Mental health disorders can have a serious impact on a person's life and relationships, and when you're a famous celebrity who's every move is being watched by millions of people, the stresses are only that much greater.
That's the reality that singer Mariah Carey has been dealing with. In a candid interview with People Magazine, Mariah speaks about her diagnosis with Bipolar II disorder, her struggles coming to terms with her condition, and her eventual path to treatment.
Mariah was diagnosed with Bipolar I back in 2001, after a hospitalization for a mental breakdown. Still, it took her years to come to terms with her diagnosis, in order to feel comfortable seeking help for her condition.
“Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” says Mariah. “It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love — writing songs and making music.”
There are two types of Bipolar disorder, I and II. I is the more severe of the two, potentially leading to manic episodes that can last a week. These manic episodes are characterized by hyperactivity and insomnia, followed by episodes of deep depression. Bipolar II is similar in that it shares the depressive episodes, but the manic phases are much less intense.
Mariah is currently in therapy and taking medication in order to help treat her disorder.