7 Celebrities Who Opened Up About Their Experience With Bipolar Disorder – TooFab

While it can be hard to argue, several celebrities have gotten extremely candid about their diagnosis. While dealing with mental health issues can be complicated, these stars hope that by sharing their stories, they can break the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder.

Here’s what these celebrities had to share about their diagnosis…

1. Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez recently got incredibly candid about her mental health struggles in her documentary “My Mind and Me.” In the film, she explained that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder several years ago following a terrifying episode of psychosis. In an effort to treat the condition, Selena says she was put on a variety of medications which left her feeling “gone”. She was finally able to get help from another psychiatrist who allowed her to “detox” by reducing her treatment to just two drugs. Even then, she says it was hard work to come to terms with herself and come to terms with her diagnosis.

“When I first came out I had no idea how I was going to cope with my diagnosis. What if it happens again? What if next time I can’t come back? I had to keep learning about it . I needed to take it day by day,” Selena shared in the documentary.

2. Mariah Carey

In 2018, Mariah Carey shared for the first time that she had been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder nearly two decades prior. Mariah says she learned of the disease in 2001 after being hospitalized for physical and mental breakdown. For many years she admits to avoiding treatment, but finally took control after experiencing “the most difficult two years” she has ever been through. She is currently undergoing therapy and taking medication.

“Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear that someone would report me. It was too much of a burden to bear and I just couldn’t do it anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put HIV positive people around me and I started doing what I love again – writing songs and making music,” Mariah told People.

3. Carrie Fisher

Prior to Carrie Fisher’s passing, she was incredibly open about her mental health struggles. When she was just 24, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, although she admits it took an overdose several years later for her to come to terms with the disease. While talking about coping with bipolar disorder, she often stressed the importance of finding a community of people facing a similar struggle. In her book, “Wishful Drinking,” she encouraged others with the same diagnosis to be proud of how far they’ve come.

“Being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this condition and functioning at all, that’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of,” said writes Carrie.

4. Catherine Zeta Jones

After a stay in a mental health facility in 2011, Catherine Zeta-Jones said she suffered from bipolar II disorder. Although it was something she had suffered from for some time, she says the condition was particularly triggered by her husband Michael Douglas’ cancer diagnosis. Although she never planned to speak openly about her struggle, she hoped her honesty might help other people.

“I never wanted to be as open about it as I used to be. I have a stiff British mentality – it wasn’t something I wanted to shout from the rooftops. But when it came to light, I know I’m not the only person who suffers from it or deals with it on a daily basis. So if I’ve helped someone by discussing bipolar or depression, that’s great,” she said. told the Telegraph.

5. David Harbor

David Harbor was 25 when he was diagnosed with bipolar after suffering a manic episode. At the time, David says he was sober and had “a little break” during which he thought he was “in a relationship with some kind of god”. His parents helped him check into a treatment center where he was diagnosed and given medication that helped him manage the disease. By sharing his story, he hopes others can see that it is possible to persevere, despite mental health issues.

“If you’re a kid and you love, you know, living in Oklahoma and you’re 10 and you’ve just been diagnosed with OCD or ADHD or, you know, bipolar, I want you know that, like, you know yourself, you can be a powerful, strong, successful voice – even a strong cultural voice in this world with this, you know, label attached to you. That doesn’t define you, and it doesn’t. is definitely not a death sentence,” David told NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.

6. Halsey

When Halsey was 17, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which she says swings her between manic highs and depressive lows. While Halsey is open about her mental health struggles, she admits she’s been committed to a mental hospital twice without any fans even knowing about it. She says she did it to anticipate manic-depressive periods.

“I have been interned twice since [I became] Halsey, and no one knows. But I’m not ashamed to talk about it now. It’s my choice. I said to [my manager], ‘Hey, I’m not going to do anything wrong right now, but I’m getting to the point where I’m scared to do it, so I have to figure that out.’ It’s still happening in my body. I just know when to put myself in front,” Halsey told Rolling Stone.

seven. Peter Wentz

Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his twenties after spending time trying to self-medicate. Now Pete says he finds balance in having a specific schedule and living with a “purpose”.

“Living with purpose and having a schedule with my family has given me balance. I think it might be different for everyone, but for me just being able to talk about things and meditate and exercising has been helpful,” Pete shared with People.