It was big news when pop megastar Mariah Carey recently disclosed that she has been dealing with bipolar disorder since being diagnosed in 2001. In an interview with People magazine, Carey said she is diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. (Bipolar II is a less severe form of the disorder than bipolar I disorder. While both forms of the illness are characterized by mood swings including bouts of severe depression, in bipolar II, the periods of elevated mood are called hypomania, which is less intense than the full-blown mania seen in bipolar I. More on this difference here.)
Mariah Carey is certainly not the first (nor the last) celebrity to disclose their personal struggles with mental illness. Other notable examples include Carrie Fisher, Demi Lovato, Glenn Close, Patty Duke, Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chrissy Teigen, Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez, and Britney Spears, just to name a few.
Nevertheless, Carey’s disclosure is notable because she is such a well-known public figure. Also, her comments and experiences reinforce several important lessons to keep in mind about what it means to be diagnosed with and to live with a mental illness. Let’s take a look:
- People often struggle for years before being diagnosed with a mental illness. Carey thought she had a “severe sleep disorder” for years before being diagnosed with bipolar.
- After diagnosis, many people suffer in silence, often for long periods of time. Carey was diagnosed in 2001 and did not publicly disclose the illness until 17 years later.
- Denial is a common reaction to being diagnosed with a mental illness. Carey said she “lived in denial” and “didn’t want to believe” she had the illness.
- The stigma and fear about being labeled with a mental illness is real. Carey said she “didn’t want to carry around the stigma of a lifelong disease that would define me and potentially end my career.”
- Because of denial, people sometimes don’t seek or accept treatment. Carey disclosed that she only recently engaged in mental health treatment.
- Treatment helps. Although she did not participate in treatment for several years, Carey says she is now in therapy and taking medication. She says she is “in a really good place right now.”
- Mental illnesses affect people from all walks of life. Large scale national surveys typically show that around 1 in 5 adults will experience a mental illness at some point in their lifetime. These illnesses cut across socioeconomic level, gender, age, and geographic region.
- Mental illness does not define a person. In Carey’s interview, she said of her illness, “I refuse to allow it to define me or control me.”
- Support is a key to healing and recovery. Carey said she has “put positive people around [her]” for “physical and emotional support.”
- A focus on total health (both mind and body) is important. Carey said she engages in a number of self-care activities, including “exercise, acupuncture, eating healthy, writing songs and making music.”
Disclosure of mental illness by public figures can be empowering, both to the person sharing their story and to others. Carey said she had been “inspired by the courage” of others who had shared their struggles with mental illness. She went on to say she hoped her account would help others and “because it’s a freeing experience for me.”
After making her disclosure, Carey said on social media she has been “uplifted” by “overwhelming support.” Subsequently, articles such as this one by Kiana Fitzgerald, have already appeared, describing how people have been encouraged by Carey’s disclosure to now come forward and share their own mental health struggles.
You may also know that I regularly feature interviews with people who share their personal experiences about surviving and thriving while dealing with mental health challenges. Please check out dozens of these courageous and inspiring “Stories of Hope” here.
Here’s a question: What are your reactions when someone discloses their personal struggles with mental illness? Please leave a comment. Also, please subscribe to my blog and feel free to follow me on X (formerly Twitter), “like” my Facebook page, or connect on LinkedIn. Finally, if you enjoyed this article, please share it with a friend!