Celebrities who have bipolar

18 Celebrities with Bipolar Disorder

Did you know bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million adults (about 2.6% of the U.S. population) age 18 and older every year?

Bipolar (Manic Depressive) disorder is a mental disorder characterized by persistent and/or unusual mood swings that can lower an individual’s quality of life. At Olympia House, we understand that having bipolar is very difficult to handle without proper education and resources.

No matter what mental illness you or a loved one may have, we hope this list of celebrities with bipolar disorder helps showcase that you can still overcome any obstacle.

At around the age of 21, Brian Douglas Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, began experiencing mental health issues. It started with hearing voices and having panic attacks that caused him to quit touring.

The musician was eventually diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder, a type of bipolar disorder. He tried out various treatment options before finding a regimen that allowed him to keep pursuing his passions. “With doctors and medications, I have been able to live a wonderful healthy, productive life,” says Brian Wilson.

Following his historic trip to the moon, American astronaut Buzz Aldrin struggled with bipolar disorder. As the pilot of the first successful moon landing, Aldrin was quickly brought to fame. The intense scrutiny of the public eye triggered his depression and alcoholism.

His personal life struggled as he went in and out of treatment working through his co-occurring disorders and later served as chairman to the National Mental Health Association.

Carrie Fisher, who made an indelible mark playing Princess Leia in “Star Wars,” struggled with drug and alcohol problems. It is difficult to diagnose bipolar in someone with substance abuse. After being a sober a year, she was diagnosed with bipolar at age 29.

Her father, Eddie Fisher, was also bipolar. The disorder can run in families.

Fisher had become outspoken about her disorder and a strong advocate for mental health. She told the Huffington Post, “At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of.”

Carrie Frances Fisher was an American actress, writer, and comedian. Fisher is best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, a role for which she was nominated for four Saturn Awards.

Catherine Zeta-Jones has bipolar II disorder, a form that has more extended down periods, following a difficult time in her personal life. Zeta-Jones went through a period of mood swings following an intense period of stress when her husband, Michael Douglas, battled stage IV throat cancer. Adding to the stress was a fight with Douglas’ first wife over royalties from the actor’s movie, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” Stress is often a trigger for the disorder.

Zeta-Jones has been public about being bipolar and has been an advocate for de-stigmatizing mental illness, hoping she can inspire people to seek treatment.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress. Born and raised in Swansea, Zeta-Jones aspired to be an actress from a young age. As a child, she played roles in the West End productions of the musicals Annie and Bugsy Malone.

After experiencing a manic episode at the age of 25, the Stranger Things actor was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The star told Marc Maron on his podcast that he believes his mental health is tied to his early preoccupation with spirituality. “I really had like, a bit of a break where I thought I was in connection to some sort of God that I wasn’t really in connection to,” Harbour, who also spent time in a mental asylum, continued. “It was like I had all the answers suddenly.”

He added: “The funny thing about my particular brain or mental illness is every time that I’ve had an episode like that, it’s always coupled with spirituality,” he said. “Generally, people are like, ‘I need to meditate more’ or ‘I need to get into yoga.’ And I need to like, eat a cheeseburger and just like, smoke cigarettes and hang out. ”

David Kenneth Harbour is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Jim Hopper in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things, which has earned him a Critics’ Choice Television Award in 2018. He has also received Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for the role.

Singer Demi Lovato was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she entered rehab at age 22. Before her diagnosis, she had struggled with bulimia, drug addiction, and cutting.

She has chosen to use her fame to help eliminate the stigma and advocate for treatment, taking part in a campaign called “Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health” in 2015.

Lovato said she wants women to know that “it’s possible to live well, feel well, and also find happiness with bipolar disorder or any other mental illness they’re struggling with.”

Demetria Devonne Lovato is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She made her debut as a child actress on the children’s television series Barney & Friends. She rose to prominence starring as Mitchie Torres in the Disney Channel musical television film Camp Rock and its sequel Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.

