Posted by Maynerd on January 30, 2006, at 3:10:02
In reply to Re: Help!! Bipolar, off meds, losing it, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 18:50:05
"It simply makes no sense to me for a human to become depressed for no reason outside of the chemical. It seems to contradict the importance of the survival of the self and species. There must be a specific environmental stimulus (whether past, present or what is feared to come)that causes one to feel in such ways... it is a confusing puzzle."
Different psychological disorders have different physiological/environmental/social interaction levels, but all do appear to play a part in these disorders. For some it is almost all environment and social, for others it is almost purely physiological in nature.
Being manic-depressive (I hate the bipolar label)I have experienced enough to feel strongly that a physiological component is definately there, although it seems that external triggers seem to also be a component of starting an episode off. Going into manic and episodes for weeks or months at a shot even though the environment was changed suggests it is more than environment. Becoming seriously depressed when there was nothing in my life that should have triggered such a thing is also something that has made me think brain chemistry as well. Finally, rapid cycling when life around me was staying the same was a sure fire indicator that something not emotional or mental was wrong. I felt like my mind was being shaken back and forth and I had no control.
I have heard that my brain couldn't keep its chemistry in balance properly, it would detect the deficiency and would work to compensate. However, it doesn't know when to stop and causes an overabundance of the chemical/neurotransmitter this time. This back and forth cycle is what rapid cycling is I was told. It makes sense, no psychological counselling could stop it from happening, the only thing that got it under control was lithium. Don't get me wrong, counselling has been tremendous help with recognizing and dealing with triggers in my environment, but it had to be supplimented with medication.
Not all disorders require meds, but some do. It helps to remember that our feelings are created through electro-chemical signals in our bodies, not some mystical place outside our bodies. Hormones and neurotransmitters and their release can be affected by our environment, thoughts, AND faulty genes or transmission system. A faulty gene can cause a person a world of distress and make them experience thoughts and feelings that their environment had no part in creating.
poster:Maynerd
thread:604370
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060124/msgs/604413.html