Free Britney

[arcsinx]

In my opinion -
Bi-Polar is not a disease. It is a Condition based on body chemistry.
A person who has the condition has cycles that can be more pronounced than the statistical norm.

Lithium - ( a salt) can assist in balancing the body chemistry , that also balances brain chemistry ; thereby bringing the "up and down" cycles toward the mid point.

For some - this mid-point means they no longer feel fully the person they were when they were in the upper arch of the cycle. They might state - that they have lost their creativity.

For others this means they avoid the difficulties that pain them at the low part of their cycle .

The timeline of the cycle for each person with the condition is probably unique to them. - weekly - monthly - seasonally ( sunlight) ; and can likely vary based on changes in body chemistry, including those that occur during and after pregnancy.( post partum)

Some individuals cycles can be pronounced to up or down -from the mid point .(ie) mostly cycles up ( termed mania) or mostly cycles down (termed depression)

Lithium (or similar) can be compared to adding a strong crossbeam to a building. Your building gains long term stability - but an alteration has occurred.

Our society often uses various forces to interact with people.
Family - Police - Courts-Jails - Medical - Etc

Brittany Spears has a personal knowledge on the positive and negative of this.

Just because it can be treated with medicine doesn't mean it isn't a real and serious condition. The mood dysregulation causes major and often traumatic events in people's lives that struggle with bipolar. There is a reason that bipolar has roughly a 15% suicide rate, the highest of nearly any clinical condition. We should be happy and thrilled that chemical interventions like Lithium and antipsychotics are efficacious; anytime people can live normal lives, we should be ecstatic for them, no matter what label (disease, condition, disorder, illness) you want to put on it.

Touching on a related note in your post, one of our society's greatest present-day shames is the mental healthcare system in general. The mentally ill are corralled by the police into jails and courts instead of getting them the help they need. The highest concentration of mental illness is in our prisons and jails - which says a lot more about our priorities as a society than we care to contemplate.

*steps off soapbox*

 

[lkc1234]

I ** think ** she's only 39 , but I get your point.

I have been 39 for several years.

 

[geekette]

Just because it can be treated with medicine doesn't mean it isn't a real and serious condition. The mood dysregulation causes major and often traumatic events in people's lives that struggle with bipolar. There is a reason that bipolar has roughly a 15% suicide rate, the highest of nearly any clinical condition. We should be happy and thrilled that chemical interventions like Lithium and antipsychotics are efficacious; anytime people can live normal lives, we should be ecstatic for them, no matter what label (disease, condition, disorder, illness) you want to put on it.

Touching on a related note in your post, one of our society's greatest present-day shames is the mental healthcare system in general. The mentally ill are corralled by the police into jails and courts instead of getting them the help they need. The highest concentration of mental illness is in our prisons and jails - which says a lot more about our priorities as a society than we care to contemplate.

*steps off soapbox*

Yeah, it's tricky stuff, body chemistry is unique. I have known several bipolar people and it's a struggle. Some meds are better than others, but I was surprised to hear one relative say "This new med is great, but, they don't stay great. If I can get one good year out of this one, I would be happy..." Just extra hardship even after finding a med that works and let's you feel like yourself. I had no idea, but, bodies gain tolerance so I guess that's what that is.

Indeed, we have far to go in mental health medicine here. Too many people still seem to think it's a character flaw. Try harder, think happy thoughts, just power through it, etc. We're making progress in asking for help not being seen as weakness but far to go.

I am not very tuned into the Britt thing but I would certainly like to hear what she has to say about her condition. It's hard for me to believe that she is in such mental mixup constantly that a leash like this remains a necessity. I wish her well. She always had talent, whatever else she had onboard or happened to her. Our young stars rarely make it out ok.

 

[VacationForever]

Mental illness bears such a social stigma which needs to change. It is hard for anyone who has mental illness to admit that they have it, let alone talk about it. It is one area which you don't see alot of funds raised for research. Heart disease and cancer get the most attention and money. I neither like nor dislike Britney Spears' music but I feel alot of empathy for her situation. I wish her all the best and hope that the judge and her team can reach an arrangement which gives her more freedom and happiness. She is obviously very unhappy with her situation.

 

[TravelTime]

Britney has 30% unsupervised rights to her kids. It has been that way for several years already. She does have emotional needs like the rest of us. Many people are not capable of raising their children, mentally, emotionally and financially and continue to pop them out. She has the financial means to help solve the raising part. I think it is too harsh to not let her have more children. But what do I know!

It is totally ridiculous and abusive IMO to not let a woman have reproductive rights over her own body. I am really perplexed as to how her father actually controls this. I would think she could go ask a doctor to remove the IUD. How can her father control what happens in the doctor’s office? Even a teenager who is under age is able to get birth control or an abortion if she wants. This part of the story is perplexing to me.

 

[dioxide45]

How can her father control what happens in the doctor’s office?

Because he is her co-conservator. Right or wrong, that is the reality right now.

 

[TravelTime]

Because he is her co-conservator. Right or wrong, that is the reality right now.