In a biography of the director, Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola: it stated that in the fall of 1977, “Coppola was diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having manic-depressive tendencies, for which lithium was prescribed.”

Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, film composer, and vintner where he has the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma County. He was a central figure in the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Francis (Frank) Albert Sinatra was an American singer, actor, and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century.

From his start as a teen singing idol to his successful movie and stage career, Sinatra’s popularity never waned. He sold more than 150 million records, was a Las Vegas headliner, and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in From Here to Eternity. Nevertheless, Sinatra was quoted as saying, “Being an 18-karat manic depressive and having lived a life of violent emotional contradictions, I have an over-acute capacity for sadness as well as elation.”

Jean-Claude Van Damme, star of “Bloodsport” and “Timecop,” had four failed marriages, suffered from cocaine addiction, was arrested for drunk driving and was charged at one time with spousal abuse. He was eventually diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder after hitting bottom.

There are several types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, rapid-recycling, mixed bipolar, and cyclothymia. Common symptoms include loss of energy, problems sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and on the other side of the spectrum euphoria, needing less sleep, feeling edgy, hyper, irritable, and engaging in risky behavior.

The rock guitar legend Jimi” Hendrix got expelled from high school, once stole a car, and lasted just a year in the Army after his commanding officers suggested an early discharge. He later wrote a song called “Manic Depression,” which described his trouble with mood swings. Despite his mental health issues, Hendrix’s performances at Monterey and Woodstock still get talked about today.

James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His mainstream career lasted only four years, but is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in history and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century.

Mariah Carey says she was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001. She went public with her diagnosis in April 2018 in an interview with People magazine, saying she now feels she’s in a good place managing her mental health.

“Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” she said. “It was too heavy a burden to carry, and I simply couldn’t do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me, and I got back to doing what I love — writing songs and making music. ”

Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter, actress, record producer, and entrepreneur. Referred to as the “Songbird Supreme” by the Guinness World Records, she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style, and signature use of the whistle register.

“I literally crashed, hit a wall and couldn’t get out of bed,” Russo said, after noting that she’d been “stop and go” all her life. “And I thought it was depression, but if you [have bipolar disorder and] take antidepressants, it speeds you up more.”

Addressing “all the people that are having trouble and maybe feel bad about taking medication,” she said, “It’s OK. You will make it through. It’s not easy, but you will make it through.”

Rene Marie Russo is an American actress, producer, and former model. Russo began her career as a fashion model in the 1970s, appearing on several magazine covers such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan.

The award-winning actor is vocal in how he relishes the “creative beauty” in turning his manic depression to mastery and bad situations to good. Dreyfuss says he wishes others could see the “diamond in the soil” of bipolar disorder and refers to his manic state as an “incandescent ecstasy of creation.” The movie star and ambassador for bipolar always speaks candidly about how living with the disorder has been good for him, and why stigma is “stupid.”

Richard Stephen Dreyfuss is an American actor best known for starring in popular films between the 1970s and 1990s, including American Graffiti, Jaws, Stand by Me, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, The Goodbye Girl, Stakeout, Always, What About Bob? and Mr. Holland’s Opus.

British stand-up comedian and actor Russell Brand, known for his public antics and outrageous comedy, was treated for depression when he was young. He struggled with binge-eating, unusual for boys, and while still in his teens began abusing drugs and alcohol.

Brand stopped using drugs in 2002 and in 2014 celebrated his 12th year being sober. Since dealing with substance abuse, he has acted as a sponsor for others and helped raise funds for Focus 12, a drug treatment program, in Britain.

Brand has been diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder. He often references being bipolar in his performances and writing.

Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, radio host, author, and activist. After beginning his career as a stand-up comedian and later becoming an MTV presenter, Brand first achieved renown in 2004 as the host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth, a Big Brother spin-off.

Stephen John Fry, an English actor, comedian, and writer, revealed his battle with bipolar disorder in a BBC documentary titled The Secret Life of The Manic Depressive.

