PD parent column on Salon.com

[Hops]

Hi all,
It's about a severely bipolar (and untreated) parent, not a narcissist, but Cary Tennis' column today on www.Salon.com is worth reading...as are some of the letters (scroll down below the text to "Read Comments About This Article"). I thought his response to the LW (letter writer) made a lot of sense for the children of narcissists, too. Sad story.

For anyone who hasn't read this online magazine, look up top where it says "click here and watch a brief ad to read Salon for free". Click there, watch a short commercial, then click on the words "Enter Salon" when they appear. Scroll down the main page to Cary Tennis...his column is illustrated by a line drawing of a man in a hat.

Once the letters open, I usually click on "Oldest First" because it becomes forum-like as the LWs respond to each other as well as to Tennis' column.

Hops

[moonlight52]

Hi Hops ,
 Bipolar is a mood disorder.

 It will not make you into a controlling person or a "mean mommie dearest" if  those things are not there  all ready, inside a person.
 
 Bipolar effects moods swings not the kinds of moods or issues in family's. Just the duration or intensity of mood swings.
 
 Without meds one can be irritable, confused etc.The other  aspects of the mood swings are all individual .
 
 Before being on my meds I was very afraid of everything .Not a good thing .
 
 With or without Bipolar family issue's are so difficult.

 Really great article .

    Love ,
     Moon

[Hopalong]

The other  aspects of the mood swings are all individual

Thanks for this, Moon. It must be extremely frustrating to have vague assumptions out there about bipolar disorder. Hope I didn't add to them by suggesting this article. I just like Cary's writing...he seems to pay such close attention to those who write in.

I know the basics but need to learn more, now that my niece has been diagnosed. It does make sense that a person's personality is one thing, and the degree/intensity of mood swings is another issue entirely. (BTW, many years ago one doctor, a general practitioner, said he thought I might have "mild bipolar" myself. But since then, every T I've seen just thinks I have anxiety disorder...that's downgraded from panic disorder which greatly affected me in my 20s and 30s.)

((((((Moon)))))) -- you are always so patient!

Hops

[moonlight52]

((((((( Hops )))))))    We are all in this together .I love our teamwork .I am not always patient ,but I try.

But with Bipolar the issue's are different for each person .

all love,
Moon