Dear Editor,
Yikes! Perhaps Barbara Judd and Ron Grace sipped a bit too much holiday eggnog before writing “Tis the Season to be Jolly or Bipolar”. That is one of the few explanations that I can think of for their misguided (and misspelled) references to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
The holiday season can certainly cause people to experience an increase in sad or anxious feelings. However, having these feelings does not constitute a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Although this ought to be clear to clinical social workers, it is often confusing to the general public.
Let’s celebrate the holiday spirit by avoiding the use of psychiatric diagnoses in ways that could be hurtful or insulting to the people who struggle with those disorders.
Sincerely,
Gale Organist MD
