Charlie Sheen is NOT "Crazy"

Charlie Sheen is not "crazy" and possibly may not be using any substance.  I hate the word "crazy" to describe anyone with a mental illness or any type of disability.  It is derogatory and demeaning.  It is often used when a person is ignorant as to how to explain a person's behavior or mood.  But, crazy is not the word to use. 

As one of the interviews indicated is that he is bipolar.   My first thought when I saw Monday mornings whirlwind and nonsensical interviews was this man is in a major manic episode.  (It should also be noted that he has passed two drug tests.)

Well, my thought was partly correct.  My psychiatrist states that he feels that it is unethical that other mental health professionals publicly state their factual diagnosis.  One professional has stated that he is gravely disabled; however, he does not meet that criteria. 

[California Code for "gravely disabled": (1) Adult (patients over 18 years of age): The person's mental condition prevents him/her from being able to provide for food, clothing, and/or shelter, and there is no indication that anyone is willing or able to assist him/her in procuring these needs. This does not necessarily mean homeless, as a homeless person who is able to seek housing (even in a temporary shelter) when weather demands it would not fall under this category. Also, the mere lack of resources to provide food, clothing, or shelter is not dispositive; the inability must be caused by the psychiatric condition. (2) Minor (patients under 18 years of age): The person is unable to provide for his/her food, clothing, and/or shelter or to make appropriate use of them even if these are supplied directly—for example, a psychotic adolescent who refuses to eat because he/she believes his/her parents are poisoning them.]

But, he does according to my psychiatrist's and my opinion is that he meets the criteria for a hypomanic episode.   It is my blog, so I get to give my opinion which will not be aired for the public.  I think.  :-)

This is a lesser form of a manic episode.  Gives me a view of how difficult it must be to be bipolar and having a manic episode.  Of course, there this is all on a continuum. 

This is the DSM-IV-TR description of a hypomanic episode:

A) A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood.

B) During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:

1) inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
2) decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
3) more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
4) flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
5) distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
6) increase in goal-directed activity (at work, at school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
7) 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)

C) The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic.

D) The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others.

E) The mood disturbance not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features.

F) The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism)

I believe that Charlie Sheen is not "crazy or irresponsible," as others have stated; but, he has a mental illness that needs to be addressed.  What do you think?