Life Expectancy

With Patty Duke (Actress and Bipolar advocate) passing away at a relatively young age of 69, I couldn't believe it.

I did some research by searching Google and the studies found that Bipolar is linked with a life expectancy decrease of between 9-20 years.

I just feel defeated that I try to take care of myself & the long term outcomes aren't that great.

In some ways, knowing that my life expectancy is lower encourages me to take better care of myself. But it's hard to accept.

Don't forget that 10-25% of people with bipolar commit suicide. That lowers the age range statistically on its' own. That doesn't competely account for the difference but it is a part of it.

What do you want to last for if you're not living.
It's not the time you're here. It's about the way you live.
I will trade happily my 66 yrs for Elvis 44.
There's an indian in Peru that has been plowing the land for 117 years.
Which one do you prefer?.

I knew the expectancy long ago. And emphysema has a comorbity also.
My life expectancy is 68.9 years. I'm 66.8. But will die happy. I've lived three lives in one. I made it count. That's what is all about. Make it count.

Two women in my life I grew up around both had bipolar disorder and both lived into their 80's, so . . . I'm not too worried about it.

I found this article about this which, besides suicide, noted comorbity of COPD, diabetes, and heart disease due to often poor health care, smoking, other substance misuse, and obesity in patients with bipolar disorder.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807988

I don't smoke, rarely drink, don't use illicit substances. I'm a bit overweight, but not on the obese side (and that has nothing to do with bipolar disorder for me -- I just enjoy eating and hate exercising -- both factors I could completely change if so inclined.)

Another article mentioned the discrepancy gets smaller the older the bipolar patient which confirms what I saw in my women friends growing up:

Lower Life Expectancy in Patients with Bipolar Disorder

I think it's important to know the actual cause(s) behind the lifespan decrease. BeyondtheRainbow hit it right on the head.

This is golden, inspiring even. I've wanted to travel for some time and once I get my first car I'm going to go on a big road trip.

69 is not a young age (at least how i see it)
never want to live that long

What do you want to last for if you're not living.

i always ask myself that, and can never come up with the answer
i put it down to not wanting to miss out on basic rights- breathing clean air, eating fruit, listening to music, feeling the cold air on your skin.. basic things that seem so trivial now, but when you put it in to perspective..

People with SZ have a higher life expectancy, despite a generally lower socioeconomic status (which is a very important factor, though many want to sweep that under the rug). Risk-aversive behaviour develops.

Some of that risk-aversion is good, too much of it isn't, I'd say.

It's just taking risks. Addictive personality of sorts.

Exception might be a strong desire to do something, achieve something, but a fear for risk. BP depression can be like that, especially post-mania, I believe. Those with BP-II may behave like this for longer periods. Taking fewer risks might be what distinguishes hypomania from mania.

Pirilin...Magnificent! Thank you sending me off into the day with that.

Yep

If you read the fine print, the statistic includes suicide and drug use. It assumes that the average BP person will either do drugs or commit suicide.

I'm sure people with MDD, dysthymia, Mood Disorder NOS, etc. are the same.

It's nothing to be worried about.

Maybe Patty Duke died early for non-BP reasons. Remember, life expectancy is an average. There will be people who die before the expectancy and people who die after it.

i have a strong desire to do something.

and that is to look back on my life and say.. hey, i did 1 thing i'm proud of. i may not have met the queen, or starred in a movie, but i certainly want to be content at least once in my life

but being content is hard.. especially when you don't know what will make you content

If the statistics are to be believed, I probably wouldn't be here. People in my family generally live only into their 60s, or if they make it longer than that, they develop dementia. I've long believed I'll make it to 70, so if you subtract 20 years from that I'd have taken a dirt nap years ago. I don't worry about it much.

Don't forget the drugs they put you on and claim you absolutely need to be on them wreck your organs, wreck your metabolism and wreck your brain in some cases (APs). So if they are not working for you, it might be worth considering exploring other paths. If you feel they work for you then well... quality over quantity.