Why persecute the mentally ill?

Blaming the mentally ill


 
The term bipolar disorder continues to be bantered about by the U.S. media as it relates to recent mass shooting tragedies.  According to experts, the lone male in the horrible shooting deaths of elementary school students in Connecticut did not have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The  now dead Los Angeles police officer who had murdered many innocents did not appear to be acting on command voices. I believe that he  has been rightly diagnosed by some as having a narcissistic personality disorder. This is not a biological disorder.  He also is a socio-path, a killer with no conscience. He may or may not have bipolar disorder but again experts tell us this is not driving his murderous assaults.
 
Narcissism and Sociopaths
As a case worker I have met with many sociopaths and narcissists.  You can have bipolar disorder and narcissistic personality disorder at the same time. In the psychiatric world it is known as a co- morbid condition.  In the above cases both perpetrators knew what they were doing was wrong and they chose self murder. However they must stand before the bar of God and will be held accountable of their actions.
  It does seem fashionable to pick on the mentally ill lately and it is no wonder because mood disorders and thought disorders make it difficult for those who suffer from them to defend themselves.
As Christians we know that there is a devil and the Lord Jesus speaking with the Pharisees in the New Testament  said:"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies(John 8:44). There is no doubt in my mind that the Evil One was a motivating factor in both men's horrible destructive actions. A good piece from the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) can be read below. Rev. Steve Bloem, B.A. M.M. CTPC.

 

 A definition of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is a treatable illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression because a person's mood can alternate between the "poles" of mania (highs) and depression (lows). These changes in mood, or "mood swings," can last for hours, days, weeks or months.

Numbers of Americans who have bipolar disorder

Nearly six (6) million adult Americans are affected by bipolar disorder. It usually begins in late adolescence (often appearing as depression during the teen years), although it can start in early childhood or later in life. An equal number of men and women develop this illness (men tend to begin with a manic episode, women with a depressive episode), and it is found among all ages, races, ethnic groups, and social classes. The illness tends to run in families and appears to have a genetic link. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can also negatively affect spouses and partners, family members, friends, and coworkers.

Bipolar is different from major depression.

Bipolar disorder differs significantly from clinical depression, although the symptoms for the depressive phase of the illness are similar. Most people who have bipolar disorder talk about experiencing "highs" and "lows"—periods of mania and depression. These swings can be severe, ranging from extreme energy to deep despair. The severity of the mood swings and the way they disrupt normal life activities distinguish bipolar mood episodes from ordinary mood changes.

When people experience symptoms of both a manic and a depressive episode at the same time, they're said to be experiencing a mixed state (or mixed mania). They have all of the negative feelings that come with depression, but they also feel agitated, restless and activated, or "wired." Those who have had a mixed state often describe it as the very worst part of bipolar disorder.

Please also seem my blog which has a similar subject.

http://sbloemreflections.blogspot.com/2013/01/violence-and-mentally-ill.htm l

Symptoms of Mania: The "Highs" of Bipolar Disorder

· Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence                                                  

 · Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior

            · Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue

· Grandiose thoughts, inflated sense of self-importance

             · Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas

· Impulsiveness, poor judgment, easily distracted

            · Reckless behavior

· In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations

Symptoms of Depression: The "Lows" of Bipolar Disorder

· Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

         · Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns

            · Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety

           · Pessimism, indifference

            · Loss of energy, persistent lethargy

· Feelings of guilt, worthlessness

· Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness

· Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal

· Unexplained aches and pains

· Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Bipolar Depression

As you can see from the list above, the symptoms of bipolar disorder's "low" period are very similar to those of unipolar depression. That's why the "lows" of this illness are sometimes referred to as "bipolar depression." These lows are one thing that most mood disorders have in common.

People with bipolar disorder experience bipolar depression (the lows) more often than mania or hypo mania (the highs). Bipolar depression is also more likely to be accompanied by disability and suicidal thinking and behavior.

It's during periods of bipolar depression that most people get professional help and receive a diagnosis. In fact, most people with bipolar disorder in the outpatient setting are initially seen for—and diagnosed with—unipolar depression.

Studies show that, in the primary care setting alone, 10-25 percent of those diagnosed with unipolar depression may actually have bipolar disorder. And the percentage is even higher in the psychiatric setting.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Patterns and severity of symptoms (or episodes of "highs" and "lows") determine different types of bipolar disorder. The two most common types are bipolar I disorder and bipolar II. disorder.  Please see /www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_bipolar

For an earlier blog of mine on a similar subject go to the link below.


If you would like to order Steve's and Robyn's Bloem book,
Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It please visit http://www.heartfeltmin.org/#!events/c15sx