Bi-Polar Disorder and the Celebrities.

The other week I put a little piece on about myself and how I am trying to fit into the community even though I have been under medication as a Paranoid Schizophrenic for some 25 years. Link I mentioned Terry Pratchett and his problems with early Dementia, but forgot to give Stephen Fry a mention who has suffered with Bi-Polar Disorder for many years and given the subject much publicity. See BBC Article He has certainly hit the headlines with his health problems at times, but is again now working on many TV programmes. He does have his own web-site, but I must admit from a quick look at it, it does seem rather commercialised. From reading the above mentioned article it seems that many other celebrities have bipolar, including Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, Hollywood star Richard Dreyfus and British comedians Tony Slattery and Jo Brand. As for myself, for some 20 years I saw one particular Consultant Psychiatrist who seemed happy with my classification of Paranoid Schizophrenic and I was then passed on to his successor who talked of reclassifying me as a sufferer of Bi-Polar Disorder. In the end he didn't, but I am at a loss to know what the difference is. Mental health classifications seem to almost change at will with some professionals. I realise the boundaries can be blurred, but on one particular hospital admission, some years ago, the staff put me down as annaerexic because I had a serious weight loss at the time and most of my life I have hovered around 16 stone in weight! Perhaps that is why I am such a darts enthusiast, because I have the build for it!