Lisa Turtle Is Bipolar, So Says Her Mom

Mental illness is still frowned upon in our society? Shit you know how many depressed motherfuckers have been walking around this past decade because they can't find jobs, move out their mama's house... oops I'm talking about myself. I do have a therapist to talk to when shit gets overwhelming.

Anyway it is up to the individual to realize that they have a problem, poor Lark is still indenial. Hopefully she'll get the help she needs soon.

Yes. It's screech's fault. For being a dick on reality tv. And doing a porno film.

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"Dammit, Pam, I've seen that, and now I can't unsee it. There's not enough liquor or therapy in the world to help me forget that..." - Archer

I'm a psychiatrist so was naturally drawn to this article having grown up in the 80's 90's. I was at first disappointed with the tone of this "article" then was extremely pleasantly surprised by the compassionate posts that came after it.

So many people don't seek the help they need and even when they do they don't actually get the help they need. It seems like Ms. Voorhies is no exception.

Just a bit of friendly psychoeducation though. It is not rare for someone with Bipolar I to experience hallucinations and become extremely disorganized when in the midst of a full-blown manic episode. This can appear very similar to someone in the midst of a psychotic episode you would see in schizophrenia as well. This is why seeing a professional who will do a complete history to make a careful diagnosis is so important because treatments for these two illnesses vary greatly.

Shout of support to those that struggle with their own mental illness. Depending on your state, free psychiatric care is out there but finding it is not always easy. Make sure you look closely for treatment in your area. If it seems like no options are out there then call your state representative/senator/lawmaker and let them know. Too many suffer without appropriate treatment.

I have two ex boyfriends with bipolar. When I hear that someone has died from suicide now and if it comes up in conversation, I say that person "died from depression" not that that person killed (murdered) themselves. It is about increasing awareness of a VERY deadly disease, not the manner of death.

Submitted by literarylioness on Thu, 10/04/2012 - 10:07am.
I think there are a lot of people with undiagnosed mental illness, especially depression. If a person is self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, then it's even harder to diagnoss.

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I'm willing to bet at least 3/4 of the people in my office are depressed. We live in a fucked up society where you spend most of your life in a place you don't want to be (work) and are expected to medicate with TV at the end of the day. People are designed to be outside hunting and gathering, not inside under flourescent lights pretending everything is normal.
Depression is a given.

I think there are a lot of people with undiagnosed mental illness, especially depression. If a person is self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, then it's even harder to diagnoss.

Hearing voices I thought that was Schizophrenia. I thought bi polor was extreme high & low mood swings. I feel bad for her. We had a kid in our class last year(K) who heard voices and he was all sorts of a mess in class. The meds were so strong he would sleep 1/2 the morning.

:(

Mental illness is such a bitch. And what's worse is that we don't understand the brain like we do other organs (because it is the most complicated of them all) so treatments are lacking, and many assume that mental illness isn't real, or doesn't have a biological cause, or is simply a sign of weakness. Drives me nuts. If someone has hypertension, or some sort of kidney disorder, etc. one can get treatment and not be shunned or discriminated against. If it's the brain that is afflicted, that person is shunned. very very sad. BPD runs in my family and we've had two suicides and a whole lot of addiction problems. We lost my uncle a few years back, an incredibly good looking, smart and gentle soul who battled demons for so long (ended up dropping out of college and homeless for periods of time where no one knew where he was). I hope she gets help. Why is her mother talking about this is beyond me, but perhaps she's feeling desperate as many family members do.

Poor Lark. : (

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The poster formerly known as SnowOwl, formerly known as Nightowl!

This is so sad, I hope she gets the help she needs. Mental illness sucks, plain and simple. Almost every other disease will elicit sympathy for those afflicted with it, but not MI. Sufferers are told to snap out of it - yeah sure, because an illness which can cause someone to see and hear things which aren't there, try to kill themself and/or become immobilized with fear to the point of not leaving their house, is really just a matter of willpower. Maybe someday this country will finally become educated.

The problem is that there is true mental illness and then there's people who just need to get a life and stop with the drama.

Diseases like hypertension and diabetes are quantifiable. There is concrete evidence that there's a problem. Unfortunately that doesn't exist for mental illness. It's very sad.

