In what has been a strikingly bitter and divisive US election campaign, one of the most distasteful forms of personal attack has been left-wing bloggers labeling VP candidate Sarah Palin as bipolar. These commentators apparently believe it is possible to diagnose Governor Palin as a closet sufferer of manic-depressive illness, without ever having met her or going through a formal diagnostic process. Bipolar is actually a specific medical term and the criteria for bipolar is set forth in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).

For those of us who do have bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness), or who advocate on behalf of the bipolar community, this is a disturbing development that epitomizes the extent to which bipolar has become synonymous with bad behavior. Increasingly, lay people feel free to sling the term bipolar around as a pejorative, and seem to believe they have, through pop culture osmosis, become experts on this very complex illness. the term bipolar has become contemporary cultural shorthand for anything we interpret as extreme or obnoxious in light of our own personal belief system.

In reality, bipolar is a spectrum of mood disorders, characterized by mood swings between mania and depression.

The symptoms of mania include excessive risk taking, hypersexuality, reckless financial spending, gambling or investments, and incoherently rapid and disjointed speech. Another common bipolar symptom is grandiosity, a grossly inflated sense of one's abilities and entitlements.

The bipolar community has disproportionately high rates of marriage breakdown, financial problems, substance abuse, obesity, and career under-achievement. During depressive phases, bipolar people may become withdrawn, unmotivated, despairing, or even suicidal.

Governor Palin has a very happy and successful marriage, her personal finances have been scrutinized and found above reproach through the VP vetting process, she has maintained a successful career, and does not abuse alcohol or drugs. instead of grandiosity, Palin drives herself to work, listed the Governor's jet on e-Bay, and dispensed with an executive chef. Like many Alaskans, she does use a tanning bed during the long dark winters to fend off vitamin deficiencies and Seasonally Affective Disorder (SAD), a far cry from clinical depression.

Of course, not all Americans are pro-life feminists like Sarah Palin. some voters disagree strongly with her on the important issues of the day, and will choose to support her opponents instead. it should be possible to go through this process without further caricaturing sufferers of manic-depressive illness. Invoking the specter of mental health disorders to denigrate individuals with a different political perspective is ignorant, hurtful, and childish. Governor Palin is a hard working, high functioning politician, with views some do not share. Labeling her bipolar in order to express ideological disapproval is taking a medical term already overloaded with cultural baggage, and using it to further marginalize millions of fellow citizens who bravely struggle against this misunderstood disease every day, and who are already subject to a heavy burden of stigma and ignorance.

Why Sarah Palin is Not Bipolar

Biographical Overview

If ever there was a guitar player who redefined this instrument for anyone who has ever played it before or since, it would be Jimi Hendrix. Jimi's exceptionally creative, powerful, psychedelic licks helped him reach a musical standard that has never been duplicated, and in his four short years as a recording star he established himself as a musical legend without equal. His performances at the Monterrey Pop Festival which established him as a star, and later at Woodstock were some of the most awe-inspiring in the history of live music, and history will remember Jimi Hendrix as one of the most influential albeit enigmatic and mysterious musicians who ever graced the stage.

Jimi Hendrix was born John Allen Hendrix on November 29, 1942 to James (Al) Hendrix and Lucille Jeter in Seattle, Washington. Jimmy's father Al, who would be his primary parental force throughout Jimi's life, was in the Army when Jimi was born. Fearing that Al would go AWOL to go see his newborn son, the army placed Al in the stockade on general principle where he stayed for over a month until the army saw fit to release him.

Back in Seattle Jimi's mother Lucille quickly grew tired of being a single parent and virtually abandoned Jimi during his first few years of life. Jimi, then known as Johnny, first lived with Lucille's family, but was then placed with a woman named Mrs. Walls who took Johnny in and cared for him.

Al was finally released from the Army in 1945 when Jimi was three years old. Upon arriving back in the United States, Al regained custody of Johnny and promptly named him James after himself. Originally Jimi was known as Buster by his family, but at the age of 6 everyone began calling young James Jimi which would stick with him for the rest of his short life. Between the ages of 3 and 6 Al raised Jimi with the assistance of Lucille's Sister Dolores, and Jimi became very close to her children who were being raised in the same home.

When Jimi was 6, his mother briefly came back into Jimi's life when Al and Lucille attempted a reconciliation. because there was little work in Seattle at the time, Al joined the Merchant Marines, and while he was away Lucille returned to her old carefree lifestyle, and was kicked out of the housing the Hendrix's were residing in for having inappropriate male visitors. Upon his return from the Merchant Marines, Al and the family reunited, and Lucille eventually had another son Leon in 1948, who had Asian features and was clearly not Al Hendrix's son. Lucille eventually had another son Joey by still a different father, and Al eventually divorced Lucille in 1950 as a result of her lack of stability.

Over the next few years Al raised Jimi and Leon with the help of his relatives, and Jimi briefly had another maternal figure Edna enter his life, who he grew close to but who was eventually forced to leave the Hendrix home to make room for other relatives. Lucille popped in and out of Jimi's life during his formative years, and would make extravagant promises to Jimi that she would not follow through on. on February 2, 1958, following many years of hard drinking and frivolity, Lucille passed away at the age of 32 which deeply saddened Jimi.

