UKCP registered therapist, Philippa Perry is set to present a one-off Channel 4 documentary examining Bipolar on Wednesday (4 March) at 10pm.
Being Bipolar will explore the condition from the perspective of those living with it to see the impact this debilitating mental health condition has on them, their friends and family.
Perry said: “I am not a fan of the DSM. I think it encourages clinicians to think: What’s wrong with you?
“Whereas I believe the question we should be asking is: What happened to you and what adaptions have you made in order to survive?”
Filmed over several months, the programme will chart the lives of people whose depressions can leave them immobile with suicidal feelings of worthlessness; while manias can generate feelings of omnipotence and invincibility.
Perry said: “I’m very grateful to the three volunteers with this diagnosis who let me follow them around last summer and let me interview them repeatedly for this film.”
The programme will examine various explanations for the disorder from genetics to life experiences, look at the use of prescription drugs as well as exploring other therapies and treatments.
Speaking about her motivation for the project, Perry said: “I wanted to blast the myth that depression or mania is caused by chemical imbalance.
“I found that genetics may play a part but not beyond the extent that some people may be more sensitive to life’s knocks than others, a fact that will not be a surprise to any therapist.
“If I were to write a paper on how this diagnosis can close down exploration rather than open it up not enough people would see it to make a difference but I hope the film makes this point in a way that might make an impact.”
Perry is set to feature in another documentary later this month. Sex, Lies and Love Bites, a history of Agony Aunts, will air on March 10 on BBC4 at 9pm.
Watch Being Bipolar
Follow Philippa on Twitter @Philippa_Perry
Nisha Damji 