I struggle with depression (came very close to a suicide attempt in February)n. BP and manic depression is in my family, too - Grandmother, mmther and sister. It's not fun, and it sure as Hell wasn't fun growing up around it! It's disgusting the way this country treats those with mental illnes. There is pretty much zero support for them. Downright shameful.

poor wounded bird :-(

strength to those suffering and to those who are there for them

My heart goes out to her.

And depression is real and an illness. It took such a hold on me once that I was reclusive and lost 40 lbs in two months. I felt physically ill and helpless. I took a medical leave from work which was covered by FMLA while I got better. While I've had another episode since then it wasnt as strong as I recognized the onset and got help. I'm sick of ppl telling those of us who are clinically depressed that we just need to get it together. I hope those suffering mental illness are receiving the help they need.

super-ette -- thanks for being so understanding. Some people, unfortunately, think that people with mental illness are just crazy, though. I've always been open about my illness. My illness doesn't make me stupid or anything, just different.

CashewTime -- I'm so glad I've found Seroquel (with a Celexa chaser), it works wonderfully for the bp2, well at least it does for me; it's actually saved my life. But for those who haven't found their medication mental illness can be hell.

For all those suffering...just think of it this way: your brain is an organ like your heart or lungs....except a problem with your brain can impact your perception of the world and your place in it. A problem with your heart has less stigma, but depression etc. should not carry a stigma. It's a chemical issue in a vital organ and needs treatment.

It's true that crazies attract each other. Right before I was diagnosed with type 2 bp, I had been dating a type 1, and without knowing much about manic depression, I would always say I was a milder version of him lol, though it's not that simpler for one vs two, and type two has a higher rate of suicide because the down periods are so long. I'm one of the lucky few who was able to titrate her meds pretty quickly, but I feel blah sometimes and at not even 30 I feel like I've lost so many potential careers. One night of no sleep or one day of to much caffeine and I'm a hot mess. Blech, I feel sad for lark. She has such a spark. So did my ex, who barely left his room for years, and one day he found out he might be epileptic instead, and that made me hopeful for myself lol!

oh, poor lark. I'm so sad to hear she's struggling with mental illness.

and my heart goes out to all of you who are battling your own challenges, or have family with illnesses. I suffer from depression, and everyday is an uphill battle to overcome.

Mumbling aka silently remembering out loud which mall stores have the best discounts!!

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Submitted by stinkbutt on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 5:47pm.
suckandfuck, do us all a favor, and hang yourself. Oh, and your parents should be shot for raising a disgusting pig like yourself.

I am so sad to hear that many of you are battling mental illness. I am as well. I battle severe major depression, bipolar II disorder and severe anxiety. And to one of our readers who said that it was my armchair diagnosis of myself, suck it. I've been depressed since childhood and these problems caused me to lose an extremely successful career. I am on great medications to help me, but each day is a battle to get through. And due to changes in the healthcare system, I used to get free therapy but now they're forcing me to pay $120 per session, which is forcing me to barely have any sessions, which is really fucking with my head & mental health. Hugs to all of you who are battling mental illness & a special prayer for Lark. I do suspect schizophrenia.

My brother has battled this for 13 years and he still can't come to grips with his disease and has gone missing, homeless and jailed in that time period.

Right now he is in a hospital and once he gets out, he will go for daily trips to out patient care to be compliant. He has burned his bridges where he lives and another incident will land him in the hospital for life.

I feel for Lark. It's a vicious disease. Robs you of your life if you don't stay compliant.

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Brevity may be the soul of wit, but to twit without wit is soulless -- Johanne Savoie

Hugs to you, Bizarrelife. I'm in therapy as well, and in between meds because Prozac gave me chest pains.

BF takes meds too but he also self-medicates.

*sigh* Mental illness is fucking awful, and I feel for anyone who has to deal with it, directly or indirectly.

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Time cast a spell on you but
You won't forget me
I know I could have loved you but
You would not let me
-Fleetwood Mac

Thanks for the info., sweetie. That actually helps me because my niece has bipolar disorder. Now, I can understand it a little bit better.

