tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post84172164550117491..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Bipolar Disorder as a Factor in the American Revolution?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-63922862431369380082021-11-18T05:57:24.168-05:002021-11-18T05:57:24.168-05:00Severe clinical depression and manic depression (b...Severe clinical depression and manic depression (bipolar disorder) are only cousins and should not be confused. If you had ever dealt up close with bipolar disorder, as I have with a friend over decades, you would never confuse them. Though the depressive phase of the latter can resemble severe clinical depression (in both cases the person may be in such a low state of mind they can barely get out of bed) the manic phase is unmistakable and so different from a person's normal behavior that they are generally referred to as crazy. I have always believed that both George III and James Otis had bipolar disorder.<br /><br />Manic depression/ bipolar disorder is believed to be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is often treated today with lithium. One difficulty is that the fizz of early onset mania is exhilarating, and can be addictive. It's very tempting to stop taking the med. Fairly quickly one's judgment is too impaired to regain control. <br /><br />Clinical depression is a different thing. It can be recurrent and can be very debilitating, but its sufferers do not appear psychotic.<br /><br />adkmilkmaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07284210196658542288noreply@blogger.com