In his teen years Al Hendrix bought Jimi his first electric guitar which Jimi became so attached to that he slept with it on a nightly basis. Jimi was eventually recruited by a man named James Thomas, and Jimi then became a member of James Thomas and the Tomcats. During this same time frame, Jimi, who had grown disinterested in school, dropped out of Garfield High, and also got in trouble for being in a stolen car. Jimi eventually joined the Army during this period, and decided he wanted to be a paratrooper in the Screaming Eagles like his father before him.

Jimi met Billy Cox while in the Army and the two of them had a great deal in common including musical tastes. while in the army they begin to play a little together, and they formed a friendship and partnership that would later be rekindled when Jimi formed the band Band Of Gypsies.

Following his stint in the Army, Jimi moved down south and began playing the Chitlin circuit where he used the stage names Maurice James and Jimmie James and had some success as a guitar player. Jimi would even play backup on a Supremes record, and in 1964 he played with the Isley Brothers who were also very popular at the time. It was during this period when Jimi met little Richard, who was a bit of a narcissist, and felt that Jimi's guitar playing upstaged him and took the focus off him which he felt was a necessary component of the act.

Jimi eventually split with little Richard and moved to New York City where he at first had little success. After spending some time in Harlem, Jimi settled into the Greenwich Village neighborhood, where he formed a new band called Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. Jimi's unique improvisational style alienated a number of his fans, while others thought they were witnessing the birth of a genius. One of these people was Chas Chandler, who formerly played base for a band called the Animals who knew when he saw Jimi that he had discovered an amazing new talent. Chas convinced Jimi that he would have more success in England than in the United States, and in 1966 Jimi packed his bags and left the US to live in London.

While in London Jimi met Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, and the three of them formed the band the Jimi Hendrix Experience and begin touring around England. Jimi dazzled the English crowd, who were alternately shocked and amazed by Jimi, and he was described in the English papers as the Wild Man of Borneo which was a kind of racial slur against Jimi's heritage. the group was very successful, and their first album Are you Experienced produced the songs Hey Joe and Purple Haze which were both big hits on the English rock charts.

Jimi's breakthrough performance came upon his return to the Unites States at the Monterrey Pop Festival where his use of distortion and feedback on the guitar helped him create a sound previously unheard by American audiences. with the crowd already in a frenzy over his performance, Jimi set his guitar on fire at the end of his set, which further electrified the crowd and created a buzz about Jimi Hendrix that would propel him to the top of the music world.

One important ally Jimi made during this time was Brian Jones from the Rolling Stones, who introduced Jimi at Monterrey and was one of Jim's first important fans in the world of music. following his performance at Monterrey, Brian introduced to Jimi to a lot of important people in California, which culminated in the Jimi Hendrix Experience being signed to go on tour with the Monkees who were one of the top drawing bands in the world at this time.

Jimi's wild style and sexually explicit actions on stage were not well suited to the Monkees crowd, and soon this tour dissolved and the Jimi Hendrix Experience began touring on their own. over the next two years the band became hugely successful, and in addition to Hey Joe and Purple Haze, produced songs such as Castles made of Sand, and Bob Dylan's all Along the Watchtower, which were all big hits for the band. the band eventually produced three hit albums, Are you Experienced, Axis: Bold as love, and Electric Ladyland which all were huge successes. the band was not without its difficulties however, as Jimi and Noel Redding had difficulties agreeing on several issues related to the band, and in the summer of 1969 the band broke up despite the fact that they were at the peak of their commercial success.

Some speculated that Jimi broke up the Jimi Hendrix Experience because both of his bandmates were white, and that he was receiving pressure from the Black Panthers to make a statement about Black solidarity. Although Jimi did have an association with the Panthers in the 1960's, he used the standard creative differences approach to explain the band's breakup. But in any case it was apparent that he was hurt by all of the negative press he received following this incident.

Following the breakup of the Jimi Hendrix Experience Jimi began heavily using drugs, and a major turning point came in his life when he was arrested on May 3, 1969 at the Toronto airport for possession of Heroin and Marijuana. Jimi adamantly claimed the drugs were not his, but was rightfully disturbed at the prospect of facing seven years in prison, and thought a great deal about his legacy following his arrest. Jimi was eventually cleared of these charges, but still faced a great deal of inner turmoil as a result of this experience.

In the summer of that year, Jimi put together a group of musicians to play with him at Woodstock, and his performance there was one that helped cement his legend as one of the truly inspired live performers in the history of music. His Star-Spangled Banner on guitar was a huge hit with the fans, and would later become one of the featured scenes in the Woodstock film recordings that were produced at the festival. Later that year Jimi would also play at England's answer to Woodstock, called the Isle of White Festival, where he also dazzled and amazed his English fans, many of who had been with him from the beginning.

At the end of his life, Jimi reunited with his old army buddy Billy Cox, and they formed the Band of Gypsies, which would be Jimi's final group. This group had some success, but Jimi was beginning to become fatigued from years of working almost constantly, his continuing drug use, and the anxiety he felt arising from battles with his management, and earnings in the millions that he could not account for.

