MovieChat Forums > Prozac Nation (2003) Discussion > Depression? More like Bi-polar disorder.

Depression? More like Bi-polar disorder.

posted 18 years ago by lakario
34 replies | jump to latest

Now, I have not read the book, so I cannot say how well this movie related to the novel, but I can certainly say it was a a very well produced look at a incredibly painful disorder. From my own personal experience, and also just having seen the way Elizabeth's character behaved, I would have to say she'd be much more adequately diagnosed with bi-polar disorder rather than simply depression.

Watching this film, I felt like Rafe must have. The father-centered seperation anxiety, the violent mood swings, the unexplainable obsessive behavior, and the feeling of hallowness on Elizabeth's part; they were all replicas of what I went through with my ex-girlfriend who was diagnosed with and has now recovered from- [or at least learned to cope with] bi-polar disorder.

Depression is different for every person with it, there is no standard formula to a diagnosis, and as such I have to say that all the other comments in this film's discussion board attempting to discredit Elizabeth's depression are completely baseless and unfounded. One cannot know what depression is like until they have experienced it, either personally, or through a loved one.

This movie does an incredible job of exploring the darkness that is depression, a disorder that plagues countless individuals throughout the world. It is no surprise that 300 something million Americans take anti-depressants yearly given the society we live in. There is so much stress in our society on personal accomplishment and success, that many people do not actually have the chance to appreciate the beautiful things in life. Elizabeth found herself dependant on her writing to maintain her happiness, and when she lost the ability to write, she lost the only thing she truly loved; that, on top of the mounting anxieties she had faced since childhood lead her down a path of self-loathing from which there was no easy escape. As films go, I feel this one did an fantastic job capturing the essence of the subject through excellent script writing, and terrific acting.

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I intially wanted to see the film simply for that first scene... but having watched it all the way through, I cannot say I am the least bit disappointed.

[–] indiegirl27 17 years ago

Elizabeth's disorder was atypical depression, which differs from other types of depression in that she is still able to feel happy when good things happen but is excessively depressed when things go wrong. It is more similar to bi-polar disorder than other types of depression but is still a different disorder entirely.

[–] lifelike001 17 years ago

unless youre her personal psychiatrist, noone can say definitively what her diagnosis is or was.

personally, id say attention seeking whore disorder, but that just MEAN isnt it? *rolls eyes*

[–] suprised_plankton 12 years ago

I would go more with borderline personality disorder to be honest :)

[–] Flexicon 11 years ago

regarding the OP comment:

"300 something million Americans..."

I think it was closer to 23 million on anti-depressants around the time your post was written. Still a large number, but there are about 315 million people that make up the entire country so you can't have 300 million on anti-depressants.

[–] Gwasgray 11 years ago

At the end of the film it said 300 million PRESCRIPTIONS for anti-depressants were given in the US every year. There can't be 300 million Americans on anti-depressants because that's virtually the entire population.

[–] katecampbellstone 11 years ago

I honestly thought it was more like borderline personality disorder. Wikipedia defines it as:

A personality disorder whose essential features are a pattern of marked impulsivity and instabilty of affects, interpersonal relationships, and self image. The pattern is present by early adulthood and occurs across a variety of situations and contexts. Other symptoms may include intense fears of abandonment and intense, inappropriate anger. People with BPD often engage in idealization and devaluation of others, alternating between high positive regard and great disappointment. Self-mutilation and suicidal behavior are common.

I was diagnosed with BPD about 7 years ago and I can see great similarities between my former self and Lizzie. She has all the traits - promiscuity in an attempt gain someone else's approval, fear of abandonment, anger and personally sabotaging the good things in your life. Also, it is a disorder which often appears during adolescence and early adulthood. She might also have depression but to me she's definitely got symptoms of BPD.