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DiurnalVampire -> RE: committing a crime=bi-polar?!?! (10/13/2006 7:07:07 AM)
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I am bipolar and unmedicated. The pills never worked well for me, the mood swings were still there, but the personlaity was not.
I find it personally insulting that people woud use it as a cop out. It is, granted, one of the top misdiagnosed mental problems. People recognize the depressed part, however a lot of times tey will miss the Manic part simply becasue it isnt all that unpleasant. These politicians should have to actualy live with the disorder for a few days, and see what it is they are claiming to have before they use it as a defense. And if they are going to try and use it as a defense, I aso think they should be required (for a period before the trial) to go through what those of us who are bipolar have gone through. REgular doctors visits, medication trials, sleepless nights and explaining to their families what realy goes on in their heads.
I have never had criminal tendancies that I blamed on my disorder. Fights with significant others maybe, but thats about it. I do believe that during a manic episode that someone could think that something criminal was acceptable, r worse they might not actually believe they were doing it and might mistake it for playing out a fantasy. I know in my mind a lot of things during severe manic episodes didnt actually seem like reality.
However, any jury should be given the facts about bipolar disorder if they are going to use it as a defense. And the fact that they are al of a sudden diagnosed, with no prior sympotms, much less treatment, after theyve done something wrong should realy throw up some flags. And it usualy does, the lawyers who advise these things dont seem to think that the people are getting wise to their tricks.
DV
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