We’ve all been subject to Britney Spears’ public meltdown, whether we want to or not (all news outlets are covering it), so I thought it would be a good idea to cover what bipolar disorder is and what it’s symptoms are.
Bipolar is not just one disorder. It’s the combination of multiple abnormal moods which alternate with one another, or with a normal mood. First, there is the manic mood. In this state, people experience high level of energy and very little need for sleep. Attention span is also very low, and thoughts race through the mind. Spending sprees, drug abuse, and violent behavior emerges as typical normal judgment is impaired. In this manic state, people also feel extreme entitlement and think they are of a greater importance than they really are. A grandiose sense of self pretty much.
On the other end of the bipolar spectrum, there is the depressive mood state. Symptoms related to this state include sadness, guilt, hopelessness, and anger. Loss of interest in usual activities is also experienced. Lack of energy, fatigue, loss of appetite are other symptoms. Self loathing is another sign of the depressive state. Social anxiety, lack of motivation, and even suicidal thoughts are common within this state of bipolarity.
Usually, bipolar disorder is diagnosed as a young adult. The difficulty in recognizing the symptoms earlier causes any diagnosis to be delayed often by more than 10 years, as bipolar disorder typically manifests itself during childhood. Approx. 5% of the population is affected by some type of bipolar disorder. This disorder is also 2/3 of the time inherited genetically.
There is no cure to bipolar disorders, and the only way to deal with it is treatment of the extreme states to lower them in magnitude via medication. Suicide attempts is 10-20 times higher with bipolar affected people than the average population.
Now after reading how serious bipolar really is, do you think it’s a good idea to keep following around this woman and flash cameras in her face every second of her life? Anyone that would have to put up with this would need to be admitted into a psych ward. It’s time to leave her alone. How many pictures are needed, seriously? It’s truly a sad story, and all these photographers should show that it shouldn’t be about the money and give her a break. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health concern, and following around someone 24/7 with such a disorder just for the sake of making a few bucks is downright despicable. There needs to be some type of law to restrain this a little. I know it’s a profession, but there are limits. I saw footage on AC 360 last night that showed them hounding her car in the middle of the street. It’s not smart AT ALL to flash thousands of photos in the face of someone that is clearly unstable while SHE IS DRIVING! Someone may end up getting hurt, and I think this is what needs to happen for people to start revolting against this. She’s a human being, not a sideshow attraction. This isn’t a circus, she is getting out of the hospital. Enough is enough. We need to show them that we will not support this type of “coverage” and that there are limits to what the population will accept. This is totally in poor taste. Let’s hope we’ve seen the apex of this and that it doesn’t get worse…let’s hope.