Topic RSS | Reply to topic
Author Post

JVONEARTH


Member

Posted Sat Feb 17th, 2007 1:06pm Post subject: So what causes it??
After the years of having this i have never understood what causes the swing from manic to depression.
All the doctors i have seen have never answered that. I see no reason why the manic phase turns into the depressive even though it happens to me.
Odd thing to write about but it is a fair issue

Back to top

meekychuppet


Member

Posted Sat Feb 17th, 2007 4:05pm Post subject: So what causes it??
Nobody knows. The chemical changes and brain activity associated with most mental illnesses don't really apply either which is interesting.

I often wonder if it is a mutation, an evolutionary change but it's hard to see why nature would select Bipolar sufferers

Back to top

mazikeen


Member

Posted Mon Feb 19th, 2007 10:13am Post subject: So what causes it??
It's partly genetic, but probably life events can make it worse

for me it's not so hard to see why nature has selected it;
I see in many pathologies (like OCD or phobias) coping mechanisms that manifest themselves to a much more extreme extent than in 'normal' people.

I suppose that the extent to which manic people can build up agression and courage probably made them fierce warriors. (I know a 24 year old girl with MD who had to be sectioned and it took 5 men to get her into a room and give her a shot, haha).

For me that explains why stress is a trigger (war coming up, anxiety, ...) and also why so many women with MD experience their first manic episode after giving birth.

Back to top

meekychuppet


Member

Posted Mon Feb 19th, 2007 12:26pm Post subject: So what causes it??
It's partly genetic, but probably life events can make it worse

for me it's not so hard to see why nature has selected it;
I see in many pathologies (like OCD or phobias) coping mechanisms that manifest themselves to a much more extreme extent than in 'normal' people.

I suppose that the extent to which manic people can build up agression and courage probably made them fierce warriors. (I know a 24 year old girl with MD who had to be sectioned and it took 5 men to get her into a room and give her a shot, haha).

For me that explains why stress is a trigger (war coming up, anxiety, ...) and also why so many women with MD experience their first manic episode after giving birth.

Selection would need to give a reproductive advantage so I would question your reasoning, however, MD is characterised in many ways, one being accelerated/elevatde sexual desire and drive so that could be a factor.

Back to top

mazikeen


Member

Posted Mon Feb 19th, 2007 1:03pm Post subject: So what causes it??
so a double advantage then ?
more likely to have a large offspring
more fierce when it needs to be protected ?

I don't know,
for me it's a way of looking at pathology: it's just an exaggeration of what other people have inside them (e.g. you can get almost anyone psychotic, with the right amount of sleep deprivation)

Back to top