When diagnosed at 37, Fry had never heard the term before but found comfort in something explaining the mania and depression he experienced all his life. Since then, he has worked on bettering public awareness and giving a clearer picture of mental illness.

English rock star, Sting, has been outspoken regarding his battles with bipolar disorder. He’s also participated in events raising awareness about the disease.

Looking back at his time as frontman of the band Police, he noted, “I was suicidal. …I was manic-depressive and I just wasn’t chemically balanced enough.”

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE, known as Sting, is an English musician and actor. He was the principal songwriter, lead singer, and bassist for the new wave rock band the Police from 1977 to 1984, and launched a solo career in 1985.

The founder of Turner Broadcasting and CNN has spent much of his life battling bipolar disorder and depression. Despite that, Turner took a small independent television station in Atlanta and turned it into a global media conglomerate. At one point, he owned the Atlanta Braves and Hawks and won America’s Cup.

Robert Edward Turner III is an American media proprietor, producer, and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as the founder of the Cable News Network, the first 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television, which later became TBS.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, one of the great leaders of World War II, often referred to his bouts of intense, prolonged depression as his “black dog.” When not battling depression, he had incredible energy and was highly productive.

Churchill’s doctor, Lord Moran, wrote in his memoir “Winston Churchill: The Struggle for Survival” that he had diagnosed the prime minister with bipolar disorder. Despite his battles, or perhaps because of it, Churchill was a man of immense accomplishments.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was a British politician, army officer, and writer. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, when he led Britain to victory in the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.

18 Celebrities With Bipolar Disorder

Medically Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on May 16, 2021

The chart-topping singer was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001, but she told People magazine she “lived in denial and isolation” for years. She said she finally sought treatment after a series of professional and romantic issues. “I put positive people around me, and I got back to doing what I love -- writing songs and making music.”

Known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movie franchise, Fisher got diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 24. She wrote her 1987 novel, Postcards From The Edge, in rehab after a near-fatal drug overdose. On stage and in interviews, Fisher called for more attention and research on the condition. She died of a heart attack in 2016.

The singer, who was nominated for a Grammy with Florida Georgia Line for "Meant to Be" and co-wrote Eminem's "The Monster," opened up about her diagnosis via Twitter. She posted, "I'm bipolar and I'm not ashamed anymore." Rexha went on to say how much she's looking forward to her next project: "This next album will be favorite album ever because I'm not holding anything back."

In a 2008 documentary, Gibson said he had bipolar disorder. The actor burst onto the scene as an action hero, then branched out into producing and directing, earning two Academy Award nominations. People magazine named Gibson the “sexiest man alive” in 1985. His personal life made headlines when he berated a police officer during a drunken driving arrest in 2006 and pleaded no contest to domestic abuse charges in 2012.

This singer and actress starred in the Disney Channel movie Camp Rock. After the sequel, and a role in the TV series Sonny With A Chance, Lovato admitted herself into a clinic for addiction and self-harm in 2010. It was there she learned she had bipolar disorder. MTV aired a documentary about Lovato’s struggles with it in 2012.

He went from stand-up comedy, to MTV, to roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Despicable Me. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a youth, Brand lost jobs with both MTV and the BBC for controversial remarks. His marriage to Katy Perry lasted less than 2 years. Brand published his first autobiography in 2007 and detailed his struggles with drug abuse in Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions in 2017.

The leader of the California surfing sound, Wilson wrote and produced nine albums and 16 hit singles in a 3-year span with the Beach Boys. A panic attack on an airplane in 1964 led him to stop touring. A year later, Wilson began experimenting with LSD. His bipolar disorder, which he'd learn about years later, left him physically and emotionally unable to compose or tour for decades.

The co-founder of Nirvana had attention deficit disorder as a child, then bipolar disorder later. He didn’t pursue treatment. Despite success as the leader of Seattle’s grunge rock movement, Cobain struggled with depression and committed suicide at age 27 in 1994.

