The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes bipolar disorder (BPD) as a mental illness that involves manic and depressive episodes. BPD affects nearly every aspect of a person’s life if untreated; thankfully there are medications and treatment options to help people better manage their symptoms. There are several celebrities who experience BPD and now that mental health is becoming a more appropriate topic of discussion, many are speaking out about their experiences and giving advice to others who are experiencing it, too.
For example, Demi Lovato told WomensHealthMag.com,
“…it’s possible to live well, feel well, and also find happiness with bipolar disorder or any other mental illness they’re struggling with.”
These words hold a lot of weight for fans of Lovato’s – people who are inspired by her music and look up to her. Buzzfeed states that after the tragic death of Robin Williams, Wayne Brady opened up about his mental health. He stated,
“It took me awhile to get my stuff together, to go, ‘You know what? If you’re not happy, you have to do something about it.’ Just to admit that you are feeling this way is a huge step. To claim that, to say, ‘Why do I feel dark? Why do I feel unhappy? Let me do something about this.’
It’s clear that for many people, admitting the need for help is difficult. Most of the time, we place our mental health on the backburner because we choose to focus on what seems to be more pressing needs at the time – maintaining family responsibilities, keeping up with work-related tasks, doing everything we can to keep up with the demanding requests of an addiction, and more. Although this happens, it’s important for us to stay on top of making sure that our mental health is taken care of. After all, it’s most dangerous when mental illnesses arise because of our inaction. Catherine Zeta Jones has spoken about her bipolar disorder to help reduce stigma. She stated,
“...I hope fellow sufferers know that [bipolar disorder] is completely controllable. I hope I can help remove any stigma attached to it, and that those who don’t have it under control will seek help with all that is available to treat it.”
Celebrities are people who have experienced tragedy, mental illness, and more. Thankfully with more help from celebrities, we can make mental illness an even more common discussion, one that is centered around love and support.
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