My Bipolar: A Socio-Historical Perspective, 1963-64
February 10, 2008 by pistolpete
Yesterday a local public radio station paid tribute to Ed Sullivan. It was 44 years ago last night that the Beatles made their American debut on the Ed Sullivan show, with thousands of screaming fans swooning in their presence and countless others infected by the hysteria across the airwaves.
I was developing in my mother’s womb when the Beatles’ appeared on Sullivan, still 4 months from making my worldwide debut. Thinking of this, and knowing how sensitive a child can be in utero, I began to wonder if some strange combination of world events could have triggered my manic-depressive illness.
After doing some research, I found some compelling evidence that this could well have happened.
For your consideration -
In Hollywood, Stanley Kramer’s zany, frenetic film “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” was leading people to have fits of hysterical laughter.
Meanwhile, Stanley Kubrick was showing the world just how funny a nuclear assault leading to total world anihilation could be in “Dr. Stangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”. This would become one of my favorite films as an adult, but as a fetus (not knowing the subtleties of satire), it must have created nothing short of spine-tingling fear.
On the political front, my hope for entering a world filled with expanding peace, justice, and freedom would no doubt have been aroused by the famous March on Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s stirring speech - “I Have a Dream”.
Yet, even as these words were ringing through the air, miles away in another land, a movement to produce freedom for countless citizens would be delivered a crushing blow as Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison.
In the field of literature, one of the most depressing books written by one of the most depressed authors was published - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The book would become a classic. Plath would commit suicide.
To offset Plath’s depression, the world was treated to the wonderfully light yet life-affirming doings of the Peanuts gang, and Charles Schultz would publish Happiness Is a Warm Puppy.
Perhaps the single most traumatic event for my prenatal development occured that fatal day in Dallas, Texas…
Now, I’m not saying the world events between September, 1963 and June, 1964 actually caused my bipolar disorder, but they certainly didn’t help. How any can a child grow up in such a crazy world and not be crazy is beyond me. It’s a wonder we all don’t have more than a little craziness coursing through our veins.
For those who do, of course, 1964 also produced a product to numb the psychic pain…
As an instructor for Developmental Psychology I found this fascinating!!! Not only am I going to do this for myself…..but it will also be a ‘project’ for my next DP class!!
The Pistol fires back: Yeah, I thought it was pretty interesting myself. I learned a lot of stuff I didn’t include. For instance, the Yankees lost to the Dodgers in the World Series, 4 games to none. If that isn’t enough to make you depressed, I don’t know what is.
Over from Danielle’s . . .
Gosh! I was born in 64, too!!! I had NO IDEA!!!
Whew! I actually feel more “normal” now! tehehehehe
(btw - as Danielle knows, NOT making fun at all of bp … my daughter is bp.)
The Pistol fires back: No need to apologize. I find a good bit of humor in bipolarity. It’s good to laugh to keep from crying.
Diazapam makes you feel crap! 1963..i was one years old!
triggers ..who knows? I only got ill 7 years ago age 38 precipitated by a caesarian section..pretty traumatic..never was ill before..
The Pistol fires back:
Yeah, a number of American housewives (and many others) became addicted to Valium as a method of avoiding the world. Basically, they became like zombies. Fortunately, Valium has never been prescribed to me.
I was 30 when I had my first major “episode”, but I had many symptoms prior to that - dating back to childhood.
check out Robbie williams fellow manic-depressive on my blog..
The Pistol fires back: Interesting stuff. I was thinking you’d be writing about Robin Williams, the American comedian, who certainly appears to have Bipolar. I’ve never heard of Robbie Williams. Thanks for cueing me in.
[...] My Bipolar: A Socio-Historical Perspective 1963 - 1964 posted by Pistol Pete from Necessary Therapy [...]
The Pistol fires back: Danielle, you are too, too, too kind. Yup, that just about covers it.