Oh, all sorts of people come here to write research papers, so why not?

and the two questions I posited are still valid.  As it seems you are searching for a specific answer, a link between two different things, its only valid to ask which is which.

And the odd bits, well, I think internet forums are good for several different kinds of people, bi-polar people being among those people.

Are TG people more or less likely to be bi-polar?

Less.  Though I think its likely that BP people are more likely to be TG.  In that, I think that GID (however defined) is not a symptom of being BP, but that being TG could well be a symptom of being BP.

In your opinion, is the connection worth noting or is it not strong enough to be considered a trend?

Wouldn't know, as I said I think that BP persons are more than less likely to be heard from on a forum such as this.  But, without both sets of stats, who knows?  And if the second is far above the first, then I'm right, but again, I'm not sure you have any sort of valid 'objective samples' to make any sort of deal - other than personal stories, which depends on who is willing to write them - that would have any sort of claim on the truth, as expressed in numbers, might have it.

There is no such thing as the perfect survey. 

Quote from: Kristen on December 08, 2008, 02:56:09 PM
Oh for heaven's sake!

I should have known better than to turn to the internet because of the quick-to-judge fun police.

The fun police? Oh geeze! Lemme guess, you picked bipolar disorder as your "fun topic" of the day. *laughs*

Well sorry, honey ...this is real life. Some of us have had experience with this disorder, whether they have it personally or family members or work with it professionally. Fun isn't a word that quickly comes to mind.

-Shan

P.S. All of my original criticisms still stand. At the very least, this poll is incapable of being unbiased, in that you did not include a "Sorry babe, I'm just fine really" response in your answers.

Well lets inject some "scientific analysis" into this argument !

Clinically diagnosed manic depression affects 3 - 4% of the population (just Googe it).

This thread has been viewed 170 times and 5 people have ticked the bipolar box ...

5 / 170 x 100 = 2.9 %

So seems about right for the general population ...  ...

Laura x

Quote from: shaniam on December 08, 2008, 04:58:08 PM

Quote from: Kristen on December 08, 2008, 02:56:09 PM
Oh for heaven's sake!

I should have known better than to turn to the internet because of the quick-to-judge fun police.

The fun police? Oh geeze! Lemme guess, you picked bipolar disorder as your "fun topic" of the day. *laughs*

Well sorry, honey ...this is real life. Some of us have had experience with this disorder, whether they have it personally or family members or work with it professionally. Fun isn't a word that quickly comes to mind.

-Shan

P.S. All of my original criticisms still stand. At the very least, this poll is incapable of being unbiased, in that you did not include a "Sorry babe, I'm just fine really" response in your answers.

My poll is imperfect!? That means I am also imperfect.

How will I ever live with myself? ? ? ?

Thank you for another dose of negativity. Feel free to start a poll that will shadow mine in comparison so that I may criticize freely as well. Or at least get off your high horse.

No? I didn't think so.

Why are you so opposed to this? If you really are fine then why do you insist on contributing negatively? Is fun such a dirty word to you?

No, my middle name is fun, really, let's talk about drugs, sex and rock and roll - but for sure, lets talk about sex - but I've known to many people who suffer from BPD to ever think of it as fun.

It was never my intention to play down the seriousness of bipolar as all fun and games, but for me to come under fire for describing MY OWN mania as it is, fun, seems a little pretentious. My mania has a depressive side and causes me other problems as well but it is not near as serious as some of you describe or assume.

Quote from: tekla on December 08, 2008, 05:35:51 PM
No, my middle name is fun, really, let's talk about drugs, sex and rock and roll - but for sure, lets talk about sex - but I've known to many people who suffer from BPD to ever think of it as fun.

Agreed.

Ahh, but there is the rub.  I went to grad school.  A place that seems to attract such people - the worse off they are, the more they are attracted to it.  And it scares me, because I've seen it close up and I really didn't like it.  If only because I'm kinda a control freak myself.

Actually my friends tell me I am more fun to be around when I am "on a high", but no one has ever told me I am too hyper, or irrational, or acting crazy because my mania is so subtle that they don't even notice it. None of my friends know I may have bipolar. That's why I think I won the bipolar "lottery".

See that? I made a euphemism by putting a positive spin on a bad thing. It's fun and I recommend everyone try it. 