The rock guitar legend got expelled from high school, once stole a car, and lasted just a year in the Army after his commanding officers suggested an early discharge. He later wrote a song called "Manic Depression," which described his trouble with mood swings. Despite his mental health issues, Hendrix’s performances at Monterey and Woodstock still get talked about today. He died at age 27 in 1970.

This Nobel Prize-winning author was prone to manic-depressive behavior throughout his life, a family trait shared by his parents, his son, and his granddaughter Margaux. Despite his larger-than-life personality and novels like A Farewell to Arms and For Whom The Bell Tolls, Hemingway had bouts of depression and paranoia. Obsessed with death, he eventually shot himself in the head in 1961.

This Welsh-born star won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Chicago and a Tony Award for her onstage work. She's also been nominated for several Golden Globes. Married to Michael Douglas since 2000, stress during his battle with tongue cancer led to depression and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Born Vivian Mary Hartley in England, Leigh’s greatest fame came from her iconic portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With The Wind.

The wife of acclaimed actor Laurence Olivier, Leigh had a reputation for being difficult on the set. For much of her adult life, she had severe depression and mania. Her treatment was electroshock therapy.

From his start as a teen signing idol to his successful movie and stage career, Sinatra’s popularity never waned. He sold more than 150 million records, was a Las Vegas headliner, and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in From Here to Eternity. Behind the scenes, Sinatra’s volatile temper was legendary, as was his charity.

This Irish-born singer and songwriter burst onto the music scene in 1990 with the hit single Nothing Compares 2 U. A performance on Saturday Night Live in 1992 during which she tore up a picture of the pope resulted in widespread criticism. She disclosed that she had bipolar disorder in 2007. Ten years later, she shared a video detailing her struggles with mental illness.

Van Damme, a Belgian-born martial arts action film star, started studying karate at 10 and earned his black belt 8 years later. His breakthrough film was 1988’s Bloodsport. Ten years after that, he found out he had bipolar disorder. In 2011, Van Damme said he took medication for mood swings that he says he had since childhood.

Pauley, a TV anchor and journalist, has been in the spotlight since she replaced Barbara Walters on NBC’s Today show in 1976. She also co-hosted the evening news, and then co-anchored Dateline NBC, for a decade beginning in 1992. These days, she's the anchor of the CBS show Sunday Morning. It wasn’t until the release of her autobiography in 2004 that Pauley revealed her struggles with bipolar disorder.

An Academy Award winner for her portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, and a television star for playing identical cousins in The Patty Duke Show, Duke was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982. From that point on, she spent much of her life educating the public on mental health issues. She lobbied Congress for funding and research and wrote two autobiographies about her illness. She died in 2016 from sepsis at 69.

As first lord of the admiralty at the start of World War I and British prime minister in World War II, Churchill rallied people with stirring speeches and radio broadcasts to encourage resistance against Germany. However, he battled his own war against depression, suicidal thoughts, and lack of sleep. He called it his “black dog.” Despite his condition, he authored 43 books and earned a Nobel Prize in Literature. He died in 1965 at 90.

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SOURCES:

People: “Mariah Carey: My Battle With Bipolar Disorder. ”

The New York Times: "Carrie Fisher Put Pen and Voice in Service of 'Bipolar Pride.' "

Psychological Care & Healing Center: "Is Mel Gibson’s Latest Outburst Related to Bipolar Disorder?"

Treatment Advocacy Center: "Demi Lovato: Bipolar But Staying Strong."

The Guardian: "This charming man," "The astonishing genius of Brian Wilson"

CBSNews.com: "Famous people with bipolar disorder."

MyFiveBest.com: "Five Musicians Who Suffered From Bipolar Disorder."

The Independent: "Being Ernest: John Walsh unravels the mystery behind Hemingway's suicide."

Famous Bipolar People: "Ted Turner -- Famous Bipolar Entrepreneur."

ABC News: "Catherine Zeta-Jones Sheds Light on Bipolar II Disorder."

