I have watched The Grizzly Man movie twice now. Back when this unfortunate incident happened, I also did some reading about Timothy Treadwell.
Having worked in the mental health profession for a number of years I am convinced that Mr. Treadwell was suffering from Bipolar Disorder. A person with Bipolar Disorder usually doesn’t know they are ill.
The sad part of this story is that many of Mr. Treadwell’s friends and the Alaskan authorities knew that Mr. Treadwell was ill, or at the very least they knew he was not acting in a mentally competent manner.
<font color="red">When a person is exhibiting thoughts and behaviors that are a danger to self and others the state has an obligation to have an individual evaluated for mental competence.</font>
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder differs significantly from clinical depression, although the symptoms for the depressive phase of the illness are similar. Most people who have bipolar disorder talk about experiencing "highs" and "lows" – the highs are periods of mania, the lows periods of depression. These swings can be severe, ranging from extreme energy to deep despair. The severity of the mood swings and the way they disrupt normal life activities distinguish bipolar mood episodes from ordinary mood changes.
Symptoms of mania - the "highs" of bipolar disorder
• Increased physical and mental activity and energy
• Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence
• Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior
• Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue
• Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance
• Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
• Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility
• Reckless behavior
• In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations
Symptoms of depression - the "lows" of bipolar disorder
• Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
• Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
• Pessimism, indifference
• Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
• Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
• Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide