I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Very possible on the Lewy Bodies, Blue. His doctors weren't aware of his dementia as soon as they should have been. My brother and my mom were in a conspiracy of sorts to hide it from his doctors and the rest of the family. Long, sad, story of co-dependence. Sometimes illness brings out the best in a family, other times, not so much.

Mary

Clinton will have to start eating plastic at this point. Plants have parents - they are just rather distant. They spit it out, if you will. Send the child to boarding school at a young age.  :-)

Kam, I would not have children with a bipolar man. That is my choice, of course. The brca gene is far less determinative. And I don't intend to say that there cannot be a happy family where everyone is bipolar so if it works for someone, that is great.

Most likely someone undiagnosed, Lindasa. It happens very often that people with bipolar don't know officially of a diagnosis earlier in their family.

Usually, either the person was undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed as "having had a nervous breakdown" or "having spent months/years in hospital" or someone who was an "alcoholic/drug addict" and because of this never had the underlying bipolar detected or treated. Or a parent or grandparent had unipolar depression and was merely known as "rather melancholy." Or an aunt somewhere about whom little is known because she "did not get along" with the family or was just "weird" or "crazy."  The relative or parent no one wants to talk about, etc...It takes a fairly detailed family history to uncover such things.

Unipolar depression also inherits to bipolar, it seems, as well as the other way around. BUT one relative may have more pronounced symptoms - the reasons for this are not known, although the environment of the person can certainly affect symptoms. A less stressful world such as that which existed in the 30s, 40s or fifties may have shielded some from being as symptomatic.

It's a complex web of things.

AND there is always the possibility that someone has been misdiagnosed as bipolar. Mild cases of bipolar are increasingly being diagnosed as full blown illnesses. Hey, welcome to our "me too!" culture (still pissed off about that blogger claiming the mantle of Lanza's mother). Childhood bipolar is actually very rare but is sometimes over-diagnosed.

Many cases are either under- or over-diagnosed because there is an acute shortage of properly trained diagnosticians. Pediatricians, social workers and PCPs are not provided the training they need.

I am of the opinion that no diagnosis of a major mental illness should be made by any other than a medical doctor with a mental health specialty. Or a clinical psychologist with additional neurological training. There are too many biological issues to be aware of. JMO.

Then, of course, you have armchair diagnoses.....arrrrgggghhhhh!

ETA: Shortened.

Hillary had a recent interview with Barbara WaWa.  Sorry couldn't resist.  Anyway, the hair question came up and Hillary said the expense and time required for constant hair styling was not a priority for her anymore and people will just have to get over it.  She tends to her own.  Yes it isn't glamorous, but her work is the priority and I admire her immensely.

She would be a fantastic President but that time may have passed.

What's with me and public holidays - went for a bike ride - did the long 16km trip in the same time I did it last time. Didn't have to get off and walk at all - made it up all the small slopes. I am totally pooped now and hot and sweaty.

Blue - love the Doors!!!

Agree with Kam, Athena - the 2008 pic of HRC shows the work of Isabelle ) on her make up and hair) and probably a fabulous facial/Botox/ dermatologist treatments too.  Don' rforget, she was running for office.  Chuckled with chickadee's post - didn't see the interview, but read her comments about "hair."

And Athena mentioned weight - that really is a win/lose for women's facesHRC has gained quite a bit of wieght in the past 4 years.  Too thin & we get wrinkles, aging - and too much weight thickens us, bye-bye any jaw line that might still be there.  jowls.  ugh.  BUT, and this is a big butt, I so prefer what a more natural looking woman looks like as she ages: Judi Dench, Helen Hayes - instead of what the popular culture/zeitgeist is doing to women.  Actresses who can't move their faces, or look like snapping turtles caught in a wind tunnel.  Yuck.

Nancy Pelosi must have stock in Botox.  Made worse by the strange way she tries to smile & talk at the same time - reminds me of Marla Maples, Diana Ross did that too - weird - watching someone try to smile & talk at the same time.

Happy New Year - going to visit friends, we're all early to sleep folks.

Listening to NPR report of blood clot re HRC.  Serious - but manageable - discovered in MRI, in head, between brain & outer bone....whew....she deserves a rest, b4 2016.

Hah! We've got a feminist discussion going. JUst what Yours Truly needs to forget the Yucky thing everyone keeps saying today. :-)

Sandy, first of all, how are you doing, friend? Been wondering about you, the tx plan, etc....

I am personally more concerned about Hillary's health than her looks. BUT I happen to look at the feminism thing rather differently: the fact that we can talk about her looks without it changing our perception of her abilities - THAT is the progress, IMO.                          

Men get stereotyped and objectified too - remember JFK. And yet people still said they would vote for him. With Hillary, likewise, both men and women express their preferences regardless of what they think of her as a woman.

And I NEVER forget that I owe my sister forebearers of the sixties and of the twenties a huge debt of gratitude for allowing e that independence. I don't take dictates from men. I don't take dictates from women (one reason why I am so against Emily's list and I think it is a way of thinking that needs to be retired).

My mouse is not working so my posts may have even more proofing errors and belated proofing edits than usual. Apologies.  

Lewing, congratulations and much happiness.  The picture was excellent.

Hubby is looking into the possibility of us moving here.  Prices are steep, but the heat makes me feel much better.  We'll see....  we could see our son and his family more often which is a big plus as well.  But prices are insane....

I cannot BELIEVE that our government simply could not get it's act together.  So everyone hold hands, close their eyes and let's JUMP!!!

GG, I think I'll hang glide off the cliff! WHEEEEEEE!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!

I think my mouse is manic - with psychotic features, I'm afraid. It keeps thinking left click is right click, it highlights things, opens and closes windows and won't even let me run"system restore."

 It acts like a keyboard. Obviously I must have "pressed something wrong...." off to see what I can do about it. In the meantime, in an attempt to not disturb the fates, I superstitiously wish everyone a crummy new year! May your nightmares come true. Let's see if that works.

I think I might watch Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper bring in the New Year tonite. It will be over by 9pm on the west coast, so good for the bedtime.  She is so irreverant and annoys Elisbeth Hasselback to no end.  After that, might tune into the Senate and watch the vote on the FC.

Jackie, as you probably know already, it is very common for bipolars to self-medicate with alcohol. So that tribe of alcoholics might well have had some bipolars among them.

Happy New Year, all!  Got home to Brooklyn a little after noon yesterday, unloaded the car, unpacked, tidied the house (two weeks away = lots of cat throw-up, ugh), restocked the pantry, and had a nice dinner in.  I was nodding off by 9 pm but managed to get it together to walk to the park with Eric to watch the fireworks -- spectacular!  (My daughter, usually a night owl, crashed and was asleep when we got home.)

Sunflowers, I'm still laughing at your "snapping turtle in a wind tunnel" image.

Sandy, thanks so much for sharing those beautiful wedding memories.

Heading out now for a run to clear my head (and count the empty champagne bottles on the Brooklyn Bridge).  Many, many thanks, again, to everyone for your good wishes.

Linda