don't think all families realize how important the support of loved ones can be. i was diagnosed 10 years ago. i have been able to be on medications for about half of that time (time off of medications not by choice but due to finances). since my diagnosis i have become the family's emotional beating rug. if there is a problem somewhere with anyone (even if i'm not involved) it is connected back to my being bipolar. it is commonly announced to anyone coming into a family gathering that "she's bipolar, she ain't right in the head so don't believe a word she says." i've started cutting out family because of this. i read an earlier post by someone else that said there is no excuse for not getting treatment. i hate to say this but you are wrong. i have used every method available (regular doctors, insurance when i had it and government services as a last resort) and can tell you that sometimes no treatment is better than anything. when you have been on medications that work and a new doctor refuses those meds because he wants to "try something newer" and those don't work and have horrible side effects you are better off without treatment. when the clinic will not call in your refills you are better off without treatment. going on and off meds by choice is one thing, but because the clinic doesn't call it in is another. the constant start and stop will cause you to cycle and only create more problems. please don't take this as advocating not seeking treatment. i do believe in staying on meds (when they are the proper meds) if at all possible.

Wonderful Show Orah: My son suffered for many years with Bi-Polar Illness and passed two years ago. This is a horrible illness that when you look at the person unless they are in a manic episode or depressed mood, you would not be able to identify the illness. Please conitnue shows like this to inform the public of the seriousness of this disease and others like it. ejane

I have so many memebers of my family that are bi-polar. Some have been diagonsed with bi-polar disorder, and some that haven't but do have the disorder. From the show today, it makes me think further back into my family history to people that were probably quiet suferers(or on occasion not so quiet). I know for a fact that I felt such shame when I was diagonsed with depression, and then to have to go on medication. People tell me all the time that I should not take the drug, that it is just a way to quiet the problem (well of course it is, and it works). I must tell you that I have gone through this in my mind over and over. I am an artist, and I fear that I will lose that creative gift with the medications. I will not quit taking this medication, because I can't function as a human being without it. I have a sister that lost her husband about 10 years ago. He was just a few weeks shy of his 50th birthday when she found him dead in their backyard. She has suffered from depression almost her entire life. After her husbands death, she sank into a deeper version of herself, and started drinking alcahol excessivly. I must tell you that I went to her and told her that she had to do something to get out of that. She moved to a small town in southeaster Colorado. She is doing so much better now. Her main problem now is that with her meds costing what they do, she is working 3 jobs, and still can't make it. I wonder if anyone is aware of a program that could help her defray the cost of those meds. I do feel for all of those out there that suffer from this, all of the families of those that suffer from this, and all those that are trying to, but can't quite rap their minds around this. I do know that with my meds and my artwork, I am doing pretty well now. When I can't do my art, my ability to deal becomes a bit more strained. I had surgery in May and have had 2 more surgeries, one per month from complications. It has been a while since I could do my art, due to the fact that I cannot lift more than 5 pounds. I have been a wreck from times, but not terribly. Anyway, I will say a prayer for all of those out there that have been affected by this disease.

In April of 1999, my Uncle was diagnosed as bipolar but we were never told until it was too late. We knew something was wrong with him on Easter Sunday when we saw him because he was acting so strangely. He was a very upbeat, outgoing man who joked constantly. That day he was the exact opposite and we actually thought he was having a heart attack because he was pale and feeling sick so he had to lie down. We found out days later that he was having an anxiety attack because he couldn't remember how to get to my sister's house. Two days later, he committed suicide. It was the absolute most devastating day in my life. He didn't want anyone to know what he was going through because he felt like a failure. We would've done everything in our power to help him. I still miss him every minute of every day. After it happened, people were afraid to ask me what actually happened. I was on vacation with a friend and her daughter and she shyly brought it up. I told her that I was not ashamed of what he did because I knew he was sick and I'd rather people ask me and get the truth than make up their own truths. I want to thank Maurice Benard for being so open, honest & courageous about this disease. I believe he has helped thousands or more realize that they can get help and there's no shame in bipolar disorder.

I personally think YES,it could...Especailly if she was un-treated...I am a mother or a 15yr old bi-polar daughter who was diagnosed @ 8yrs old.....People who don't know they get a look that is NOT THEM @ ALL.....and get a blank look in there eye.....

Jennifer Lewis - OMG it was so nice to see a black women comming out & saying she's bi-polar....Along w/african american's also asian's DO NOT TALK about mental illness....Now me being asian mix & my daughter being african american & chinese....Thank god my mom doesn't care she talks about growing up with a sister who is bi-polar & treated...

