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Fish
Feb-16-2006, 19:11 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

I have gotten the impression that perhaps Paul is bipolar.
I say this only after reading two full length hard-copy bigraphies and countless internet biographies, not to mention being well-versed on the subject of manic-depression.

I have been a die hard fan of his since the age of 12, and this post is in no way intended to be an insult toward him. This is purely speculation.

After hearing songs like "Sounds Of Silence" ("Hello darkness, my Old friend..."), "I Am A Rock" (Expressed feelings of alienation and anti-social behavior consistant with bipolar), and "Feeling Groovy" (Simon traced the origin of the song back to riding his bike across a bridge and being hit with a sudden wave of euphoria and happiness, which a psychologist would call a manic episode)I realized there was a correlation between the man, his music, and the condition.

I won´t link anything, but you can wikipedia it if you would like.

This is just an observation. I Love the music, and I don´t mean to slam anyone, so please do not mistake this post as such. I myself am bipolar, hence, I am very educated on the condition.

Let´s discuss this, please. I´d like to hear more opinions on the subject.

Amber
Feb-16-2006, 19:23 GMT
IP:
Netherlands

Hi,

could you please explain what bipolar means?
Because my English isn´t so good/well (??) I do not understand what this is about.

Thank you!

Amber
Feb-16-2006, 19:29 GMT
IP:
Netherlands

Is this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

what you are referring to?

Fish
Feb-16-2006, 19:32 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

From Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

"Bipolar disorder, still often referred to colloquially as manic depression, is a mood disorder marked by episodes of clinically significant impairment due to mania or depression."

Symptoms
Manic Episode
"inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)"

Depression Episode
"depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
Insomnia or Hypersomnia nearly every day
psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide"

This isn´t all of the info, but I think it may prove helpful.

Bipolar can be difficult to understand for those who don´t have it.

Some view it as a curse.

Some view it as a blessing. People in the entertainment field often times credit the condition for their creativity.
Celebrities With Bipolar:
Trent Reznor,
Ben Stiller,
Axl Rose,
Kurt Cobain,
Sting,
Carrie Fisher,
DMX,
amd Scott Weiland to name a few.

Scaaty
Feb-17-2006, 17:38 GMT
IP:
Ireland

e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees - A friend of mine is bipolar and this is how he expresses one side of it (much to his wife´s horror) so when you queryied if Paul had it my immediate thought was he couldn´t because Paul is not known as being free with his money:-).

Bodo
Feb-17-2006, 18:20 GMT
IP:
Austria

Well, all I can add is that I´m no psycho-analyst, and if, I would not make diagnostics when I don´t know the person, sit 8000 Miles away from him and only have heard his songs.
That Paul Simon had some psychological problems is well known by that way, and he spoke about it and his visits at the doctor very open (Allergies, 1980/81) ... also ´Run That Body Down´ is an interesting song in that direction.

But I can´t find any of these personal songs since Graceland.

Micky
Feb-19-2006, 20:08 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America

Well, Carrie was Manic Depressive, but Paul was diagnosed as being Clinically Depressed some years ago.

And like Bodo said, there is no sign of depression in Paul´s music now and he´s said how much happier he is now.

So, although I´m no expert, I wouldn´t agree.

Hugs

Me

Lekornee
Feb-22-2006, 17:29 GMT
IP:
Denmark

I honestly don´t think he´s bi-polar. Suddenly feeling happy for no reason, or very little reason, is absolutely normal. Haven´t you ever stepped outside and the sun was shining and the wind was blowing just the right way that you suddenly felt really good about life? I know he´s had some spells of depression but I certainly wouldn´t categorize him as bi-polar. He doesn´t ever seem manic to me.

Klausi
Feb-22-2006, 18:50 GMT
IP:
Germany

Manic depression is a rare form of depression and regarded as even more terrible (although one should consider it might be better to be very happy at least sometimes).

Depression in a way which needs medical and professional help is a big problem of our time and might be a consequence of lack of real fears, because in poorer countries it is more rare.

In western countries it causes the second most days of absence at work (most are problems with the back and spinal column). This sounds astonishing, but heart- attacks and cancer lead to a certain happy or sad result sooner.

Estimates are about 3-5 percent of people older than 15 to 20 are really depressed. About 80 percent can be healed, if the problem is known (many suffer much too long without professional help).

So I think Simon is not "bi-polar", maybe he was depressed. His job allowed him to work not regularly. But I agree not since the second half of the 80`s.

Nikki
Feb-23-2006, 02:14 GMT
IP:
Canada

I didn´t want to venture into this thread, but I completely agree with Lekornee. Somedays you´re walking outside or whatever, and you just feel incredibly good, like all is right with the world (that´s how it is for me anyway). And who hasn´t felt a little down at times? Paul just more so at times but now he seems to be genuinely happy.
I worked with a woman who was bi-polar, and with her it was always in extremes-really happy to suicidally depressed in seconds.

jupira
Mar-27-2006, 23:01 GMT
IP:
Brazil

My God! I stopped here to learn about Simon and received a class about bi-polarity...Hey, it´s really good Love an artist with such kind of fans!
In my opinion Paul never seemed to be bi-polar. And now I know I´m not, also...
I guess we just "catch" things in the air, sometimes...

Nikki
Mar-28-2006, 02:07 GMT
IP:
Canada

Ask us anything :) I´m taking nursing in college and today I learned that as people age they´re ears and noses get longer. Maybe that would help in the "facelift" thread.

jupira
Mar-28-2006, 22:46 GMT
IP:
Brazil

No problems with ears and nose here by now, Nikki. I´m not becoming an elf...Anyway, this is not so bad if you get some "elf wisdom " as well as the physical changes...

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