Ever since my bipolar dx, I have educated myself tremendously on the disease. Prior to my dx, bipolar was only a word to me. I knew nothing about it. I had been previously teated for severe depression twice, so I did know a little about it. I still read to obtain more knowledge for support and help to cope, especially when I get to worrying about the future.

I was just reading something discussing these diseases and if chemical imbalances are real or just myth. The author had spoken with some doctors and clients for their opinions. He spoke with one particular person, who had no current mental illness, about the price of the drug Abilify and how much Medicare/Medicaid pays per prescription for it to be subsidized for Medicare/Medicaid recipients. The person said for the price that Medicare pays per prescription, Medicare should, or at least he would, go buy a new car.

I dwelled on that for a spell. I have been wanting a newer truck than my existing one, which I bought brand new many years ago. The clear coat is now peeling, so it's not all shiny as it once was and I was a fanatic (ocd) and cleaned and waxed it religiously. Anyway, long story short, I do know that if I buy a newer one, it just starts the same process all over again of delapidating every day it gets older. So it would only provide temporary happiness just like the one before it, the one before that one, and so on. It definitely won't "fix" my unhappy brain. Now I don't take Abilify, so this is not an advert for it's usuage. What I'm saying is that in the long run, a medicine is cheaper than car payment, insurance, tires, brake pads/shoes, oil, air filters, tranny service, coil packs, spark plugs, o2 sensors, etc. and etc.

My real point is I think I lean towards the fact that maybe I really do have a malfunctiong cerebrum due to chemical imbalances. After all, through the years, the more chemicals it got fed, the better it felt and seemed to function, especially the ones that made it forget why it was miserable to begin with.

What do ya'll think? Are chemical imbalances real or myths?

[Ocean Swimmer]

I have a thread going on this very subject. Also read Mad in America for the other side of the story.