Author of My Heart and Other Black Holes, Jasmine Warga wrote, “Maybe we all have darkness inside of us and some of us are better at dealing with it than others.” The world that we live in is a complicated place and we are constantly facing the choice between the light and the dark. While some of us have become adept at finding the light moments, others struggle at it and swing between the two extremes.
Bipolar disorder (also formerly called manic depression) is a mental condition which causes extreme mood swings that include states of euphoria and depression. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this disorder affects nearly 60 million people worldwide– a number too strong to ignore.
While talking about mental health is still considered a taboo in the world, many Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities have come forward and admitted to suffering from bipolar disorder (BPD). The list includes Indian rapper Honey Singh, princess of pop Britney Spears, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Demi Lovato, Star Wars’ Princess Leia and Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta-Jones among others.
Honey Singh (Photo: Express photo)
“Truth is, I was suffering from bipolar disorder. It went on for 18 months, during which I changed four doctors, the medication wasn’t working and crazy things were happening,” Honey Singh said as he opened up about his condition in an interview with the Times of India. “It was scary. One year had passed and I wasn’t responding to medicines until the fourth doctor from Delhi treated me. At one point, I thought I would live in this darkness forever,” he added.
Demi Lovato (Photo: Facebook)
“If anything, I’m proud to be bipolar and speak about it. Bipolar is a mood disorder. I deal with mood swings, I deal with episodes of mania, and bipolar-depression phases as well. But I’ve used my voice to help others, and I feel proud that I’ve been able to do that,” Demi Lovato shared in an interview with the Rolling Stones magazine about her condition.
Britney Spears (Photo: Facebook/Britney Spears)
“I have always been kind of shy since I was a little girl. It’s who I am to be modest, so I really can’t help it. I turn into this different person…seriously, bipolar disorder,” Britney Spears said about her condition.
So, what is Bipolar disorder?
According to the Mayo Clinic, BPD is a mental health condition which causes extreme mood swings in an individual. An individual may feel hopeless and lose interest in all activities. Alternatively, he/she might feel euphoric and full of energy. These episodes may occur multiple times in a year or rarely.
So, what are its symptoms?
Typically, its symptoms include depression, which includes suicidal thoughts, fatigue, hopelessness, restlessness, indecisiveness, psychosis, mania, and hypomania, which includes increased activity, exaggerated self-confidence, decreased need for sleep, poor decision making, and distractibility, and in some cases Cushing’s disease, stroke, or multiple sclerosis.
How is Bipolar disorder treated?
Bipolar disorder can be managed using a combination of psychotherapy and medications which include mood stabilisers and antipsychotics drugs.
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