Famous Bipolar People

People who have bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, are characteristically involved in cycles of deep depression mixed with periods of hyper mania. Sometimes their mood can switch from high to low, then back to high, in a very short amount of time. More often than not, though, the mood swings are slow and gradual. The symptoms of people with untreated bipolar disorder may be severe and can often lead to function impairment in their daily lives.

When bipolar people are in a manic state, their thinking, social behavior, and judgement is skewed and can cause them serious problems and embarrassment. In their severe depressive lows, people with this condition are barely able to function in any kind of normal state.

It has been estimated that approximately 3% of the population suffers from bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers enable and aid in the stabilization of the psychiatric problem so that these people are better able to live normal lives. These medications, along with counseling, give them the opportunity to be better equipped to handle daily stresses.

My husband suffers from bipolar disorder, so I often find myself researching the subject to better understand it. I was astounded to find out the number of people who are affected by this kind of depression. Bipolar disorder does not discriminate. There are hundreds of famous bipolar people, as well.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is credited with leading America through its civil war and ending slavery. Even though he is considered to be the greatest American President ever, he was also the first to be assassinated.

Lincoln is thought to have suffered from bipolar disorder because he was described as having a tendency towards melancholy. He always had a sad and mournful expression. A smile from him was said to ruin his pictures. His manic depression came about from the many losses of people he loved in his life-his mother, son, and wife.

Buzz Aldrin is the famous astronaut who piloted Apollo 11, the first successful landing on the moon. He is the second person to have stepped foot on the moon's surface.

Aldrin suffered from bipolar disorder, leading to long lasting cycles of depression. His 2 books, Return to Earth and Magnificent Desolation, both provide histories of the struggles he encountered with alcoholism and manic depression after he retired from the space program. Aldrin explained that he had not been prepared and able to handle the fame he received from landing on the moon. He spent a lot of time in and out of treatment centers.

Jim Carrey began his career as a comedian at a young age, then went into acting. The roles he played in many movies wire instant hits. He earned a record of $20 million in one movie.

When Carrey acted in the movie Me, Myself, and Irene, doctors speculated that he may have a tenancy towards violence and a split personality. Later on in his career, Carrey said he was suffering from depression. At the age of 16, his family had problems that deeply affected him. He and his siblings had to work as janitors and in security. This caused him to become very angry, depressed, and aggressive. This could have been a trigger to his bipolar disorder, as he said he became so depressed at times that all he could do was cry.

Jim Carrey had depression even at the highest pints in his career. He publicly announced this and pleaded for help, stating he had many "peaks and valleys." This, of course, is almost the exact definition of someone who is suffering from bipolar disorder.

Marilyn Monroe is an American Icon of pop music and culture, and another one of the famous bipolar people I found. She has been heavily touted for her breakthrough roles as an actress, singer, and model. She played leading roles in movies like Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like it Hot, and The Seven Year Itch.

Monroe suffered from serious cycles of manic depression (bipolar disorder) throughout her lifetime. Her first known episode came when her mother died. Her depression worsened from her multiple marital issues. She became an alcoholic and often exploded in anger. She was known to be overly aggressive with coworkers and friends. Also, she was very self defensive and cautious of anyone who came around her.

Marilyn Monroe's autopsy showed she died from an overdose of pills. To this day, there is still debate as to whether she was trying to kill herself or just trying to cope with her depression.

Ozzy Osbourne is the famous British singer and writer of Black Sabbath. he is ranked as one of the greatest 100 heavy metal vocalists. He and his wife are known to be one of the richest couples in Britain. Also known for his yearly music event, Ozzfest, his heavy metal style is known and loved by many.

Osbourne is believed to have bipolar disorder due to his multiple depressive episodes. He had depression when he was in Black Sabbath and was always under the influence of illegal drugs. This led him to be kicked out of the band. After the deaths of some of the members of the band he formed, the "Ozzy Osbourne Band", he fell into an even deeper depression.

Ozzy's bipolarity came out in his music through notes such as, "Where to hide, suicide is the only way out. don't you know what it's really about?" He also had bouts of aggression during his shows in which he would slaughter animals or bite their heads off, on stage, in front of thousands of fans. He even used to throw live animal parts into the crowd. It has also been reported that Ozzy acted possessed and slaughtered 70 cats.

All of this shows advanced signs of untreated bipolar disorder.

Robin Williams is an American comedian who began his rise to fame in the TV series Mork and Mindy. He has won many Academy Awards for his roles in movies, as well as a number of Grammy Awards and Golden Globes. In 2004, he was voted number 13 out of 100 as one of the greatest stand up comedians of all time.

People have said that Williams suffers from bipolar disorder. Contingents argue that, behind his performances in many of his movies, manic depression was involved. He has been known to throw out his scripts and make up his own lines. Writers who know him said Robin suffered major bouts of depression after breaking up with girlfriends. This, in turn, affected his stage performances and led him to make fun of serious life issues.

Robin Williams' manic episodes almost always arise during interviews. He rambles on and on, jumping from one topic to another. He is hardly able to contain himself, or sit still for one minute. He generally turns the tails on the interviewer, making it impossible for them to get a straight answer from him.

Drew Carey gained his fame as a stand up comedian. He became even more popular with his show, The Drew Carey Show. He has appeared in many movies, music videos, TV shows, and even in a computer game. He is also now the game show host of The Price Is Right.

Carey announced in an interview with Nancy O'Dell that he had suffered from manic depression for a very long time. He admitted that he tried to kill himself when he was 18, and then again when he was 20 years old. his depression is thought to have been caused by the sudden death of his father when Drew was a young boy.

Drew Carey should be commended because instead of turning to illegal drugs and alcohol to treat his depression, he learned to bebelieve in himself by reading and learning everything he could about his condition.

Mel Gibson is an extremely well known Australian American actor, screenwriter, film director, and producer. He has earned many awards and honors for his performances. He has also built a reputation as a comedian through his demonstration of practical jokes in the making of his movies.

Gibson has been unfortunately caught speaking his mind on some taboo subjects. He has openly expressed his feelings against homophobia, causing the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to protest him. He also has sparked controversy in the the Catholic community, stating why he believes women should not be priests.

Throughout Mel Gibson's acting career, he has had a bad time with depression, and was reported to be bipolar. He was addicted to alcohol and made many of his controversial statements under the influence. On one such occasion, he planned to kill himself during a show. This was attributed to his inability to control his untreated bipolar disorder. After he spent time in rehab, he publicly admitted to having manic depression.

Although not much is known of Gibson's childhood, it is believed that some aspects of his experiences during this time led to a worsening of his disease. Others believe his condition was spurred on by the stresses of his fame.

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is more common than society may have us believe. Many people can go their whole lives being undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed. Famous bipolar people are in the small majority of those who suffer from this mental illness that can be debilitating if left untreated.