In September of that year, as the group was touring Europe, Jimi Hendrix was found dead on his hotel room floor as a result of an overdose of sleeping pills that caused him to choke on his own vomit. Jimi's death was highly controversial however, as some claim he was mishandled by paramedics which caused him to eventually suffocate on the way to the hospital. Jimi's death has been thoroughly investigated and researched, and despite all of the claims, a coroner's report confirms that Jimi had been dead for some time when he was eventually found on the morning of September 18th.

The legacy of Jimi Hendrix endures, and many still consider him to be the most unique guitar player that ever lived. His estate has made millions of dollars following his death, most of which was originally hidden from his father by unscrupulous managers of Jimi's affairs. Al Hendrix and his family eventually won back Jimi's legacy with the help of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Allen would eventually go on to build a Jimi Hendrix museum called the Experience Music project, which is a major tourist attraction in Seattle Washington.
Analysis
Gender Role Preparation perceived through Gender Guiding Lines and Role Models

Though his interactions with his father, Jimi learned the values of hard work and perseverance that would guide him throughout his life and career. Although Jimi was occasionally portrayed as a spaced-out wild man under the influence of LSD, he was in fact an extremely hard worker who produced an amazing amount of material in his short career.

Jimi's father also instilled in Jimi the value of perseverance. Through all of his struggles with his wife Lucille, job difficulties, prejudice, etc, Al Hendrix continued to soldier on and raise his boy Jimi, and this lesson was not lost on his young son. This value of perseverance was so strong in Jimi that he practiced his guitar so often and so much that he eventually became a virtuoso. with no ability to read music and no real training, Jimi still managed to teach himself to play the guitar with his right hand despite the fact that he was born left-handed. all of these obstacles must have made the guitar very difficult for Jimi to learn, but through watching his father Jimi learned a man never gives up, and he therefore continued to work tirelessly at learning to play his guitar.

Jimi's female gender guiding line was much more complex. Although Jimi loved his mother, she disappeared often in his life, and Jimi was well aware of her infidelities towards his father. Later in his life Jimi's interactions with women appeared to be unstable, and his fear of commitment with women may very well have arisen from watching his mother's irresponsible behavior.

Jimi's mistrust of women is interesting to consider with regard to one of the women he was the closest to named Devon Wilson. Devon was a former prostitute, heavy drug user, and party girl who had also been romantically linked to Mick Jagger during the late 1960's. Devon lived with Jimi at his New your apartment, handled many of Jimi's affairs, and was even the subject of one of Jimi's songs called Dolly Dagger. Like Jimi's mother Lucille, Devon would often disappear for days at a time and then come back when she was done with her extended binge. the fact that, despite Jimi's access to so many women, he trusted a clearly irresponsible woman like Devon Wilson to get closest to him, seems to suggest that he may have chosen her because her behavior was so much like his mother's growing up.
Interpersonal Style perceived through Experience of Family Atmosphere

On the subject of Jimi's mother, she and Al fought often while Jimi was growing up, and the Hendrix household was often filled with storm and strife when Lucille was around. Watching his mother and father fight so often appeared to affect Jimi's own relationships with women, as he was on several occasions verbally and even physically violent with women during periods of confrontation.

Jimi also lived in a number of different homes and places growing up, and in this capacity learned not to get too close to people as they may abandon you at any time. One poignant story Jimi himself related involved meeting his father for the first time at the age of three and taking the train from Berkeley to Seattle. Jimi recalled how much he wanted to return to the only family he had ever really known, and how odd it was to be taken on a train by some strange man he had never met. This sense of instability was reinforced often throughout Jimi's life, as a number of people would be significant in his life for a couple of years and then simply disappear, and this appears to have affected Jimi's ability to trust and get close to people.

Because Jimi was unable to achieve a sense of stability, he developed a shy and introverted personality that caused him a great deal of loneliness. Jimi dealt with painful feelings through artistic expression, and the ultimate capacity of his talent may have been a reflection of the intensity of his painful feelings.
Personal Code of Conduct Perceived through Acceptance / Rejection of Family Values

The family values in the Hendrix household involved obedience to authority and a healthy respect for one's elders, and although Jimi had respect for his father, he came to distrust authority in his own life. there are many different versions of Jimi's life with Al Hendrix, many of which paint a picture of a very unhappy home life where Al constantly reminded his children of the sacrifices he had to make for his children. In Al's own autobiography My Son Jimmy (1999) he talked about how Jimi used to escape responsibility for his actions by blaming misdeeds on an imaginary friend named Sessy who Jimmy would evoke when he felt he had disappointed Al. It certainly must have been difficult for Al to raise Jimi by himself, and given the economic climate in Seattle at that time, there's no doubt that Al must have had to make some great sacrifices for Jimi. perhaps Jimi's creation of an imaginary friend was a psychological defense against Al's disappointment, which seemed to be yet another factor in Jimi's unhappy childhood.

Another family value that Jimi seemed to reject concerned the family's views on religion. Although Jimi was raised by a church-going family who believed in worship, Jimi came to believe that his music was a form of great spiritual expression. Jimi rejected the stifling versions of Christianity he learned as a young man, and instead felt music was the way he could connect to the mystical and spiritual side of life.

