[HPforGrownups] Digest Number 5124

[Erin Hamilton]

No: HPFGUIDX 110766



"SSSusan:
Not a mental health expert, but way back about 20 years ago I did 
get my BS in psych and 15 years ago my MS in counseling.  My 
understanding of bipolar disorder--and the BIGGEST mistake I think 
lay people tend to make--is that the mood swings associated with it 
are *not* short-term, like from Monday to Tuesday.  The swings are 
deep and can last days, weeks or months.  [PLEASE correct me, *real* 
psychologists, if I've got that wrong!]  The manic phases are 
typically marked by an "I can do ANYTHING!" feeling and rash or 
impulsive behavior [such as monstrous shopping sprees].  The 
depressive phases, which again, are not hour by hour or day by day, 
but lengthy phases, we're more familiar with--typically true 
clinical depression, I believe.

I definitely can see why people have seen Sirius as having acted 
clinically depressed in OoP.  "Rash" and "impulsive" are words we've 
heard a lot about Sirius, too, but have these been actual phases 
with him, or is it more just his overall personality?

Experts want to chime in?"

Erin H:
Hi. I used to contribute here regularly, but can no longer keep up. I'm not a psychiatrist, but I am Bipolar. My moods are highly reactive, but I generally cycle every two weeks or so. Having said that, I'm careful diagnosing fictional characters when their condition hasn't been clarified in the narrative. Bipolar is a serious mental illness. Sirius may've been asymptomatic when he pulled the infamous "prank" on Snape. He would have no regard for the consequences, but not intentionally. His prison term, obviously a traumatic experience, would have exacerbated a condition like BP. Consistant with mania or hypomania, many of Sirius's decisions are rash, but, more importantly, they are often accompanied by a distorted sense that he will not get caught or that nothing can happen to him. It seemed fine to him at the time to just pop in at Harry's fireplace or join the Order members rescuing Harry without regard to consequences, or when he told Harry he wasn't like his father after all. Mean, yes, but not intentionally so. This sort of emotional upswing and accompanying grandiosity may have helped Sirius risk his prison escape, but it also may have ultimately cost him his life. 

Having something to occupy you is critical. I have a very busy job, and I need that stimulation. I get bored and ruminate very easily. Bipolar or clinically Depressed, Sirius cooped up with no means of contributing to the cause was an emotional catastrophe waiting to happen. That may be why Lupin, his friend, stayed with him. But Lupin was often gone. Someone (DD?) should have done something more. When Sirus perked up at X-Mas in OOtP, his mood may've  responded to the positive stimulus. I'm reactive like that. I think he had too much time to ruminate. That will get you. Still, it is hard to say. But you can, from my perspective, argue that he may've been at least Bipolar Type II. BPII is less extreme than BP I, but the suicide rate is higher. I can empathize with Sirius, which is why I can't condemn him because of his behavior. Emotional Hell cannot be described or understood easily, especially if you haven't been there.     

Just a thought or two,
Erin H.


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