From its first depictions in ancient medical literature to contemporary depictions in brain imaging, mania has been largely associated with its Greek roots, "to rage." Prior to the nineteenth century, "mania" was used interchangeably with "madness." Although its meanings shifted over time, the word remained layered with the type of madness first-century writers described: rage, fury, frenzy. Even now, the mental illness we know as bipolar disorder describes conditions of extreme irritability, inflated grandiosity, and excessive impulsivity. Spanning several centuries, Manic Minds traces the multiple ways in which the word "mania" has been used by popular, medical, and academic writers. It reveals why the rhetorical history of the word is key to appreciating descriptions and meanings of the "manic" episode." Lisa M. Hermsen examines the way medical professionals analyzed the manic condition during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and offers the first in-depth analysis of contemporary manic autobiographies: bipolar figures who have written from within the illness itself.

I learned much about myself writing this book. It is why the first subtitle is, “a journey of self-discovery,” including confessions of my “sex addiction,” significant enough to rate the second subtitle. I reveal truths about myself that no one knew about me, including me — until I had to accept them to be able to publicly admit them. To write this took a lot of gut-wrenching soul-searching. You will read in the preface that I dictated my book because I can’t type due to my stroke, employing the amazing Dragon (Nuance} naturally speaking speech recognition software, and I list the other factors enabling the me to write it.

When James Ogilvie arrived in America in 1793, he was a deeply ambitious but impoverished teacher. By the time he returned to Britain in 1817, he had become a bona fide celebrity known simply as Mr. O, counting the nation's leading politicians and intellectuals among his admirers. And then, like so many meteoric American luminaries afterward, he fell from grace. The Strange Genius of Mr. O is at once the biography of a remarkable performer--a gaunt Scottish orator who appeared in a toga--and a story of the United States during the founding era. Ogilvie's career featured many of the hallmarks of celebrity we recognize from later eras: glamorous friends, eccentric clothing, scandalous religious views, narcissism, and even an alarming drug habit. Yet he captivated audiences with his eloquence and inaugurated a golden age of American oratory. Examining his roller-coaster career and the Americans who admired (or hated) him, this fascinating book renders a vivid portrait of the United States in the midst of invention.

The Bipolar Expeditionist describes what it is like to experience every level of mania right up to the fully blown stage, as well as the depressing stagnating flipside. Far less stigma and taboo are attached to illnesses of the mind these days, but that's still not good enough, so these issues are also addressed. This book enables readers of any level, age or race to comprehend an often tricky subject in a way that isn't too heavy and overpowering, but with just enough mental glue to stick. The Bipolar Expeditionist is not only a true story, it is an inspirational tool that can be used by caregivers, sufferers and medical professionals for many years to come. Optimism oozes out of the pages, telling the bipolar beholder or their loved ones that all is never lost. By the time The Bipolar Expeditionist has been read you will realise exactly why you will never be left alone, and that despite the agonizing slog you will always past the test, and then go on to enjoy a fulfilling and creative life, just as God intended.

"Although efforts to examine the structure and function of the human brain stretch back centuries (Paluzzi et al, 2007), techniques allowing the study of living humans are a relatively recent development. Early investigators confined themselves to largely studying external features, with 18th century methodologies such as phrenology purporting to link extracranial proxies for brain size and structure to specific personality traits (Livianos-Aldana et al, 2007). However, these techniques did not prove useful for either clinical or research purposes. Two-dimensional x-ray imaging, while constituting an important medical advance, did not provide sufficient soft tissue contrast to be useful for studying "functional" psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder; techniques to enhance contrast, such as ventriculography and pneumoencephalography were similarly limited (Figure 1.1). Wide-spread in vivo studies of brain morphometry had to await the development of computed tomography imaging (CT) in the early 1970s. By the early 1980s CT was already being applied to the study of bipolar disorder (Pearlson et al, 1981)"--

Serving as an indispensable resource for students and general-interest readers alike, this three-volume work provides a comprehensive view of mental health that covers both mental well-being and mental illness. A three-volume ready-reference encyclopedia, this up-to-date work supplies a holistic introduction to the fields of mental health and mental disorders that is written specifically for high school students and college students. Covering the full continuum of mental health, the set describes typical functioning, including biology and neurology of the brain, emotions, and the traits and characteristics of mental well-being. It also addresses mental disorders and conditions, from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to phobias and schizophrenia. Mental Health and Mental Disorders: An Encyclopedia of Conditions, Treatments, and Well-Being highlights important concepts and phenomena, key individuals, treatment techniques, organizations, and diagnostic tools to give readers a complete view of this broad field of study. It also investigates all sides of wellness, exploring what it means to be "normal" and consistently identifying the links between lifestyle and mental health. The encyclopedia is consistent with the goals of AP psychology curricula and addresses the various disorders classified in the new edition of the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V-TR).