Music also offered an escape for Jimi from his problems, and was certainly a positive adaptation for him to an unhappy childhood. Jimi often described how music would compose itself in his head, and his unparalleled talent in music may have been a result of this intense desire to escape his emotionally painful cognitions.
Perspective on the World perceived through Experience of Psychological Birth Order

As the first born son in the Hendrix household and the only son sired by his father Al, Jimi developed a sense that he was particularly special when he was a young man. Although Jimi's younger brother Leon spent a great deal of time with Jimi and his father growing up, he was also often shipped to another family during difficult times. the fact that Jimi was always the one that remained with his father must have made him feel like the chosen one much of the time, and he appeared to develop a sense that he was something special. This is not an uncommon reaction from a first born child, as they often receive more attention than their siblings do when they are born, as they become literally the center of their parent's universe.

For Jimi this situation did not unfold exactly like this, as his first three years were filled with a great deal of moving around that must have confused and frightened him at such a fragile age. the two women that adopted Jimi in these years both referred to his specialness however, so one can assume this was something he felt that was further reinforced when Al eventually came and got him following his release from the Army.

Jimi's biographers (Hendrix 1999) discuss how it was clear to Jimi that his younger brother Leon had a different father than him, and although Al certainly loved and cared for Leon, he must have felt some resentment from having to raise another man's child. Jimi therefore was the favorite growing up, and developed a sense of his own uniqueness that instilled in him a great deal of confidence in his abilities. This confidence was especially relevant in the early stages of Jimi's career, where audiences often disliked and were unable to understand his unique style of music. Although many artists would have become discouraged in this situation, Jimi was convinced of his own talent, and much of this resolve appears to have its roots in Jimi's early childhood experiences.
Self Assessment Perceived through Genetic Possibilities

Jimi Hendrix came from a talented family with a long history of performing in front of groups. Jimi's grandmother was an entertainer who traveled and worked as a singer and performer before her son Al was born, and even prior to this generation music was a strong part of the Hendrix tradition. Jimi's father Al and his uncle Leon both showed musical talent at a very young age, and both of them could play the piano, sing, and also dance at a young age, and often did so growing up. Jimi therefore appeared to have a predisposition to music that was inherited from the talented Hendrix family.

Jimi developed a stutter at a young age however, and was not confident as a singer and a dancer like the rest of his family. therefore when Jimi did find a musical instrument to play, it appears that he compensated for his stutter by practicing a great deal on the guitar in an attempt to belong with his otherwise musical family.

Jimi also felt a strong identification with his family's Cherokee heritage. the extent of Jimi's Indian blood has been misrepresented often in several biographies that mention the subject. Jimi's father Al (Hendrix 1999) eventually clarified that Jimi's great grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee, but Jimi did feel a strong identification with this portion of his ancestry. Al Hendrix explained that when Jimi and the other children played games like Cowboys and Indians when Jimi was a kid, Jimi always wanted to be the Indian as it helped link him with a part of his Heritage. Jimi created a great deal of art as a child that depicted the Indians conquering the cavalry, and he even discussed later as an adult how he felt a sense of power that came from his Indian blood.

In considering this idea it is fascinating to examine the lyrics from one of Jimi's big hits, Castles made of Sand-

A little Indian brave who before he was ten, played war games in the woods with his Indian friends, and he built a dream that when he Grew up, he would be a fearless warrior Indian Chief. many moons passed and more the dream grew strong, until tomorrow He would sing his first war song,
And fight his first battle, but something went wrong,
Surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night

Reading the lyrics to this song which Jimi wrote, one can't help but wonder how much it reflected both Jimi's dreams as well as his disappointments. In many ways this song demonstrated the conditions of Jimi's life, as, despite having conquered the music world, he still was very anxious about his life circumstances as a result of his arrest and also the large amounts of money he was missing. much like the little Indian in the story, Jimi had been blindsided by events in his life, and this song seems to reveal the depths of his unhappiness.
Openings for Advancement perceived through Environmental Opportunities

One important adaptation Jimi made as a young man concerned the first guitar he ever received which Al purchased for Jimi for the price of 5 dollars. Jimi, who was born left-handed but learned to do most things right-handed, changed the strings around on this right-handed guitar and instead played it left-handed which was an adaptation that would eventually have a direct impact on his future musical genius. Jimi learned that by manipulating the instrument like this he could get different sounds out of it, and later as an adult he played his guitars both upside down and backwards which helped him carve out his own unique sound that no one else was readily able to replicate. because Jimi made this adaptation at such a young age and practiced so excessively, his technique became something that was uniquely his.

Another early experience that shaped the young Jimi Hendrix was seeing an Elvis Presley concert while he was growing up in Seattle. Jimi became fascinated by Elvis's showmanship, and much of his early artwork produced flattering pictures of the King. Although Jimi was somewhat shy throughout his life, on stage he truly had no inhibitions, and at least some of this he learned from watching Elvis when he was a young man. the impact of seeing Elvis live seemed to awaken in Jimi a sense of the heights a person could reach through playing music, and this rare opportunity was for Jimi a tipping point that helped give birth to his eventual persona as a stage performer.
Range of Social interest perceived through Other Particularities

One barometer of a person's mental health can be observed by examining their relationships and interest in the welfare of other human beings. Jimi Hendrix, who appeared to have abandonment issues related to his childhood, and who had also been betrayed by several business associates, therefore seemed to have trouble developing a profound sense of social interest. Although Jimi was often approached about social causes, he seemed to be most comfortable letting his music do his talking for him, and didn't feel as comfortable as an advocate and leader to promote social change as many of his 60's counterparts.

