Is Bipolar Disorder a Hidden Struggle for Hollywood Stars?

Did you know that Bipolar disorder affects an estimated 2.8 percent of US adults? Considering that this mental health condition is still very stigmatized, a lot of celebrities choose to speak about their experiences. It’s not easy to be vulnerable in front of the world, which is why we should be more appreciative of them.

The National Institute of Mental Health is trying to keep the condition under control, but there are millions of Americans affected.

In case you don’t really know what Bipolar disorder means, Mayo Clinic offered a simple definition of it. The disorder is characterized by oscillating emotional highs and lows. These unpredictable changes aren’t normal and often result in disruptions to their lifestyles. There are two kinds of situations, both being dangerous and disruptive for an individual’s well-being. Some people may experience mania and may engage in reckless behaviors, while others may isolate themselves and experience depression.

Psychiatrists are talking about two different forms of bipolar: bipolar I and bipolar II. And contrary to popular belief, there is no “less severe” form of bipolar disorder. The difference is that, people who are diagnosed with bipolar I have had at least one manic episode, compared to those diagnosed with bipolar II form, which is associated with at least one hypomanic episode, but no manic episodes. The major depression associated with bipolar II demonstrates that the condition can be just as serious as mania.

Are Celebrities Helping to Normalize Bipolar Disorder?

Celebrities contributed a lot to the way the disorder is perceived in the world. More and more people are seeing this health condition as a treatable mental health disorder, not something to be ashamed of. So, in case you have it. Talk about it! You shouldn’t be scared, and your story could influence a lot of other patients! Be the change!

Let’s see who are the 15 celebrities who spoke multiple times about their experiences with bipolar disorder.

Mariah Carey

The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter first spoke publicly about her experience with bipolar II disorder in 2018, when she offered an interview for PEOPLE. Mariah Carey was diagnosed in 2011, but it wasn’t easy for her to open up since the beginning. She claimed that when first found out about what she was dealing with, she didn’t want to believe that she needed help.

The superstar said that until recently she lived in denial and she hoped that no one would expose her. It was too hard for her to carry the disorder and fight against it. Mariah Carey said that the positive people around her saved her life and once she started receiving treatment she felt significantly better. Writing songs and making music are other things that kept her mind busy.

Carrie Fisher

Before she died in 2016, the actress used to spread awareness about mental health issues. Carrie Fisher wrote a book about her journey and experiences with overdosing and bipolar disorder. The book is called “Wishful Drinking” and helped the beloved actress heal. She claimed multiple times that there’s no other way to heal than accepting your issues and fighting against them. At first, she didn’t do it and ended up overdosing. So, she is a truly inspiring celebrity and we should learn from her lessons.

David Harbour

Stranger Things star was diagnosed at the age of 25, and he recounted the whole story in a 2018 episode of a famous podcast. He told the host, Marc Manon that he had an alarming episode, so his family checked him into a psychiatric hospital.

Today, the famous actor manages his symptoms with mood-stabilizing medications. He is also happy that he learned what his triggers were, so now he has better control of the entire situation.

Demi Lovato

The Disney Channel star shared her diagnosis in 2011 when she was just 18 years old. The artist used they/them and she/her pronouns for a long time and talked in numerous situations about what it was like living with bipolar disorder over the years.

Demi Lovato said that she had multiple beautiful moments in her tours when she couldn’t be happy with her fans and all she did was cry and ignore all the people who were there to see her. Getting diagnosed helped her to get proper treatment and control her extreme emotions. Even though the journey wasn’t easy at all for Demi Lovato and she was also experiencing a near-fatal drug overdose in 2018, the singer says that now she is doing better than ever.

Halsey

The singer was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 17. Unfortunately, even after so many years of learning how to manage her symptoms, there are still times when she feels completely overwhelmed by her emotions. Since launching her career she ended up multiple times in psychiatric care. Halsey publicly spoke about her condition in 2021, in an interview for Rolling Stone, when she revealed that she is not ashamed anymore to say that she has nearly died twice since she became popular.

The good part is that she feels she can better control her health condition now, but it’s still challenging and she still needs time to profoundly understand what is going on in her body.

Bebe Rexha

Even though she was very scared of criticism, the singer went public with her bipolar diagnosis in 2019. She hoped that by sharing her story she could help other people in need. Bebe Rexha also shared that the biggest fear in her life is not to go crazy. She felt that by sharing her experiences and her journey with her fans, she could finally beat the condition and now be imprisoned by the disorder.

Over the years, the singer raised awareness and helped a lot of people accept their conditions and start their way to healing. It’s not easy to accept that you are sick, but it’s for sure the first step you need to take in order to feel better. Bebe Rexha even released a song about the disorder. It’s called “Break My Heart Myself”.

Jane Pauley

Jane Pauley is an Emmy-winning broadcast journalist who was diagnosed at 50 years old. It was a completely unusual situation, because most of the patients were diagnosed before 25 years old. After a lot of years when she was getting treatments for other issues, Jane Pauley was finally correctly diagnosed.

Jane Pauley wrote a memoir in 2004, called “Skywriting” where she said that she takes lithium, a mood-stabilizing drug that’s used to treat bipolar disorder. She also wrote how the treatment helped her feel a lot better and she managed to keep the depressive episodes under control. She has become one of the most visible faces of bipolar conditions today.

Selena Gomez

Last but not least, on our list, is one of the most loved artists of all time. Selena Gomez is known for spreading awareness about mental health. She even owns a beauty brand called Rare which supports the importance of well-being and personal care. Yearly, on Mental Health Day, she donates all the profit of her brand, to honorable causes fighting against mental health conditions.

Selena Gomez opened up about her bipolar diagnosis in 2020 in an Instagram Live convo with her friend Miley Cyrus. The artist shared that she felt like a huge weight was lifted off her, the minute she was diagnosed. Once she started her treatment, she was feeling much better. Now, she is in total control of her symptoms.

Are you a bipolar disorder patient? Write us about your experience in the comment section found below. We also have a recommendation for you. There is a great Mental Health Great Journal that can be found on Amazon, and help you follow your progress. Check it out!

Are you interested in learning more about mental health? You should also read: 10 Early Psychotic Signs You Need Therapy Now.