I agree - we do seek out those who understand. My boyfriend has a problem with depression, and he treats it with therapy and medication. He is doing so well...I am really proud of him. He actually has a little scar on his arm of where he injured himself when he was cutting. I am so grateful he is OK. Now, I just want to get to a place where I am OK! The depression has been bad lately, with work and health issues. I am getting there.

We should all go home and truly tell our loved ones that we really care. It sounds so corny, but I try to do it all the time.

Jesus, this makes me so, so sad. I'll echo what others have said - schizophrenia. I work in mental health and these are some of the hallmarks: hallucinations, isolation/withdrawal, etc. Granted, there are treatments and there are some with that diagnosis who are relatively high functioning. Still, it's devastating on so many levels, for both her and the family. The stigma, especially, is so tough. She is not crazy, she's suffering.

You know, that rings true, people with mental issues being drawn to each other. I suffer from depression. My ex is bipolar and my bf suffers from severe anxiety. Maybe it's the feeling that someone understands.

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Time cast a spell on you but
You won't forget me
I know I could have loved you but
You would not let me
-Fleetwood Mac

I'm a psychiatrist and though I obviously haven't evaluated her, it does sound like she has schizoaffective disorder. There are 2 types (bipolar type vs depressive type) and it sounds likes she has the bipolar type. That being said when acutely manic, a person with bipolar DO can hear voices and appear psychotic. For the people who say depression or other mental illness is "simple" and ppl need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, consider yourself blessed that you haven't had to deal with mental illness either yourself or with a loved one. I think she would benefit from both regular therapy AND medication, but she is already more fortunate than some for having the support of her mother.

That does not sound like bi polar. I'm very sorry for her.

Thanks, diquoi. It's daunting, but we are all moving through.

I wish you, and everyone here on the D (plus family) all the best. Massive hugs to all!

I hope she gets the help she needs. Living with mental illness is a bitch. I finally got help for mine. Sadly, mine was a case of knowing something was wrong with me and not being able to get a doctor to see it.

My heart goes out to her. Fuck, I'm tearing up right now. Mental illnesses (and yes, depression IS a mental illness.) are just...soul crushing. I don't know how else to put it. I hope that she finds the help she needs.

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Time cast a spell on you but
You won't forget me
I know I could have loved you but
You would not let me
-Fleetwood Mac

Submitted by Bizzarelife on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 5:37pm.
Yeah, it does seem like they tend to gravitate towards each other (people with mental issues). I can completely understand this. I have anxiety issues and am frequently in a state of panic. I control it through therapy, which I am actually going to tonight. I get very dark moods, with depression. I know it is not nearly as bad as bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, but I can see how hopeless the situation may seem.

I have a touch of the PPD myself. I'm trying to manage it without medication, because it feels better just knowing what it is. I feel you. I wish you health.

I work Per Diem in a psych unit as a nurse.

"People had to interview Lark twice, because the first time they talked to her she stopped talking mid-sentence, stared blankly into nothing and mumbled to herself and imaginary people."

That is not bipolar. That is Schizophrenia and she needs medication immediately to prevent command hallucinations. It's sad. I STILL watch SBTB.

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"I'll rip your tongue out of your mouth...and lick my balls with it!"

damn. I always liked Lisa Turtle. I hope she gets back on track.

Mental illness is a fucking bitch.

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Submitted by P.T.Bull on Tue, 09/25/2012 - 10:33pm.

"This bitch is crazier than a pillowcase full of clear-level scientologist possums."

Mental illness is incredibly tough, especially when someone doesn't want to use the therapies and resources offered them. Meds can only do so much.

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If I see something I haven't seen before, I'll throw a dollar at it.

I don't know her, but it might be a "simple" depression (watched the video for a bit and she seemed quite normal) and to me depression is no mental illness, it's just the way you feel how the world is and let's face it: most humans are assholes - if you can't live with that, you become depressed and people push you into the bipolar depressive corner. I don't think I will ever again admit that I am depressed or fear to have some other "mental" issues as from that point on you gamble for your health with everyone responsible for you.
And I'm pretty sure if all people would be tested for a bipolar disorder at least half of the population would be diagnosed to have it.

I agree with some of the folks here... I'm thinking more schizophrenia.