In this capacity it is interesting to consider Jimi's relationship with the Black Panthers as well as the larger issue of racism in the life of Jimi Hendrix. Growing up Jimi watched his father experience a great deal of racism related to finding jobs, etc. and this must have affected the young Jimi a great deal, as a lot of his early artwork depicts struggles for equality and justice. Jimi also experienced racism following his release from the Army when he went to play the Chitlin circuit in the Southern United States, where there was clearly different treatment for white and black musicians.

Jimi was eventually discovered a white man Chas Chandler, and found fame and acceptance with two white musicians who were of course Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. Although Jimi found success in the UK with these two men, he was still mocked by the British papers as the wild man of Borneo and with other racial epitaphs that appeared to alternatively mock and praise Jimi. Jimi eventually became known for playing white music by some of the more extremist black national groups in the United States, and many speculate it was the Black Panthers who pushed Jimi into eventually disbanding the Jimi Hendrix experience to form an all-Black band. Although there are widely varying accounts as to Jimi's relationship with the Panthers, it seems clear that Jimi was heavily conflicted about the issue of race.

In terms of social interest, Jimi's use of escapism through music is also interesting to examine. Music appeared to be the one thing that let him escape painful thoughts and feelings, and it was only when he had to quit playing and deal with other human beings when he seemed to be unhappy. People certainly took terrible advantage of Jimi throughout his life, as he died with only 21,000 thousand dollars in his banking account as a result of people pilfering millions from him over the course of his career. Jimi's lack of social interest therefore appeared to be based on very real experiences with people in the world, as his early home life and professional career were filled with repeated abandonment, disappointments, and betrayals from those that he thought he could depend on.

Jimi also had a great deal of narcissism, much of which contributed to the development of his music, which was also a defining characteristic of his personality. many people who had experienced the kind of rejection Jimi had at the beginning of his career would have simply returned to playing mainstream music, but Jimi truly believed that his music was something special despite the negative reinforcement he had received from the New York crowds. a narcissist will often believe his or her own way is not only special and unique, but also better than the way anyone else is doing it, and this was very much demonstrated by Jimi's creation of his own music.

Although narcissism is often malignant, many exceptionally talented people demonstrate high levels of this trait in their dealings with others, which was certainly true in the case of Jimi Hendrix. When someone disagrees with or challenges someone who is malignantly narcissistic, their reaction may be extreme irritation, and Jimi's interpersonal relationships seemed to represent this idea. His habitually abusive behavior towards women showed Jimi had a very low tolerance for frustration, and when others, and particularly women disagreed with him, his response to this frustration was very often physical violence.

Jimi's violence towards women may have also arisen in part from his interactions with his mother Lucille, as Jimi never seemed to develop a healthy respect for women throughout his life. His lack of a consistent feminine presence and maternal gender guiding line growing up must have created some anger in Jimi, and hearing his father's descriptions of his mother's life may have also contributed to this dynamic.

Jimi's life was therefore empty of the kind of social interest in others that many felt was a larger part of the idealism of the 1960's. Although Jimi participated in some of the causes and issues of his times, his involvement was often at the recommendation of those around him. Jimi's lack of trust in other people, which had its roots in childhood patterns, was reinforced often throughout his life, and Jimi overcompensated for his lack of interest in others by developing a truly awe-striking ability that allowed him to escape from the world. Although this talent was extraordinary, it seemed to be in part created through the sublimation of his personal pain, and this left Jimi without a path other than music in which to actively experience joy in his life. Jimi's gift of music to the world was and is a lasting contribution that influenced thousands of musicians both before and after him, but was also in many ways a reaction to a troubled history, and this was the sadness and irony of this truly unique musician.

A Psychological Profile Of Jimi Hendrix

Depression is so common a lot of people tend to self-diagnose. just because you have been crying for a few days doesn't really mean you're suffering from clinical depression. To determine if you have the medical condition or not, you have to undergo some tests. one of the most famous examinations is the Beck Depression Inventory test.

What is Beck Depression Inventory test?
It's also referred to as BDI. It's an assessment test a potential sufferer has to take to determine the severity of the symptoms of his or her depression. it is not an ordinary test. It's been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.

Who can take the exam?

Anyone who is from 13 years old and up can take the examination.

What symptoms does it try to measure?

Almost all the common signs of depression are being measured by BDI. These include the following:

• Feeling of sadness and hopelessness
• Views on past failures
• Feeling of guilt or self-dislike
• Suicidal thoughts
• Crying tendencies
• Feeling of worthless
• Lack of interest in certain activities
• Loss of energy, fatigue, or lethargy
• Insomnia
• Irritability

How does it work?

The Beck Depression Inventory is made up of 21 questions, each with four different choices or responses you can choose from. each of these choices has its corresponding score from 0 to 3, but that would never be revealed to you, until the exam is completed. Moreover, the questions are divided into two sets. The first 13 measure the psychological symptoms of depression while the rest assess the physical signs of the medical condition.