The New Yorker: "Frank Sinatra and the Scandalous but Scholarly Biography."

Today.com: "Sinead O'Connor opens up about mental illness struggle in emotional video."

How I Beat Depression: "How Jean Claude Van Damme Beats Bipolar. "

NBCNews.com: "Jane Pauley shares her story."

Bipolar Lives: "Patty Duke bipolar disorder."

International Bipolar Foundation: "Winston Churchill and Mental Illness."

Bipolar Aurora. Why Mental Illness Has Become a Star Trend

Diagnosis problems

In medicine, BAD is defined as a mental disorder with alternating strong mood ups and downs. Ups are usually called “manias” (in the case of BAD of the first type) or “hypomanias” (in the case of BAD of the second type, which is milder), recessions are called “depressive episodes”. Hypomanias are less noticeable, they can be felt as just a great mood. Manias can end in psychosis and be accompanied by crazy ideas and even hallucinations. In general, with a disease, a person experiences either extreme despair and a sharp decline in strength, or an unrealistic rise, unbridled fun and euphoria.

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BAD affects both sexes, but women more often. Marina Kinkulkina, Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Director of the Institute of Electronic Medical Education of the First Moscow State Medical University named after M. I. I. M. Sechenov. The disease can manifest itself in adolescents, and in adults, and in the elderly. Genetics is considered the main risk factor, but the specific gene responsible for the development of bipolar disorder has not yet been identified.

“In Russia, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is rarely made,” says Sergey Potanin, psychiatrist, senior researcher at the Psychopharmacology Laboratory of the Mental Health Research Center. “But the problem is not that it is a rare disease. In our country, a strong underdiagnosis of BAD is a disease not noticed by doctors. It has to do with a fairly traditionalist outlook.” For example, if a person hears voices, in Russia they will most likely be diagnosed with schizophrenia, although according to international criteria this is the wrong approach, Potanin notes. Voices can also be heard in bipolar disorder if they occur at the same time as the mood disorder.

Another reason for misdiagnosis is the small amount of time allocated to each patient in neuropsychiatric dispensaries. “The average psychiatrist has a standard of 20-25 people a day. During this time, it is difficult to collect an anamnesis and establish the correct diagnosis, ”continues Potanin. Bipolar disorder can be confused with either schizophrenia (more often if the patient came in the manic stage) or depression (if the patient came in the depressive phase).

“At the initial stages of the disease, it can be difficult to establish a correct diagnosis. Therefore, a doctor who has several hypotheses - bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, monitors the patient for a further time to clarify the diagnosis, ”says Lyubov Lev, a psychiatrist at the neuropsychiatric dispensary. This opinion is confirmed by the studies of Russian specialists, which were conducted by the Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in the period from 2008 to 2012. 409 patients were included in the diagnostics.patients aged 18 to 65 years with an established diagnosis of recurrent depressive disorder (RDD) who have been ill for more than three years. Studies have shown that diagnostic errors are a serious reason for the non-detection of bipolar disorder in Russia, especially the second type. As a result, 40.8% of patients with RDR can actually be diagnosed with type 2 bipolar disorder. And to identify this disease, it is necessary to observe the patient for an average of 15 years.

Recognize the problem

For a patient, one of the most difficult steps in treatment is the recognition of oneself as a mentally unhealthy person, doctors believe. Not everyone immediately believes that they have a similar disorder, but acceptance can sometimes alleviate the situation.

Maya Khusanova, 29, a personal stylist, experienced burnout at the end of 2019. “I felt like I was slowly dying. I had insomnia, memory problems, migraines, a very strong eye tic, with which I turned to an ophthalmologist, ”says Maya. The doctor diagnosed her with a nervous tic, prescribed eye medications, and referred her to a neurologist. But the anger didn't go away. Doctors said that it was neurasthenia and just need to rest.

