Life expectancy of those afflicted with Bipolar Disorder

Over the years I have heard that there is a decreased life expectancy of those with BD. What was never made clear was, what effected this. Is it that something metabolical happens or is the average weighted because of the incidence of suicide? Just curious.

I do believe it is a suicidal cause. I think that the statistic is something like 30% of people with un-treated bipolar succeed at suicide, or the suicide success rate among people with bipolar is 30% higher than the not-bipolar population. Or something like that. I know 30% is the number, though.

The thing to remember about suicidal thoughts is that they are a symptom, not an illness. Suicidal thoughts are like a fever. The fever isn't the illness, it's the sign of illness. But you can still die from the fever itself it is too high or too long. Suicidal thoughts can be stopped, they are temporary, and are the big red warning sign to get help.

Despite not being in treatment now, I have learned to battle them. I have been through hell learning how to fight the war, but I have come to a place where I do not have them any more. This is a huge accomplishment for me. I used to have them constantly. Anythign bad happened, I would think suicidal thoughts. Even when things were good, they would come up. But, at the same time, I remain vigilant against them. I know they can creep up from behind. I am a huge advocate against suicide because I have been in that dark hole for most of my life. I know they can be fought, I know they can be overcome, I know they are the lie in your head. I also know they are incredibly dangerous and I do not take it lightly when people threaten.

And I do not take it lightly when people actually do use it to "get attention" because of them, those of us who struggle with real suicidal thoughts get 0 help from anyone. There is that stupid, "If you were really going to commit suicide you wouldn't tell anyone." What does that tell someone? That if in your last ditch effort you confess, and they say that to you? That's light going up to someone and saying, "I've been shot." And they say, "You're just trying to get attention. If you were really shot you would just go to the ER."

One of my friends in high school, her brother isn't here today because of that attitude of the world. So, I'm a huge advocate for helping people regardless of their intent. I don't take it lightly. If you tell me you're on the edge, I will try to talk you down.

What did I say that precipitated a lecture on suicide? If my life was to be shortened then I want to know the cause. If there is 30% chance I will die by my own hand, if I am untreated, than I have but one more reason to stay treated. I thought I could get information here.

Vigo... dark_heart is being kind and innocent in answering your post. Any thread started is an invitation for discussion, yes no?

I would assume the reason for shortened lifespan to be suicide... I have no studies to sight. but what if it's toxicity from all the meds... or the stress levels we experience... or the higher instances we're in hospitals exposed to germs... or hypersexuality leading to too many orgasms and heart attack. I would like to know too.

leading to many orgasm.. umm that may just be worth dying for lol J/K!!! I don't know about those studies but there's nothing that can't be found by googling it

heavy duty topic!

....it depends on the person....the experience the personal 'ideas' of the experience.

lots can happen to encourage and equally discourage!

everyone has a limit a breaking point sometimes the experience of mental illness will mis-guide one into suicide.

I broke down long enough and often enough to need my life saved for me!

and thats pretty full on! patch me up thanks sorry about all the blood!

bipolar can and will 'afflict' as you have chosen the word but it's not necessarily a condition the 'afflicted' is aware of at the time.

A knowledgeable Bipolar human will avoid most things that cause a real threat

Oh, I wasn't lecturing. Sorry to give that impression. I was just giving you facts. Because suicide is a completely misunderstood thing. And 98% of all people will not care if you tell them you're considering suicide. So, I was just giving you facts to have that you can use to fight your own battle. We all deserve to have these tools at our disposal.

I am very passionate about keeping people all alive is all.

Here's an article from PC itself on this topic, writen by an MD.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07...ess/15502.html

That is not the point. The post had nothing to do with suicide other than a cause of death. BlueInanna listed a number of concerns for potential life threatening factors. I will read the article.

I am disillusioned with the BD community, having tried to have an intelligent discussion on BD mortality and when suicide mentioned there is an immediate jump away from the subject. So whether there ever is such a discussion , for the record my position is as follows.