I knew someone close who had that condition. Knew him in high school. Very bright, personable, the original "nerd" type. He went to college and it went downhill from there. I remember I would go to his house (his sister was my best friend at the time) and the look in his eyes, scare the shit outta me. Sadly, his mother was in denial of his condition- said all he needed was a job to keep him focused (yeah, this family had a lot of mental issues). Sadly, he committed suicide at the age of 24.

From the mother's description, Lark started going down in her late teens/early 20s, the age schizophrenia begins to show its ugly head in many cases. The voices, the staying alone, the inability to come out of a state points to schizophrenia. This is very serious and I can only hope she gets the help she desperately needs.

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Grow up, Demi, and do coke off toilet seats like the rest of us adults do!- Michael K, 1/26/12

Submitted by misslainey on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 5:38pm.
Submitted by agirl on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 5:20pm.

Sounds like schizoaffective disorder. My daughter has that. Poor Lisa. It really is sad. Hope she gets treatment; that's the only chance she's got.

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Hi Miss Lainey I am sorry to hear about your daughter. It is a struggle for the individual and his/her loved ones.

That is so sad.

I know Michael K is being tongue in cheek because you would think that these kids would be happy and successful in adulthood after success as children and young adults. But mental illness hits so many people. Even Britney lost it, but at least she got help, I guess.

I hope Lark gets the help she needs and she's open to it. I've dealt with many mentally ill people and it is scary stuff. Especially when they put the religion spin on it...

As I always say, there, for the grace of God, go I....
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Grow up, Demi, and do coke off toilet seats like the rest of us adults do!- Michael K, 1/26/12

((Cowjam))

This is a really sad story. I hope Lark gets the help she needs. Mental illness is no joke.

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No escapin' when I start
Once I'm in, I own your heart.

What is really sad is that mental illness is still so misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. Even when patients want help it is often difficult to get the right medicine or therapy. I read on another site about a patient who moved to another state and couldn't get insurance because she had a previous episode with anxiety in her teenage years. Hugs for everyone here dealing with it their life.

Cowjam: hang in there. I can't even imagine what you've been through. Plus, everyone looks at YOU because you're the mother. Ugh.

I just hate when people blame the family. Would anyone say to a child "Hey, little girl, why can't you get your daddy to stop drinking?". It's the same thing.

Sad, so many of us grew up with her. I hope she gets the help she needs...so many sad cases.

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...the end

Submitted by agirl on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 5:20pm.

Sounds like schizoaffective disorder. My daughter has that. Poor Lisa. It really is sad. Hope she gets treatment; that's the only chance she's got.

funny you should say that...she was engaged to Martin Lawrence.

anyway best of luck to everyone dealing with mental issues...especially that bipolar disorder. :)

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Yeah, it does seem like they tend to gravitate towards each other (people with mental issues). I can completely understand this. I have anxiety issues and am frequently in a state of panic. I control it through therapy, which I am actually going to tonight. I get very dark moods, with depression. I know it is not nearly as bad as bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, but I can see how hopeless the situation may seem.

Can't imagine having to deal with something like this out in the public. And she doesn't even benefit from it because she isn't working.

Many people who have bipolar, don't know that they have it. Thats partly because of the way the bipolar brain works. It's good at forgetting the bad times and remembering the good. Forgetting the crazy part of mania and only remembering the part that felt so good.

The longer it goes untreated, the more it damages the brain. :(

POOOHTEEEE!

Sads. Get help, Lisa girl!

Hugs to all the Dlisted fam'ly.

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What the fuck dude? And being European is NOT an excuse. - IHateCharityChic 05/10/2012

Very sad, esp. if she is behaving this way and really believes she is not sick.

I have a friend who is bipolar and it is awful. He lost his job of 10+ years because of it. Multiple suicide attempts. The voices though make me think she might have schizophrenia going on too.

So sorry for all the D-listers that are dealing with mental issues.

I know it's no comparison to the sufferers, but speaking from the side-lines as a relative of someone with borderline personality disorder, its holy hell for the family members. Who needs a carnival when the circus is always in town.

Submitted by Bizzarelife on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 5:12pm.
My one friend from childhood had schizophrenia. She was a MESS. Then, she married a guy with schizophrenia!

funny you should say that...she was engaged to Martin Lawrence.

anyway best of luck to everyone dealing with mental issues...especially that bipolar disorder. :)

Thank you, M.E.