Once the exam is completed, each of the answers will be assigned its corresponding score, and they are summed up. The interpretation of the results will depend on the exam taker. If you have been diagnosed with clinical depression previously, the range between 30 and 63 denotes severe depression. If you have never been diagnosed, a score of 21 and up means you may be suffering from depression. Because of the different techniques of interpreting the results, it's easier for the clinician or the health care provider to determine the subtype you might have.

What are the limitations of the exam?

The Beck Depression Inventory should never be treated as a diagnostic tool. This only measures the symptoms of depression. Further tests should be conducted before a doctor can officially confirm your medical condition as depression.

Moreover, you cannot take this all by yourself even if there are forms available in the Internet. Only a professional clinician or health care provider is allowed to request, give, and assess the examination.

What should I do if the tests say I have depression?

The first step is to not fret. first, you still have to obtain the official diagnosis from your doctor. Second, even if you're clinically depressed, there are ways on how to manage or even treat it, as long as you are cooperative.

It also helps if you try to maintain a more positive attitude. By keeping positive thoughts in your mind, you can uplift your mood and reduce the typical signs of depression. you can use subliminal messages or affirmations.

Understanding Beck Depression Inventory

With the progress being made in modern medicine genetically some of the leading causes to depression may be a thing of the past.

These are the 10 leading killers of American men in 2003, the most recent year for which these statistics are available from the CDC:

Rank cause Percentage of male deaths

1 Heart disease 28.0
2 Cancer 24.0
3 Unintentional injuries 5.9
4 Stroke 5.1
5 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 5.1
6 Diabetes 2.9
7 Influenza and pneumonia 2.4
8 Suicide 2.1
9 Kidney disease 1.7
10 Alzheimer's disease 1.5
Total 78.7

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2003

More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have suffered from depression, other mental illness or had a substance-abuse disorder, according to the National Institute on Mental Health.

Almost four times as many males as females die by suicide. Firearms are by far the favored method, with 57 percent of men and 32 percent of women using them to commit suicide.

Suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for males and the 16th leading cause of death for females in 2004. it was the third leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 10 to 24.

These studies take advantage of unique flags flying in each neighborhood of the vast genome. Researchers find the flags associated with disease and then conduct an intensive search for genetic miscues just in that neighborhood. This process is a lot more efficient than a dragnet through the entire genome. This year, genome-wide association studies have identified genes associated with type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and resistance to HIV infection, to name a few examples.

Sequencing a genome - identifying all the chemical base pairs of someone's genes - is getting a lot faster and cheaper. Scientists can now shatter the DNA of the genome into millions of pieces and simultaneously sequence the letters. Then, computers knit the data into a single sequence. Within a decade, the price of sequencing a genome may drop to $1,000, say some experts. Cheap genome sequencing may soon usher in a new era of personalized medicine, with health advice and medical treatments tailored to each individual's genes.

The evidence has reached critical mass-getting between seven and nine hours of sleep a night is one of the pillars of good health, along with physical activity and eating a healthful diet. Poor sleep has been linked to health problems ranging from diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha blockers, drugs that interfere with a protein that contributes to inflammation, have given doctors and patients an important new treatment choice for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Daunting price tags and serious side effects make the TNF-alpha blockers less than ideal, but by tackling inflammation at its roots, they may light the way for a new approach to treating many diseases with an inflammatory component - even Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

With health care costs continuing to increase and employers cutting back on coverage, lawmakers are filling in the gaps. Illinois has created the all Kids program to cover children. Massachusetts law mandates that everyone in the state must purchase health insurance, and other states may follow suit. the Medicare Part D program, despite its flaws, has succeeded in extending prescription drug coverage to seniors. Time will tell whether these incremental steps will replace or merely delay more sweeping reform of a system that leaves 47 million Americans without insurance.

Depression Leading Cause

Baby Blues, Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Psychosis?

After my baby was born, whenever I cried or felt sad everyone just kept telling me that I had the baby blues or that it was my hormones still out of sorts. I had insomnia; I couldn't eat; I was anxious and nervous all the time. I suffered panic attacks, I would cry all the time for no reason. then eventually I thought I was going to lose my mind and hurt my baby. I was living in fear.

Postpartum Depression is so much more than what people think depression is. this illness takes on many different forms and each woman has different thoughts and feelings associated with their postpartum illness. when you talk to women out there on their experience with PPD some just feel a sense of not wanting to be around their baby and not take care of the child. other women just note that they could not stop crying. some felt sad, lonely and had mood swings. others had thoughts of hurting themselves or their baby. We need to be aware that postpartum depression can have one or many symptoms and any one of them cannot be overlooked.

The differences between baby blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.

Most say that the baby blues comes a few days after delivery and is a mild form of anxiety and sadness. It will go away on its own within a few weeks with no treatment necessary.
Some symptoms of the baby blues are:
irritability
sadness and crying
loneliness
feeling overwhelmed or anxious
mood swings
lack of energy and fatigue

What is the difference from the baby blues and postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression will not go away by itself. If your baby blues lasts longer than two weeks and you have the the following symptoms (along with the ones listed for the baby blues) you may now have postpartum depression:
Thoughts of hurting the baby
Thoughts of hurting yourself
Not having any interest in the baby
Insomnia
Hard time eating

Postpartum Psychosis:
Seeing things that aren't there
Feeling confused
Having rapid mood swings
Trying to hurt yourself or your baby
Hallucinations

Postpartum Depression only occurs in about 10% of women and it is not really talked about that often. It is hard to recognize at first because most people will tell you that the feelings you are experiencing are normal and you just have the baby blues. If your feelings continue to get worse as time goes on and you are not feeling better, you must seek out medical attention and talk to your doctor. Postpartum depression can get worse if it is not dealt with.

