People
10 famous people with bipolar disorder
Celebrities are mostly seen as superhumans who don’t go through what other humans go through. The irony is that they also experience what the average man experiences, including disease. One such commonality is bipolar disorder – yes, there are famous people with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that is primarily categorized by unusual changes in activity levels, energy, mood, and the ability to carry out daily activities. Studies have shown that there are basically four types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder, and Bipolar Unspecified Disorder.
In the United States alone, approximately 5.7 million adults suffer from this disorder. There is no known cure for this condition, however, it can be managed. There are many celebrities with this manic-depressive disorder. Let’s take a look at 10 famous people with bipolar disorder. Keep reading.
Celebrities and famous people with bipolar disorder
1. Mariah Carey
Pop diva, Mariah Carey admitted she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001 but disclosed several years later because he feared losing everything she had worked for in her career. Apparently, people with this disease are often stigmatized. She was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and has been undergoing treatment ever since.
Mariah Carey is a two-time Grammy Award winner. Born on March 27, 1970, she officially started her career in 1970 and has been a sensation ever since. She is the only female artist to have the most No. 1 debuts in Billboard Hot 100 chart history. Among her most successful hits are Vision of Love and I Don’t Wanna Cry.
About her condition, she revealed her condition in an exclusive interview with a People Magazine correspondent. It was the first time it had opened up after years of leaving in fear that someone might discover it and expose it. Her bravery is the result of celebrities like Selena Gomez coming forward to speak out about their own mental health issues.
2.Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher was a bold and fearless state and also spoke on behalf of those who suffer from bipolar disorder. She was not ashamed of it and eventually became a beacon of hope for those who face stigma and prejudice because of the disorder. Along with suffering from bipolar disorder, she also struggled with addiction. Fisher was addicted to drugs and alcohol and checked himself into rehab for help. She was diagnosed with the disease at age 24, but denied it for about four years. She blamed denial for her addiction, but while sober she came to terms with her condition.
Carrie was born on October 21, 1956 and died on December 23, 2016, after suffering cardiovascular failure while on a plane from London to Los Angeles, her hometown. She later died at home of what doctors said was a heart attack. The cause of his heart attack is uncertain, however, there are two schools of theories.
One is of the opinion that his former addiction to drugs, particularly cocaine, may be the cause, while others claim that his mental state may have led to his death. Experts say people with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of heart attack. During her lifetime, she was best known as an actress and writer. She wrote a book while in rehab called Postcards from the Edge and is most popular for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise.
3. Demi Lovato
A popular singer and actress, Demi Lovato was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011. At first, in 2011, she overdosed on drugs and had an overdose that landed her in a hospital where she was diagnosed. Unlike some people, she never denied it, rather she accepted it and became an advocate for people with mental illness, encouraging them to speak out. She also believes that bipolar people can lead happy and healthy lives.
Demi Lovato was born on August 22, 1992. She started acting in 2002 and is popular for her role in the Disney movie, Camp Rock. Demi started singing soon after and released her debut album in 2008. The pop-rock star is best known for her songs: C’est moi, c’est reparti, Gratte-ciel, Give Your Heart a Break and Heart Attack.
4.Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was popular for the pen. He was a writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Unfortunately, the prolific writer committed suicide on July 2, 1961, at his home in Ketchum, Idaho. He struggled with alcohol abuse and symptoms of psychosis, due to brain damage. He was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This disease reigned in his family, as did his parents, his son and now his granddaughter.
Hemingway battled his illness and his “demons” by playing sports involving life-threatening behavior, aggressive behavior and self-medication through alcohol. He seemed to have it all – a successful writer who was handsome and had plenty of beautiful women at his disposal. It was hard to imagine that he suffered from the depression and paranoia that would be behind the events of July 2, 1961.
5. Russell Brand
Russell Brand is a very popular British comedian, famous for his outrageous jokes. Besides, he is an actor, presenter and writer. Her book titled Recovery: Breaking Free From Our Addictions centered around her long battle with addiction. He has published other works and still writes.
Like most people who struggle with bipolar disorder, Russell Brand also had substance abuse issues. He was diagnosed with bipolar as a teenager and soon began abusing alcohol and other substances. Russell managed to end his drug addiction in 2002 and has remained sober ever since. He also received treatment for his mental illness.
6. Jean-Claude Van Damme
Van Damme was diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder. He had a lot of difficulties because of this illness. He had 4 failed marriages, cocaine addiction, alcohol abuse and physical abuse, apparently due to his condition. According to the superstar actor, he treated the disorder with intense training. Fortunately, he quit drugs in 1999 and remarried.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is an actor, martial artist and director. He is of Belgian descent and was born on October 18, 1960. He is well known for his roles in movies like Hard Target, Nowhere to Run, The Expenses 2 etc.
7. Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones is known as a big screen actress who knows her onions and has proven it with several movie roles. She has won several awards such as Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA Award, etc.
She came out publicly in 2011 to admit she was one of millions of people with bipolar disorder. She was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder when she started having seizures due to her husband’s stage 4 throat cancer saga. Her husband’s condition triggered her condition, so she sought help and found it.
Zeta-Jones is currently in treatment and continually advises people with the condition not to be ashamed but to come out of their shells and seek help. During an interview, she advised those with the condition to seek treatment, as their illness was manageable.
8. Patty Duke
Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke was one of the first celebrities to publicly reveal her mental state. In 1984, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after suffering from the disease all his life. She spoke about her condition in her 1987 book, Call Me Anne. She also published another book Shining Madness: Living With Manic Depression that centered on her life with the disorder. Since then, she has become a committed activist for people with mental disorders and helps them in any way possible.
Patty Duke is an American actress who has appeared on stage, in film, and in television series. She won her first Oscar at the age of 16 for her role in the 1962 film Miracle Worker
9.Ted Turner
Ted Turner is the popular founder of TurnerNetwork Television, CNN and Cartoon Network. Surprisingly, part of his success is based on his bipolar disorder. Where others would be afraid to take risks, Ted would take it because of his manic or euphoric periods as a bipolar patient. This period of high peaks can be very productive and so it has been. He was able to build one of the largest information networks in the United States and, by extension, in the world.
He was obviously able to control and subdue the beast called bipolar disorder. Reports show that the disease was generic to Ted, with his father falling victim to it and eventually committing suicide.
10. Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh is a legendary screen and stage goddess. She was such a beautiful actress that she was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. Her career earned her two Oscars, one in 1939 for her role as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind and another 12 years later. Despite her success, she suffered from bipolar disorder.
At that time, mental illnesses were seen differently. This was often seen as a weakness, as doctors did not know what to do with the diagnosis. Vivien’s bipolar disorder symptoms didn’t start early in her career. It started when she was in high school, as her companions would remember. They observed that she could be very excited for weeks and suddenly become rude, hysterical, silent among other depressive traits.
Although she was very successful, she acted in only 20 films, due to her deteriorating mental health. She was said to be difficult to work with, primarily due to her condition. Instead of being treated with lithium as is currently the case, she was treated with electroshock therapy (ECT).