I reserve the right to my life. You nor anyone else has the right to interfere with any decision I make regarding the continuation thereof. Your morality does not supersede mine. To do so is meddling at best, a moral crime at worse.

vigs bro.....

can you expect to approach bipolar and life expectancy and omit suicide?

come on!

it seems not many responses meet your approval much like you just like to throw something out there and then enjoy challenging whatever comes your way.

I don't see this helping anybody I don't want to tiptoe around you and I won't

Everyone is allowed to have their own interpretation on the subject. To her, it triggered that type of response. I think that is understandable. Don't feel disillusioned by it because it might not be the favorite topic among bipolars. Information is power and the more we know the better, however people don't always want to know their mortality rate.

pretty much. Plus we don't always live the most healthiest.

I didnt look at that article yet. But I remember reading about one factor with bipolar being heart conditions linked to stress. And another being people with mental illness in general not accessing or not having access to proper medical care.

I didn't read the article either but I too think its the high rate of suicide.

I dont know if any of you have had the pleasure of going to your Dr or even a specialist and having your physical symptoms written off as 'its in your head', because they know you are mentally ill. I have had this happen many times for the exact same symptoms until finally someone took me seriously. The condition left alone causes a huge increase in getting colon cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses. Perhaps thats a factor.

Also Lithium can have long term side effects on your kidneys and thyroid.

I'm sorry I'm lost, what condition left alone increases Colon Cancer?

As I understand it, our lowered life expectancy is due to several factors, as mentioned in previous posts. We're more likely than the average person to commit suicide; we are prone to stress and thus more likely to suffer cardiogenic illnesses such as congestive heart failure and heart attacks; and we are more likely to have metabolic syndrome, which predisposes us to diabetes.....and we all know what diabetes can do to a person.

Our meds also can be toxic to our livers and kidneys AND contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome/diabetes. There is a shortage of qualified psychiatrists---in my area alone, we have 4 for a population of well over 100,000 people. That means unless you're acutely ill, you can't get in to see one of them for an average of six months. On top of all that is the fact that many go untreated because they are without jobs and health insurance, and yet not sick enough to be eligible for disability and Medicare/Medicaid. Add all these factors together and it's no wonder we're statistically at higher risk of premature death than the general population.

does medicaid covers mental health?

K, so since I'm an unintelligant and worthly piece of crap, I'll not bother you any more. Have a nice day. I just gave you actual facts. FACTS. And the next time you hear about a kid blowing their brains out in front of their neighbors, just remember that it's good that nobody meddled, it would have been morrally wrong.

KTHNXBY

Celiac disease, its linked to an increase in various intestinal cancers and also lymphoma, amoungst other illnesses. It's easily treated, but sometimes hard to detect. I literally was told it was in my head, other times I was told it was food aversion. When a dr finally listened to me, he went back over all my blood tests through the years and found the problem.

But my point is that some dr's will write off your physical symptoms as a mental problem if you have a previous history of mental illness, and more so if they are failing to detect the problem. I should add that this wasn't a few months of seeing dr's for the same problem. It was actively trying to find an answer from them for roughly 6 years.

I never called you names, questioned or impugned your intelligence, or your right to do whatever you feel compelled to do in intervening in another's life. I just set the parameters for mine. I would never interfere with a person self euthanizing themselves, nor would I assist. It would be their choice and they would be on their own.

Disgusting.

In my state it does.

I feel a lot of people when sick, whether it be mentally or physically, can not think about the repercussions of there actions. Some bp's deal with repairing those damages from mania after not realizing consequences. Euthanasia tears not only the family apart but also the people that have to support them. So for the MH of all some have to suffer. It sucks but is reality.

As for why we have a shorter life expectancy. We arn't taken seriously with medical problems. We have more medical problems and our meds that keep us alive are harsh on our bodies.

So you are saying that one with a mental health issue is obliged to suffer so their friends and family do not (and selfishly I must ad)have too? I am sorry, I think not. Personally I am not going to stay alive for anybody's sake. That is the most illogical thing I have heard. Grief is a selfish emotion and I am not going to live a life of torment so someone else is spared a tear.

Selfish, on my part, yes, but I have to live with the disorder and they don't. Addressing my health as I see fit is my responsibility. I can't make decisions based on how it affects others. They are not fighting it, I am.