Holden Mental Illness

An estimated 5.7 million Americans are bipolar, but the number could be much higher because psychiatrists often misdiagnose the illness as depression. Moreover, mental health professionals are convinced that an estimated million or more children could be suffering from undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Mental health professionals suspect many causes, including chemical imbalances in the brain, inherited traits from parents, and cultural and social factors. Twenty percent of teens diagnosed with major depression are likely to develop bipolar disorders within five years of the onset of their depressive symptoms.(Bipolar Facts) Holden is suffering from Bipolar Disorder II aka Hypomania. Holden's concentration is not good, he does not get enough rest, …show more content…
His concentration is just one of the issues Holden is facing. For example Holden failed all of his classes this semester besides english while attending at Pencey because of not doing assignments and handing in assignments that are not good or written properly. (p.12). Another example of his concentration not being on point is that he goes from one idea to another skipping important things and or leaving out facts that he tells us. Holden is the kind of kid who doesn't stay focused when something is going on and he isn't too interested in. Holden also doesn't like the fact that he doesn't learn anything of importance and the people who are teaching him are just a joke in his eyes because they are teaching kids that do not want to be taught. Holden even goes on and saying that the people who he has met are phonies and crooks, including his Principle at Pencey and the Fencing Coaches. Another example of Holden not being able to remember something is the fact he left the fencing gear on the train on the way to the fencing meet. “I was the goddam manager of the fencing team. Very big deal. We'd gone in to New York that morning for this fencing meet with McBurney School. Only, we didn't have the meet. I left all the foils and equipment and stuff on the goddam subway. It wasn't all my fault. I had to keep getting up to …show more content…
He has not eaten in 3 days and is probably starving himself during his weekend away. He is running low on energy and his electrolyte are decreasing and can cause him to lose sleep and change his attitude and can cause mood swings. Holden is most likely hungry and is not thinking clearly, him smoking more and decreasing his appetite so he doesn't need to eat anything is not healthy. Did you know that 80 percent of bipolar patients abuse alcohol and drugs and are heavy smokers? In fact such behaviors only lead to new problems, deeper levels of depression and destroyed relationships with friends, family, law enforcement or school