How do Bipolar Celebrities Cope?

Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is an illness that does not discriminate. Children, teens and adults can suffer from this disorder. Even the rich and famous aren't immune to this illness. There are a number of bipolar celebrities both past and present that are coping with their disorder in much the same way as anyone else. Some celebrities with this disorder decide to use their status to help others gain awareness regarding bipolar disorder, how to recognize it, and how to treat it.

One of the most notable sufferers of bipolar disorder is Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh was a brilliant artist who produced hundreds of masterpieces which now hang in museums around the world. Throughout his life, he suffered from not only bipolar disorder but various episodes of epilepsy, psychosis and delusion. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of these episodes involves the cutting off of his ear, a story that's common knowledge in the art world.

Another famous and more recent sufferer is Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola is known for producing lots of movies. Some of them were wildly successful, others were not. The ups and downs of his movie making career may be directly related to his disorder. On the subject of movies, there are a variety of actors and actresses who suffer or suffered from bipolar disorder. They include comedian Martin Lawrence, action star Jean Claude Van Damme, and legendary screen siren Vivien Leigh.

Actors and actresses aren't the only celebs suffering from bipolar disorder. There are a variety of famous musicians who are also bipolar. They include R&B singer Bobby Brown, rapper DMX, rocker Axl Rose, and even classic songstress Rosemary Clooney. Connie Francis, Phil Spector and even Sting round out the list of some of the musicians known to suffer from some form of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar celebrities are just like everyone else in that they often struggle with their symptoms and have trouble finding the right combination of medication. Reading more about the trials and tribulations of stars with bipolar disorder can help sufferers feel less alone. It's often comforting to realize that even people with unlimited money, power and fame can have this illness. The prevalence of famous people with bipolar disorder is an example of how common and widespread this problem actually is.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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