Postpartum Psychosis is rarely talked about because women are ashamed of the feelings that they are experiencing. Postpartum psychosis only occurs in 1-3 of every 1000 mothers. If you think that you are experiencing postpartum psychosis, please seek out medical attention immediately. some tragic stories of postpartum psychosis end in suicide of the mother and possibly the baby. Women were too ashamed of the overall feelings that they were experiencing and did not want to seek out the help that they needed.

There are so many places to turn to if you are experiencing any irrational thoughts or feelings, please reach out. Of the the best places to start is your doctor. you can also seek out help through Postpartum International or any other health facility in your area. your doctor can surely guide you in the right direction for medications and therapy. this is an illness that will get better with time. you may need to have a combination of medication and therapy, but do not be ashamed to talk about the feelings that you are experiencing. Once you start talking, people will start listening. you will start feeling better

Postpartum Depression - There is Life After

Bipolar Symptoms In Women

Bipolar Disorder was once commonly known as manic depression and basically consists of several medical conditions known as depressive disorders, which effect the way in which an individual's brain will function.

Although Bipolar Disorder affects males and females in approximately equal numbers, the actual symptoms exhibited by both genders can be vastly different. Bipolar symptoms in women tend to manifest mostly as depressive episodes, whereas men will more than likely experience more manic symptoms. Typically this pattern emerges in a patients first episode also, women tend to experience a depressive episode first and men will generally have a mania episode initially.

Women will generally be diagnosed mostly with Bipolar type II, which could be described as a milder form of Bipolar Disorder. However, rapid-cycling Bipolar, which is described by experiencing at least four episodes of depression or mania in one year, are more likely to be experienced by Women. Rapid Cycling Bipolar can be more difficult to treat than other forms of the disorder.

There has been extensive research that suggests Bipolar symptoms in women (especially rapid-cycling) could be influenced by abnormal thyroid levels. Thyroid imbalances are said to be more common in women than men. Women are also more likely to suffer from some of the following medical conditions than men. Obesity, anxiety, panic disorders and migraines. Hormonal imbalances can play a major role in developing Bipolar Disorders, declining estrogen levels during perimenopause can leave a women at risk of depressive disorders. During and after pregnancy can leave a women more vulnerable to the condition also.

Bipolar disorder is a higher risk in somebody who comes from a family with a history of Bipolar. This is not difinitive and absolute. although there is a genetic link, it does not mean that someone that has a Bipolar parent will necessarily be Bipolar. Risk factors that contribute to Bipolar Symptoms in women include stressful life events, drug or alcohol abuse, harsh changes to sleeping patterns or other chronic medical conditions can contribute to the risk of Bipolar.

Medications used in the treatment of Bipolar are known as mood stabilizers these medicenes can reverse depressive or Manic episodes and prevent an individual from suffering a potential relapse. A Doctor or healthcare professional will prescribe either individual or a combination of medications that best suit your needs.

It is important to understand that whilst there is no actual cure for Bipolar Disorders, it can be treated successfully once diagnosed with ongoing psychological treatment and a successful prescription for medication. Studies are ongoing and new treatments are continuously being developed that help in the fight against Bipolar Disoder. it is possible to lead a complete and full life after a Bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Around one person in a hundred is diagnosed with a Bipolar Disorder, once diagnosed it can be treated successfully but many people are unaware that they have the condition and this can obviously be dangerous. it can occur at any age although commonly develops between the age of 18-24. The patterns of Bipolar symptoms in women can vary between individuals, with long term depressive episodes mixed with short term mania and vice versa. please make sure that you contact your Doctor or healthcare professional if you or someone close to you is displaying symptoms of Depression or mania.

What You Need to Understand About Bipolar Symptoms in Women

Stop for a minute and think, could anxiety, depression and sleep disorders all be related? in some cases, the answer is yes. Each year, millions of Americans suffer from anxiety and depression. while some of this suffering is a result of chemical imbalances in the brain, some of it is also because of sleep deprivation.

First off, there are the obvious reasons for this link. Lack of sleep leads to irritability and stress, making it more difficult for a person to function normally at work or school. the inability to function normally can, over time, lead to both anxiety and depression. there are, however, deeper links between anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.

A recent study at Harvard found that a good night's sleep is strongly connected with the solidarity of emotional memories. Although this problem is in the subconscious, it can easily lead to psychological problems. during sleep, individual components of a scene seem to become unbound, said 4 Therapy. this allows us to selectively preserve only what's most important and worth remembering.

This connection is interesting because the sufferer may not be aware of the specific cause. this is also the case in some people with a certain type of sleep apnea called OSA. Just like in normal sleep apnea, people will temporarily stop breathing during their sleep then abruptly begin again. the difference with OSA is that while the person stops breathing, abdominal and chest movements continue normally.