The emotional peak came when Maya was asked to go to work on the day off: “I had a real nervous breakdown - after the call I screamed heart-rendingly, shook, could not breathe and say nothing. The next few days I felt worse: I practically did not feel anything - whether I was cold, hot, did not feel either hunger or thirst. In addition, there were very strong fears to the point that I was afraid to go out.” After another unsuccessful visit to a neurologist, who prescribed Maya an antidepressant, to which she turned out to be intolerant, the girl turned to a psychiatrist. She was diagnosed with BAD type 2. “I finally took a breath. This diagnosis really describes well what has been happening to me for the last 10-15 years,” Maya said.

28-year-old Muscovite Sergey B spoke about his sudden depression. I slept for 15-16 hours a day, I could not work normally, I practically did not eat. The social circle narrowed down to two or three close people, although my friends always considered me the soul of the company and before that I was very positive, ”recalls Sergey. The psychiatrist diagnosed depression and prescribed antidepressants.

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A month later, Sergei felt an unreal lift: he practically stopped sleeping, he wanted to do something all the time, it seemed that he was created for "great accomplishments". Sergey sold his odnushka in Moscow, bought a room in a St. Petersburg communal apartment, and with the remaining money he went on a trip to Latin America. A year later, Sergei discovered that depression was returning: by that time he had canceled antidepressants, deciding that they had done their job. I had to return to St. Petersburg. “The most terrible thing began - constant anxiety, apathy, heaviness in the chest, a feeling of shame, the meaninglessness of existence. I again went to the psychiatrist, this time to another, who talked with me for a long time and in detail. As a result, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2,” says Sergei. He was prescribed normotimics, which regulate mood, but do not lead to euphoria. The treatment continues to this day.

Correct diagnosis is difficult because people often confuse their disorder with fatigue, burnout or a nervous breakdown, experts say. For example, Evgenia Kashapova, a 33-year-old director, went to therapy for two years before she decided to turn to a psychiatrist. “The psychologist helped me get out of my stupor and understand the reasons for my boundless suffering against the backdrop of a rather pleasant and successful life. But I have not ceased to feel pain from the meaninglessness of what is happening. At some point, I became afraid for my life and the readiness to part with it. This led me to a psychiatrist, ”said Evgenia.

At first, the girl did not believe in the diagnosis - bipolar disorder type 2 - and went to another clinic, but everything was confirmed there. Today, Evgenia admits that she is even glad that BAD became her disease: “Perhaps, due to the romanticization of the diagnosis, I experienced some relief and even pride when I found out about it. I'm finally special, and that's great."

Bipolar fashion

In 2018, rapper Kanye West put the words “I hate being Bi-Polar It’s awesome” on the cover of his solo album. According to psychiatrists, this is a very accurate description of the essence of bipolar disease. At the same time, doctors believe that the revelations of the stars about their mental illnesses can hardly start the fashion for the disease or become the reason for its stimulation. “It's just that in the modern world there are more opportunities and resources to speak openly about many things,” says psychiatrist Lyubov Lev. “The recognition of stars in their illnesses cannot be the reason that people invent this illness for themselves, trying to seem special.”

It is impossible to really simulate bipolar disorder, agrees psychiatrist Potanin. But the fact that popular people talk about the disease out loud has its advantages. “With the level of stigmatization of mental disorders in our country, the fashion for such diseases in a certain environment can compensate for everything. People do not hesitate to come to a psychiatrist, and this is good, ”Potanin notes.

So far, medicine has not found methods that can finally cure bipolar disorder. And there are no significant differences in the methods of treatment in Russia and Europe, Lev notes: “Recently, a humanitarian trend has emerged in Europe - new drugs are being developed with fewer side effects. Psychological rehabilitation - psychotherapy - is also carried out after active drug therapy in a hospital for the socialization and working capacity of patients. Russian standards for the provision of psychological assistance generally coincide with foreign ones.

According to Potanin, in some situations, with a diagnosis of type 2 bipolar disorder, a patient can be brought into remission with the help of long-term pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. In this case, a person will be able to do without drugs and control some mood swings on their own. However, in general, people with this disease have to be on maintenance treatment for life.

