continued from #4460 halachic status of A.D.D. & hypomanic bipolar

Dear Rav Halprin,

Thank you ever so much for your lovely email.

I will reply on a point by point basis following your scheme below.

1. Thank you, I am extremely grateful.

2. This is true, although at this time I have considered the problem to be biochemically problematical, rather than related to the skill and efforts of my psychiatrist. His treatment has resulted in my youngest daughter's bipolar condition becoming effectively asymptomatic, and her ADD has also improved.

3. Any assistance leading to a frequent, substantial, improvement of my mood; engendering a desire to live and to enjoy life would be welcome indeed!

4. (a) My psychiatrist is Dr Paul Melvin Bindleglass: Distinguished Life Member of the American Board of Psychiatrists. My opinion is that he appears to have maintained the currency of psychiatric knowledge, which I believe was missing in 2 of my previous doctors. He is additionally open and friendly, and does not use the discomforting 'psychiatrist's silent stare'.

4. (b) I am indeed aware of the probable effect on my family. It is only due to my very love deep for them, and most especially for my wife, that I have been able to restrain myself. However when I get more depressed, I can find all sorts of justifications, e.g. "They would not be any worse off than if I died in a car crash". When I reach 'rock bottom', I can scarcely think at all, curled up in a ball on my bed, feeling only crushing agony. I can only speculate how, when at that sub-human level, I continue to live. Even when on a so-called 'high' as now, I remain quite jealous of a woman I knew who successfully suicided.

5. From whom should I get the precise information you need?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help.

Sincerely,

Ya'akov