Than I got pregnant as a teen... My daughter shares the same birthday as my bi-polar aunt....When my daughter was 18mo. I took her to the doctor....because she would have VIOLENT TANTRUMS for HOURS...they told me I needed counseling....of course I said NO I *BEEP* DON'T....YOU JUST NEED TO DO YOUR JOB.....I kept saying something was not right w/her but all to fall on deaf ears....Maybe she's got ADHD I don't know....I just needed help...We moved to Hawaii.....Well Hawaii had a wonderful special ed program in schools called the "Felix Decree".....They paid for her to go get checked for ADHD...She was diagnosed & treated her for ADHD on ridelin.....then our house became world war 3....As if it wasn't bad enough already...As her mom I started having panic & anxiety attacks due to her melt down's in public places....and hearing people say "Oh no if that was my child I would......" or the looks...even though I try & educate my friends they think "oh she needs to stay w/me & she won't be acting like that" Etc...Alot like what the parent's who deal w/autism (another show on oprah) Finally I said look one of us is going in the crazy house because I can't take this anymore...So my x & I filled out a bunch of behavioral survey's.....they then diagnosed her w/bi-polar & adhd.....She had to be hospitalized for a manic episode....She wasn't responding well to the treatment....I asked her if she knew why she was here......She said because of my dead grand parent's (her great grand parents) told me to KILL YOU & MY X....@ the age of 9.5.......The ridilin has caused her to go into psychosis...
This disease has heartbroken me.......I hate to see my child so mentally terroized by this disease....She sometimes get's that blank look in her eye & I know that IS NOT HER....She's now 15 & in high school & having such a horribly hard time transitioning in to....Being the mother of a bi-polar child is hard....I can't sleep when she's out of control w/mania or depression,anxiety/panic attacks when she has a public melt down...I think about what about when i'm gone?!...people think it's normal teenage mood swing's....NO IT's BI-POLAR.....I just thank god my daughter has such a sweet soul underneath her Bi-Polar.....

I have been testifying in court cases like this for 15 years. Bipolar Shmypolar is the name of my latest DVD. WHY? Because I am so sick and tired of drug companies using this as an excuse to keep them from being sued for causing Bipolar to increase by 40 TIMES since the SSRI antidepressants first hit the market 20 years ago!

ANTI-depressants are, as their name implies, stimulants. Stimulants produce seizure activity. Bipolar or mania is a continuous series of mild seizure activity, as is REM sleep. So what do you have as a result?

You have a patient being chemically induced to act out dreams or nightmares, which sleep researchers call a REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and 86% of patients being diagnosed with that horrific disorder are on antidepressants. And I would take bets that over 90% of those now being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder are on antidepressants (or had abruptly discontinued them) just as this poor woman had been and as Andrea Yates was.

Add to this the fact that the most popular antidepressant on the market, Effexor, one of the two antidepressants Andrea was on at maximum dose, now has "homicidal ideation" listed as a side effect. Homicidal ideation is constant ruminating thoughts of killing and how to kill. Excuse me! Why would we consider that an acceptable side effect of a so called medication?!

Wake up to this issue by going to drugawareness.org and ssristories.com

Dr. Ann Blake-Tracy, Executive Director, International Coalition for Drug Awareness

Hello. Anyone who says it is not possible that she killed her son because of BD, hasn't seen the face of someone who's manic side brings out anger and aggression. I have. My 17 year old son is a wonderful person, so funny and bright. But when he is manic he talks a mile a minute, can't stand still, wants to pack up our house and move to Japan (at that very moment and doesn't understand why we can't) and he turns into the meanest person I know.

I was fascinated with your show yesterday and so grateful that you had this discussion. It is so important that people understand this illness because it effects so many people and families. My son was diagnosed last year. So we are dealing with this problem currently. With medication and therapy he is doing very well. Thank you again and I hope that you revisit this topic periodically. I look forward to next weeks show.

Thank you so much for having this show. When I was flipping through the channels I had to stop and watch. I immediately called my step-mom and told her to watch it too. I was diagnosed with Bi-polar just over a year ago, when I finally had to admit to myself I needed help with my anger, rage, and suicide attempts. My step-mom keeps telling me to "just snap out of it". I wish it was that easy to "just snap out of it". Trust me if there was an off and on switch, I'm sure all of us who suffer from bi-polar would turn the off switch on and keep it off. I was hoping she would learn something on what I go through daily in my life and understand me more. I haven't talked with her yet today, but I will be seeing her in a few hours and hopefully she will talk about the show and what she had learned and hopefully a better understanding. If it wasn't for me seeking help, my meds and counseling I would probably either be dead or locked up somewhere right now. Thank you Oprah for getting this message out to others and I pray those who didn't understand before on this disease, will have a better understanding from here on out. Hopefully the next time they hear the word bi-polar they don't look at us like we are nobody's and nothing but mental cases. We are human beings too, just wired a little differently and need a little extra help.

I was taken back at Oprah's very slanted view of bipolar. I cringed many times during the episode: Oprah's use of the word "crazy", Oprah laughing at guest statements that weren't funny but very sad, and just Oprah's general light and fluffy attitude about a very serious subject. Oprah had the same attitude during the depression show she had last season - it seems that Oprah does not believe that mental illness is a serious issue. Other posters have noted Oprah's attitude; I hope she is a bit more aware for her Oct 4 show.

Children do not make mother's kill themselves. Bipolar isn't a smooth road but if indeed the mother killed herself it was HER CHOICE. As humans we can't make anyone do anything-we are powerless over another. I have been through many forms of abuses which is in greater detail causing oh so much problems. I am 50 and my mom is wonderful. I think it is time that America quits pointing the big finger at the other person and accepts responsibility for their actions, feelings (anger, revenge etc),and choose that good ole thing called self will run riot.