Patients themselves admit that it is difficult for them not only to accept their disease and learn to live with it, but also to convey its essence to the environment. Often they have to face stigmatization and rejection of their disease by relatives and colleagues. “I am still ashamed. Not because I have BAD, but because I am some kind of “underowner” of a psychiatric diagnosis, says Kashapova. “Doubts that there is a diagnosis and it affects life often lead to the devaluation of oneself and one’s actions.”

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The support of family and friends is especially important for people with bipolar disorder. At the same time, the environment often ignores the psychological problem: they urge a person who is depressed to “pull himself together” and “not become limp”, and a patient at the stage of mania can be accused of immorality and frivolity. “Doing this is like blaming a person with diabetes for not being able to eat a sweet cake, and a patient with heart failure for not running a marathon,” emphasizes psychiatrist Kinkulkina. BAD is a disease like any other, and it needs to be treated. The earlier the therapy is prescribed to the patient, the more chances he has for going into remission and a further positive prognosis.

Mariah Carey, Catherine Zeta Jones, Kanye West and other stars with bipolar disorder

In the last few months alone, Mariah Carey, Kanye West and Elon Musk have made bold confessions about their mental and emotional state. Bipolar disorder is a disease that has been diagnosed in many celebrities over the years. Who else among the stars suffers from mood swings, is prone to suicide and manic-depressive psychosis, accompanied by bouts of anger, we tell in our material.

Kanye West

The 40-year-old rapper only recently revealed that he suffers from bipolar disorder. He sang about this in a song from his new album (by the way, in it he also touched on the topic of suicide). According to him, this disease was diagnosed in him a year ago, but the doctor's conclusion did not upset him at all, but rather, on the contrary, even pleased him.

As I sang in the song from the new album, this is not a disorder, but a superpower,

- said West.

The musician's behavior has been alarming his family for a long time. He acted quite aggressively with his mother-in-law Kris Jenner and at times left rather rambling messages on his Twitter.

kanye west In an interview with People magazine, she said that she had been struggling with this disease for many years. According to her, for a long time she did not want to put up with the diagnosis, and therefore she turned for professional medical help only after many years.

Until recently, I lived in isolation, denial and constant fear that someone would expose me. It was too much of a burden for me to carry. And at some point I realized that I could not do it anymore. Then I asked for help and underwent a course of therapy. I surrounded myself with positive people and returned to what I love so much, - I began to write poetry and music,

- she admitted.

Mariah Carey

Now the singer continues her treatment with medication. And although she sometimes gets depressed, Mariah becomes irritable or hyperactive, she feels much better.

I am now on medication to keep me from feeling tired or lethargic. Finding the right balance is what is very important, says the singer.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Bipolar disorder nearly caused Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas to divorce. In 2010, the wife of the actress was diagnosed with throat cancer. This terrible news was the cause of severe stress experienced by the star. As a result, in 2011 she turned to specialists for help and underwent treatment in a psychiatric clinic. This was not enough, and in 2013, due to the constant depression of Zeta-Jones, the couple broke up for a while. But, fortunately, over time, the passions subsided, and now the acting couple is still happily married.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Britney Spears

Early popularity, the first millions earned at a young age and public recognition greatly influenced the psyche of Britney Spears. She cut her hair bald, was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and even tried to commit suicide. Doctors agreed that the star fell into postpartum depression, which was caused by bipolar disorder. All this cost her dearly - she was deprived of custody of her children. A few years later, fortunately, the 36-year-old star returned to normal life and did away with bad habits.

Britney Spears

Elon Musk

The Tesla founder decided to tweet about his illness last year. He admitted that he suffers from manic-depressive psychosis and often experiences stress. True, whether he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder by specialists is unknown. Musk himself, when asked if he had ever suffered from it, answered the following:

Yes, but perhaps not from a medical point of view. I dont know. Bad mood depends on bad events. If you're buying a ticket to hell, it's not fair to blame hell.

