I lost my brother to suicide and my sister suffers from bi-polar disorder. In her state of depression she has no motivation, feels everything is hopeless and is unable to function. In her manic state she is full of confidence and ideas, tries to do dozens of things at once and leaves a trail of chaos in her wake.

The idea of chemical imbalances seems to have merit until you ask what causes these imbalances. Maladaptive thinking is one possible culprit giving rise to increasing use of cognitive behaviour therapy.

Stress is also a possible trigger for this illness. My sister is always complaining about the amount of stress she is under (even when nobody expects anything of her). There is no doubt that stress does have physical effects, via the endocrine system, leading to hyperglycaemia, anxiety state and depression. But what stresses one person will not necessarily stress another.

My wife is constantly on at our grandson for wearing a cap to the table. Why is that a problem? I couldn’t care less.

When I worked as an itinerant behaviour teacher I met a delightful little aboriginal girl at one school. This child was a happy, friendly and outgoing 10 year old without a care in the world until the school adopted a policy of “no hat – no play”. She was threatened, bullied and harassed until she finally complied and wore a hat in the playground. Then she was referred to me for behaviour therapy because she refused to take her hat off in the classroom. My advice to the school was to get off her case. Leave the kid alone. Within a week she was taking off her hat to go inside just like the other children. I am convinced that much of the stress in our society is caused by people trying to make or stop other people do(ing) things. Schools should work with nature rather than against it. Organic fruit and vegetables are better than those artificially grown. Why would it be any different in a children’s garden – a school? But haven’t we seen schools run more on the lines of factories, managed along Taylorist lines, in recent times?

Stress can be caused by unrealistic expectations of oneself. I can see a role for CBT here. But it can also be caused by external factors as in the dysfunctional school or workplace.

Is there a spiritual dimension to these disorders?

Ovidiu Catarig