Kay Redfield Jamison, a professor of psychiatry and author, shares her personal journey with bipolar disorder, providing a unique insider perspective. She discusses the critical importance of early diagnosis and the challenges in recognizing symptoms, particularly among youth. Jamison also emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of expressing emotions and personal stories. The impact of supportive relationships, like those from family and mentors, is highlighted as essential in managing mental health, along with the role of medication, especially lithium.
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Kay's Bipolar Journey
Kay Redfield Jamison experienced severe depression at 17 and didn't fully know her diagnosis for years.
Her first manic episode was at 28, which led her to receive appropriate psychiatric care.
insights INSIGHT
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is hopelessly complicated, involving mood, motivation, and personality.
It has a strong genetic component but also involves biorhythm and environmental factors.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Avoid Triggers for Mania
Sleep deprivation and substance abuse, especially alcohol and marijuana, often trigger mania in those genetically predisposed.
Young people at the age of risk should be cautious of disrupted sleep and substance use.
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In 'Exuberance: The Passion for Life', Kay Redfield Jamison delves into the concept of exuberance, exploring its role in creativity, intellectual curiosity, and social dynamics. She examines its neurochemical basis, hereditary aspects, and how it differs from mania. The book also highlights examples of exuberance in historical figures and everyday life, showcasing its contagious and energizing effects.
Nothing Was the Same
Kay Redfield Jamison
An unquiet mind
Kay Redfield Jamison
Kay R. Jamison
In 'An Unquiet Mind', Kay Redfield Jamison shares her journey with bipolar disorder, exploring how it affected her relationships, career, and personal life. The book offers a candid look at both the challenges and the occasional benefits of living with this condition. Jamison's narrative blends personal experience with professional insight, providing a unique perspective on mental health.
Touched with Fire
Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament
Kay Redfield Jamison
Kay R. Jamison
In this book, Kay Redfield Jamison examines the relationship between bipolar disorder and artistic creativity. She presents extensive case studies of historic figures such as Lord Byron, Vincent Van Gogh, and Virginia Woolf, who were likely suffering from manic-depressive illness. The book reveals the biological foundations of this disease and its impact on the lives and works of these artists, challenging the romantic notion of the 'melancholic artist' while highlighting the suffering and creative output associated with the condition.
Night Falls Fast
Kay Redfield Jamison
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide is a powerful and poignant book that delves into the complex issue of suicide. Kay Redfield Jamison combines her clinical expertise with personal experiences to provide a compassionate and insightful analysis. The book explores the history of suicidal ideation, its psychological and biological underpinnings, and the profound effects on those left behind. It also discusses recent advances in treatment and prevention.
Around 40 million people around the world have bipolar disorder, which involves cyclical swings between moods: from depression to mania. Kay Redfield Jamison is one of those people. She's also a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has written extensively about the topic, from medical textbooks to personal memoirs. Today on Short Wave, she joins us to talk about the diagnosis process, treating and managing bipolar disorder.
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