Because of this, OSA often goes undiagnosed for a long time. the person will experience the fatigue that goes along with interrupted sleep but have no idea that their sleep has been interrupted. Eventually, this unexplained fatigue can lead to the aforementioned symptoms of anxiety and depression. People with unexplained fatigue should ask their doctor about the possibility of having an unknown sleep disorder.

In other cases, the subject is fully aware that they suffer from a sleep disorder, such as the ever popular insomnia. What they may not realize, however, is that their insomnia may be caused by the chemical imbalances that create anxiety and depression.

When this person is lying awake at night worried about this or that, the underlying cause may be anxiety rather than insomnia. Some have found that taking medication for anxiety or depression rather than sleeping pills has cured their insomnia.

There are many reasons for a person to be unable to sleep, and it is important that you delve into the underlying cause rather than medicating yourself with alcohol or sleeping pills.

Anxiety Depression Disorder Sleep Treatment - How to Determine Root Causes?

Just wondering how you differentiate between schizo-affective and depression with psychotic features?

In the past doctors have been accused of being under-sensitive to the signs of bipolar disorder. More recently, the numbers of people diagnosed with bipolar have steadily climbed, leading to the accusation that doctors are now over-sensitized. There's a problem here and it isn't just about diagnostic trends and bandwagons. Screening and diagnostic practices for bipolar disorder remain patchy and this is due, in part at least, to blurry boundaries that can exist between conditions.

Take a look at any forum relating to depression and/or bipolar disorder and a theme begins to emerge. First, there is the issue of whether having been diagnosed with unipolar depression the person wonders if they really should be considered as having bipolar. Secondly, the reverse scenario, in which having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder the person wonders if they really should be considered as suffering with unipolar depression? how do these issues come about?

If we consider each in turn the cloud of confusion begins to dispel. Why might a person who can only ever recall being depressed be receiving medication normally usually prescribed for bipolar disorder? The answer should be fairly simple. a diagnosis of bipolar disorder can only be made if the person has experienced at least one episode of hypomania or mania. And this is where it gets messy. Diagnosing mania is far easier than its milder cousin hypomania (hypo meaning less than or under) and it is just possible that the extra energy and high felt by someone emerging from a period of depression is actually what the rest of us might regard as normal. Then again, treatment with lithium, the standard medication for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, can sometimes be prescribed as a catalyst for people who are unresponsive to standard antidepressants.

According to the definition of hypomania, which goes along the lines of, 'a distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least four days, that is clearly different from the usual non depressed mood,' a distinguishing feature is that the mood doesn't change in the light of good or bad circumstances. Coach and horses come to mind with this concept. it seems to me that four days is a very narrow window in which to pass such a judgment. Add the issue of good or bad circumstances and I think we've got a bigger problem. most people live rather predictable lives that rarely involve especially good or bad circumstances. even if such circumstances were to occur, the idea they would conveniently overlap a four-day period of expansive or irritable mood seems absurd. Establishing 'normal' when it comes to mood is a highly subjective issue at the best of times. Establishing what is 'elevated' compared to someone who is almost always depressed must be spectacularly difficult.

Let's now consider the issue of the person diagnosed with unipolar depression who wonders if they may actually have bipolar disorder? The same rules, or problems perhaps, apply. how do we know whether the periods of relief from depression simply elevate the mood to a rare and unusual place? Happiness is normal after all so don't people starved of this most elemental quality have the right to immerse themselves in it when it comes their way.

Diagnosing bipolar disorder is a complex process that involves time and symptom elimination. until recently, most people diagnosed with bipolar disorder waited an average of ten years before their symptoms were recognized for what they were. It's a process where patients and clinicians have to work together but being cautious not to pathologize behavior simply because it is rare or unusual.

Straight Depression or Bipolar Depression?

We have come a long way in recognizing postpartum depression signs of it and recognizing the difference between
postpartum depression and baby blues.

Being pregnant is a time of joy at the prospect of bringing a new life into the world, but it also brings a time of uncertainty,
let's face it, being a parent is a huge responsibility. if that wasn't enough there is the other side to being a new parent, that
being the side that affects a mom on all levels, emotionally, mentally, and of course the more obvious - physically. the body
has to make adjustments and hormones go crazy. all these adjustments happening at the same time takes a toll and postpartum
depression signs could creep in

Postpartum depression is quite common, effecting a great many women who have learned to cope with it and successfully treat
it. Postpartum depression is actually a lot like depression, but only new moms are the possible victims of this illness. there is a
difference between baby blues and signs of postpartum depression, the major difference being the length of time the mom has
suffered from symptoms. you may notice the postpartum depression signs of .

1. Feeling anxious (anxiety), guilt, sadness, worthlessness, restlessness or irritability

2. Problems or difficulties sleeping

3. Lack of interest in social activities or things you use to enjoy

4. no feeling or feelings of resentment, anger or fear about motherhood, your partner or your child

5. Trouble focusing or concentrating

6. Change in eating habits where you either eat more or less than usual

7. Uncontrollable or unexplained weeping

8. Physical symptoms such as headaches or chest pains etc for no reason

If you recognize postpartum depression signs mentioned above, and these signs have affected the well-being of mom
for a long period of time, then the best course of action is to seek help from a proper medical authority. Talk with the family
doctor and seek their assistance in helping mom.

Postpartum Depression Signs Of