Mariah Carey Opens Up About Her Battle With Bipolar Disorder In ‘People’
Mariah Carey opened up about her ongoing battle with bipolar disorder in an interview with People. Released today (April 11), the feature offered her an opportunity to speak about her initial diagnosis with the disorder in 2001 and how she has changed her perspective since then. “I didn’t want to believe it,” she said of her first diagnosis. It was not until more recently, after what she referred to as “the hardest couple of years,” that the siren sought treatment.
“Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” she said of her silent battle. However, she said reaching out has helped set her back on track. “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.”
Now Mimi’s diagnosis is bipolar II, and she is taking medication and in therapy. This helps her deal with the periods of depression and hypomania (a less severe form of mania, which is associated with bipolar I disorder, according to People). “I’m actually taking medication that seems to be pretty good. It’s not making me feel too tired or sluggish or anything like that. Finding the proper balance is what is most important,” she explained. She added that the treatment seems to be helping, and that she wanted to shed light on her battle to help lift the stigma off discussing mental illness.
“I’m just in a really good place right now, where I’m comfortable discussing my struggles with bipolar II disorder. I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone. It can be incredibly isolating. It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to define me or control me.” Read the rest of Mimi’s interview here and check out the cover before it hits newsstands below!
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