Kay Redfield Jamison

In depression, the mood is overwhelmingly hopeless, despairing, lack of pleasure and things that you would ordinarily find pleasure in. The mood and mania most of the time is euphoric, expansive, grandiose. People feel like they can do anything about this energy.

In depression, the mood is overwhelmingly hopeless, despairing, lack of pleasure and things that you would ordinarily find pleasure in. The mood and mania most of the time is euphoric, expansive, grandiose. People feel like they can do anything about this energy.

In depression, the mood is overwhelmingly hopeless, despairing, lack of pleasure and things that you would ordinarily find pleasure in. The mood and mania most of the time is euphoric, expansive, grandiose. People feel like they can do anything about this energy.

And all of a sudden, I not only had no energy, I was morbid. I wanted only to die. I had never had any of these thoughts before. which is not uncommon. Some people have kind of pre-morbid personalities that are consistent with this. Other people are just like I am. It's like a bolt out of the blue, and you have no idea what's going on.

And all of a sudden, I not only had no energy, I was morbid. I wanted only to die. I had never had any of these thoughts before. which is not uncommon. Some people have kind of pre-morbid personalities that are consistent with this. Other people are just like I am. It's like a bolt out of the blue, and you have no idea what's going on.

And all of a sudden, I not only had no energy, I was morbid. I wanted only to die. I had never had any of these thoughts before. which is not uncommon. Some people have kind of pre-morbid personalities that are consistent with this. Other people are just like I am. It's like a bolt out of the blue, and you have no idea what's going on.

It was undeniable. I mean, I knew I was psychotic. I knew I was completely beyond the pale. And the people who were around me knew that. And so I had to go to a doctor for the first time. And fortunately, it was a doctor who knew what he was doing, a deeply skilled psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, psychotherapist, all rolled into one.

It was undeniable. I mean, I knew I was psychotic. I knew I was completely beyond the pale. And the people who were around me knew that. And so I had to go to a doctor for the first time. And fortunately, it was a doctor who knew what he was doing, a deeply skilled psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, psychotherapist, all rolled into one.

It was undeniable. I mean, I knew I was psychotic. I knew I was completely beyond the pale. And the people who were around me knew that. And so I had to go to a doctor for the first time. And fortunately, it was a doctor who knew what he was doing, a deeply skilled psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, psychotherapist, all rolled into one.

The thing I would emphasize from the start over and over again is that it's treatable. And it's really important to get it treated because it's also very associated, more than anything really, with suicide, with substance abuse, with a great deal of suffering for individuals who have it and for family members.

The thing I would emphasize from the start over and over again is that it's treatable. And it's really important to get it treated because it's also very associated, more than anything really, with suicide, with substance abuse, with a great deal of suffering for individuals who have it and for family members.

The thing I would emphasize from the start over and over again is that it's treatable. And it's really important to get it treated because it's also very associated, more than anything really, with suicide, with substance abuse, with a great deal of suffering for individuals who have it and for family members.

Well, yes and no. I mean, it's hopelessly complicated. You're talking about an illness that affects mood, motivation, behavior, personality, temperament. You know, it affects so much of what goes on in a very complicated brain. I would say what we do know is it's genetic, has a very strong genetic component. It runs in families and people have known that for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Well, yes and no. I mean, it's hopelessly complicated. You're talking about an illness that affects mood, motivation, behavior, personality, temperament. You know, it affects so much of what goes on in a very complicated brain. I would say what we do know is it's genetic, has a very strong genetic component. It runs in families and people have known that for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Well, yes and no. I mean, it's hopelessly complicated. You're talking about an illness that affects mood, motivation, behavior, personality, temperament. You know, it affects so much of what goes on in a very complicated brain. I would say what we do know is it's genetic, has a very strong genetic component. It runs in families and people have known that for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

And the research is going on now, uh, to try and find out what causes bipolar illness would focus on the changes in biorhythms in the brain, the body, but certainly genetics.

And the research is going on now, uh, to try and find out what causes bipolar illness would focus on the changes in biorhythms in the brain, the body, but certainly genetics.

And the research is going on now, uh, to try and find out what causes bipolar illness would focus on the changes in biorhythms in the brain, the body, but certainly genetics.

Certainly, some people would say environmental factors. But the genetic propensity has to be there. So I think that if you look, once people reach the age of risk, which in bipolar illness was about 18 or so, then things we know are very likely to precipitate the onset of mania are sleep deprivation. And substance abuse, particularly alcohol, marijuana.

Certainly, some people would say environmental factors. But the genetic propensity has to be there. So I think that if you look, once people reach the age of risk, which in bipolar illness was about 18 or so, then things we know are very likely to precipitate the onset of mania are sleep deprivation. And substance abuse, particularly alcohol, marijuana.