Yes but how does he actually control that part of her life? When I was a minor, I was able to do what I wanted with my body. My parents technically had control over me but it was easy to get around their control. I do not understand why Britney can’t get around her father’s control over her body. I would think if she went to a Planned Parenthood office anonymously, a doctor would remove the IUD for her. Frankly, I would not recognize Britney if I saw her on the street. PP is very liberal and pro-woman’s rights over their own body.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes but how does he actually control that part of her life? When I was a minor, I was able to do what I wanted with my body. My parents technically had control over me but it was easy to get around their control. I do not understand why Britney can’t get around her father’s control over her body. I would think if she went to a Planned Parenthood office anonymously, a doctor would remove the IUD for her. Frankly, I would not recognize Britney if I saw her on the street. PP is very liberal and pro-woman’s rights over their own body.

Perhaps, but I am sure these other doctors offices don't really want to get sued by her conservators. Right now she doesn't have control over her own reproductive rights and any movement she would make would certainly be picked up by paparazzi.

 

[geist1223]

Did you catch the Article where her attorney said she had not directed him to file for termination of the Conservorship.

 

[VacationForever]

Did you catch the Article where her attorney said she had not directed him to file for termination of the Conservorship.

Yeah. He said, she said

 

[SteelerGal]

I feel there is more to the story. Brit was really messed up prior to her official diagnosis that then led to her conservorship and her Mother had a front row seat and couldn’t handle the situation. I do hope she is able to eventually take care of herself but honestly it should probably be away from The Lions Den, Hollywood.

 

[DrQ]

Did you catch the Article where her attorney said she had not directed him to file for termination of the Conservorship.

This is a real train wreck. She has a court appointed lawyer, but who safeguards that he is competent or working in her best interests? I'm assuming that he is on the up and up, but he is not dealing with a stable client and is being second a third guessed. This is major butt covering time.

From a human standpoint, I fear that she is always going to vulnerable to exploitation, I think she can thank both of her parents for that. Her father has at least has reorganized her finances so that she has resources, albeit some deals look kind of suspect in the light of day. If you want to look at sleaze, just look at the 60's and 70's rock groups record and publishing deals. (What ever happened to P F Sloan) .

The Co-conservators have opted to walk away from the train wreck:

Judge lets Bessemer Trust's withdraw from Britney Spears estate

Bessemer Trust's request to withdraw as co-conservator of Britney Spears' estate has been approved by Judge Brenda Penny.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I believe that she has been treated as a money making machine, but has that been to dig her out of the hole she dug and possibly to secure a future?

Has anyone asked her, what makes her happy? It seems like dancing does, but is that what she has been programmed to do?

It is sad.

 

[TravelTime]

I do not understand why she can’t be allowed to do what she wants with her life and money. Many people are mentally ill and do not get their human rights taken away from them. This seems like a bunch of people trying to control her for her money. I would have never allowed a conservatorship at all ot if I did, I would have put a short term time limit on it. Let’s free Britney and let her screw up her life like the rest of us. LOL

 

[DrQ]

I do not understand why she can’t be allowed to do what she wants with her life and money. Many people are mentally ill and do not get their human rights taken away from them.
... Let’s free Britney and let her screw up her life like the rest of us. LOL

Money - that is the answer to your question.

The mentally ill are mostly poor so draw your own conclusions.

If you think you're immune, read this article and think about it:

How the Elderly Lose Their Rights

Guardians can sell the assets and control the lives of senior citizens without their consent—and reap a profit from it.

www.newyorker.com

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Lithium (or similar) can be compared to adding a strong crossbeam to a building. Your building gains long term stability - but an alteration has occurred.

Lithium also destroys the kidneys over time. I have a close friend who took lithium for years to control his BPD. He took it knowing that someday he would have to stop taking it because of declining kidney performance. So through the years his physician tracked kidney performance, and he was removed from lithium when his kidney performance dropped to 10%. However, his kidneys continued to decline and he had to go on dialysis. He now has a transplant.

 

[VacationForever]

Lithium also destroys the kidneys over time. I have a close friend who took lithium for years to control his BPD. He took it knowing that someday he would have to stop taking it because of declining kidney performance. So through the years his physician tracked kidney performance, and he was removed from lithium when his kidney performance dropped to 10%. However, his kidneys continued to decline and he had to go on dialysis. He now has a transplant.

I read somewhere that she was on it for 5 months "only".

 

[Theiggy]

Money - that is the answer to your question.

The mentally ill are mostly poor so draw your own conclusions.

If you think you're immune, read this article and think about it:

How the Elderly Lose Their Rights

Guardians can sell the assets and control the lives of senior citizens without their consent—and reap a profit from it.

www.newyorker.com

How disturbing that this type of evil exists. Just horrible. The thought of how many this has happened to... makes me wanna cry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Lithium also destroys the kidneys over time. I have a close friend who took lithium for years to control his BPD. He took it knowing that someday he...... So through the years his physician tracked kidney performance, and he was removed from lithium when his kidney performance ....... / continued to decline and he had to go on dialysis. He now has a transplant.

As I understand it - Regular blood work and monitoring of optimal / minimal required dosage is necessary by a knowledgable doctor -'preferably a psychatrist who does this dose monitoring all the time.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

As I understand it - Regular blood work and monitoring of optimal / minimal required dosage is necessary by a knowledgable doctor -'preferably a psychatrist who does this dose monitoring all the time.

All of that was in place. My friend is a quite skilled internist, so he was on top of this all the way. The whole treatment plan was worked out with the psych and the nephrologist.