Articles
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Patterns of Family Caring:
Help that Helps – Help
that Hurts
Loren Crabtree, MD
Medical Director and Co-founder, Project Transition
This has consistently been one of the most popular topics in Project Transition’s
family seminar series. The act of helping is a natural expression of caring
and involvement. As a person struggles with persistent psychiatric problems,
family members may find themselves giving help in ways that solve problems.
Over time, however, these same acts may quietly foster dependency on the
family. We call this pattern of caring Help that Hurts. The “hurt” is
the consequences of exclusive reliance on family members: the reinforcement
of the person’s lifestyle impairment, as well as the disappearance
of his/her relationships beyond the family. The good news is that a better
helping approach is within reach. Known as Help that Helps, this response
encourages self-management, relationships, and growth. This article considers
the reasons and implications of these different patterns of caring, and provides
useful, practical guidelines for practicing
Help that Helps.
Meds are Not Enough
Jack Gomberg, MD, FAPA
Medical Director, Project Transition (Chestnut Hill)
This interview explores the pros and cons of the conventional Western medical model, the mind-body connection, the role of psychiatric medication, and elements of healing related to the treatment and self-management of psychiatric difficulties. The article also addresses our tendency to embrace a singular solution to emotional and behavioral problems that respond more favorably to systemic, integrative interventions. The benefits of lifestyle modification are emphasized, including exercise, diet, meditation, spirituality, and more. This article was originally published in The Compass, the periodical of New Directions, a support and advocacy group in southeastern Pennsylvania for persons with depression and Bipolar Disorder.
Illness or Opportunity? The Many Faces of Bipolar Disorder
Loren Crabtree, MD
Medical Director and Co-founder, Project Transition
When a person is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, years of turmoil may pass before he or she engages with the challenges and benefits of recovery. Written for persons with this diagnosis and their family members, this article explores the implications of the term “Bipolar Disorder” in contrast to an alternative construct, “multipolar temperament and multipolar disorder”. “Multipolar” is proposed as a more accurate and useful descriptor of underlying traits that account for multiple poles of excesses – both positive and negative – that span emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Existing prior to, during, and following the illness phase (which may include psychosis), this multipolar base temperament includes intensities that may feature high-end competencies, energies, and creativity. “Multipolar” emphasizes the preservation and valuing of these native excellences, as well as their mobilization in support of symptom management, restoration, and recovery.