Quote from: Kristen on December 08, 2008, 05:58:38 PM
Actually my friends tell me I am more fun to be around when I am "on a high", but no one has ever told me I am too hyper, or irrational, or acting crazy because my mania is so subtle that they don't even notice it. None of my friends know I may have bipolar. That's why I think I won the bipolar "lottery".

See that? I made a euphemism by putting a positive spin on a bad thing. It's fun and I recommend everyone try it. 

Kristen,

As the person who threw the first stone, even if it was a pebble, I'm sorry if I offended you. However, I felt it was important balance your statement that "the manic phase feels wonderful" with an opinion "from the other side." I know full well that mania feels fantastic to a bipolar person! That's why the disease is so hard to treat.

Yes, a slightly manic person can be fun to be around. Particularly if you don't have to live with them, and you can split when they go over the top. I have no doubt that some of your friends tell you you're more fun to be around when you're on a high. However, remember that friends who feel the other way probably won't tell you. They'll either keep quiet, or just go away.

As for the original poll, if your goal is to get some idea of how many people on this forum are bipolar, I think you'll get a more accurate sample if you add an "I'm not bipolar" option. I believe it's not too late; I think you can add options later.

For the most depressed people some kind of hypomania may feel wonderfull. After years of depression I might have some hypomanic periods. They are very short so I am not diagnosable bipolar. Even type 2 would need more constant and longer feelings. And i usually do not feel very good when I am hypomanic.

My depressive feelings are at worst in the level of psychotic depression. They are the most terrible feelings of course. And  I do NOT tell anything in gender clinic. I have got so good results with over year hormone therapy that I do not want that they take my hormons away. And now I am getting my surgery recomendations. I felt much better when I got first. Now I am waiting second but i must go to another gender clinic to get it.

Personality disorders are grossly over diagnosed.  If you aren't one of the sheeple, you've got PD.  GID is commonly misdiagnosed as a PD, commonly BPD. 

If these diagnoses were legit, why is it nearly universal that people's symptoms completely disappear post transition?

Quote from: MarySue on December 09, 2008, 10:55:35 AM
Kristen,

As the person who threw the first stone, even if it was a pebble, I'm sorry if I offended you. However, I felt it was important balance your statement that "the manic phase feels wonderful" with an opinion "from the other side." I know full well that mania feels fantastic to a bipolar person! That's why the disease is so hard to treat.

Yes, a slightly manic person can be fun to be around. Particularly if you don't have to live with them, and you can split when they go over the top. I have no doubt that some of your friends tell you you're more fun to be around when you're on a high. However, remember that friends who feel the other way probably won't tell you. They'll either keep quiet, or just go away.

As for the original poll, if your goal is to get some idea of how many people on this forum are bipolar, I think you'll get a more accurate sample if you add an "I'm not bipolar" option. I believe it's not too late; I think you can add options later.

Thanks for the honest and friendly response MarySue. That seems to be uncommon here.

I did not include that option because I am more concerned about the levels of mania and depression among people who DO have (or think they display symptoms of) bipolar disorder. I already know that depression will score high, since people without BPD experience it, and I am curious how the other options will measure up to my expectations.

Looking back on my original post, the poll itself has little to do with some of the other questions I asked. I know it's not perfect but is it really that flawed to not be included? (This is a rhetorical question)

(Friendly heads-up) When starting a new topic, I prefer to ask many questions and widen the target audience so that everybody may have a chance to contribute. I still fail to see why people want to be so difficult over something so small. Perhaps I was wrong to think that this forum could be a place to discuss ourselves but instead, am finding out it is a place where I am scrutinized and TOLD how to behave and speak to others.

I'm not upset, just disappointed.

Quote from: Mister on December 09, 2008, 01:35:03 PM
Personality disorders are grossly over diagnosed.  If you aren't one of the sheeple, you've got PD.  GID is commonly misdiagnosed as a PD, commonly BPD. 

If these diagnoses were legit, why is it nearly universal that people's symptoms completely disappear post transition?

To be honest I have been diagnosed a personality disorder (Not borderline, or antisocial ). But doctors see GID and that after long time a different issue. I have also diagnose of mid-severe to severe depressive periods in my papers at the gender clinic. However I am still moving forward towards surgery.