Elon Musk

Demi Lovato

25-year-old Demi Lovato's life is not going smoothly. Despite the success and popularity, the star is experiencing many problems. For several years she has been struggling with alcohol and drug addictions (she was recently hospitalized due to a drug overdose), and in addition, she suffers from bipolar disorder.

When I was diagnosed, I felt relieved. I realized that the disease was to blame, and not my temperament. Nobody should be ashamed to talk about it. Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance in the body, it needs to be treated,

she admitted.

Demi Lovato

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore has been living with this disease for almost 30 years - she was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 14 after repeated suicide attempts. The actress, who became a star at a very young age, became addicted to drugs, alcohol at an early age, and now and then fell into depression.

The truth is, you will never be cured. You just learn how to deal with the problems that exacerbate your disease,

she said.

Drew Barrymore

Mel Gibson

In 2010 it became known that the famous Hollywood actor Mel Gibson regularly raised his hand to his wife Oksana Grigorieva. The explanation for this behavior, as it turned out, was simple: Gibson suffered from manic-depressive psychosis and, by his admission, often faced mood swings. True, he did not plan to be treated and, according to sources, he did not turn to specialists for help.

Mel Gibson

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme showed signs of manic-depressive psychosis in his youth. He was diagnosed with a cyclical type of bipolar disorder with suicidal tendencies. To cope with this, he was helped not only by the medicines prescribed by doctors, but also by active sports.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Kurt Cobain

As a child, the leader of the Nirvana band was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, and a little later, bipolar disorder. But Cobain was not treated. Despite a successful career, he struggled with depression throughout his short life and committed suicide at the age of 27 (although not everyone believes this).

Kurt Cobain

Jim Carrey

It's hard to imagine that this famous comedian also suffered from depression and bipolar disorder. He admitted that on the set he seemed cheerful and carefree, like many of the heroes of his films, and at home he took antidepressants. In the end, realizing that the problem could not be solved in this way, he turned to professionals for help.

Instead of sitting on medications all your life, it is better to turn to a psychotherapist to finally deal with the problem,

Jim Carrey spoke.

Of course, the death of his ex-girlfriend Catriona White, who took her own life in 2015, played a significant role in what happened to the actor's psyche. And although in her suicide note she did not blame her lover, but, on the contrary, confessed her love to him, he probably felt guilty in this terrible incident.

Jim Carrey

Ben Stiller

It's hard to believe, but this comedian suffers from a mental disorder.

I have always been a tough guy. I think it's called "bipolar manic depression". My family has a rich history in this sense,

- he admitted in an interview with GQ magazine a few years ago.

Ben Stiller's parents were also open about their treatment for depression, but never claimed to have bipolar disorder.

Ben Stiller

Eminem

The fact that the American rapper also suffers from mental illness became known thanks to his mother, who wrote about it in the book "My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem" (My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem). According to her, the artist has been struggling with depression for most of his life.

Eminem himself has not openly said that he knows firsthand about bipolar disorder, but in the song Monster released with Rihanna, there are these words:

Because what I love is killing me ,
My obsessive-compulsive disorder reverberates in my head.

Eminem

Sinead O'Connor

In in 2007, the Irish singer revealed that she was suffering from bipolar disorder. And ten years later, she published a video in which she admitted that she had tried to commit suicide several times.

I struggle, I struggle, like millions of other people... I understand that some people don't even have half of what I have, but it's so hard... There is no one in my terrible life, I'm alone. Nobody needs me because of my illness... , she said in the video.

Two days after this video message, the star was taken to the hospital, where she underwent treatment not for the first time.

Sinead O'Connor

By the way, old Hollywood stars, including Frank Sinatra and Vivien Leigh, also suffered from bipolar disorder, as well as some politicians and artists: Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, Vincent van Gogh, Ludwig van Beethoven and even supposedly Napoleon Bonaparte.
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