I am.
And always will be.
She has done more for bipolar disorder management in one day than all of the books written in the last year. She has put her gorgeous face on what is often seen as a crazy, out of control face. She has a family and a life. She shows it can be done. I want to learn more on what kind of bipolar II she has as it seems pretty darn well under control- but I am sure more will come out about that.
My note to her!
Thank you Catherine Zeta Jones. You have saved lives- you have made it ok to use the words bipolar disorder, By saying you have bipolar II (two), you will open a discussion about the different forms of the illness! By putting out an informed press release and being open about bipolar disorder, you have done more in one day to encourage openness than all of the speculation about Britney Spears and all of the worry over Charlie Sheen’s obvious manic episode has encourage secrecy and exploitation in the media.
I will be forever grateful. It makes my work a lot easier!
Julie
PS: I love you in All That Jazz!
Is it really true that someone can go until her age and then all of a sudden be triggered into bi-polar. This seems strange to me.
Right on Julie!!I was so surprised when I read this and how they talked about Bipolar(Surprise-surprise)A person living with bipolar who checked herself in to a hospital to take care of her condition before it got out of hand(ex. Charlie Sheen)I have always liked Catherine-she is just soo beautiful. but now this what a class act!!!! I wonder if she ever took a WRAP class(Wellness Recovery Action Plan)or a peer support classs because I have taken both of these and have learned that I am my best advocate of my illness and have a plan of what to do when a trigger happens.Sounds like it cause she was pro-active and took care of herself.Wow wish we could get her to do some mental health speaking like at DBSA or NAMI. Like you do You know you are my hero after I met you and heard you speak in Virginia at DBSA I thought I would like to be like Julie someday.You make such a difference to so many people.Thanks Julie, Sue Atkinson
bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/
Catherine Zeta-Jones Seeks Treatment for Bipolar 2 Disorder – what courage, and without ranting ,raving and acting crazy. Just admitting she has a problem and seeking help.
I, too have Bipolar 2. I admire Catherine Zeta Jones tremendously for her courage.
Bravo for her for getting this disorder out in the open – and by someone so beautiful and sharp!
Jean Thieme
“I want to learn more on what kind of bipolar II she has as it seems pretty darn well under control- but I am sure more will come out about that.”
I think this kind of curiosity hinders people from revealing any kind of mental health problems. People then want MORE info.; they want all the graphic details. What were her symptoms? How “crazy” did she get, etc.?
I think she should have the option to reveal as little or as much as she wants–even if it is only what she has revealed so far. People should be allowed to have privacy. If I am being treated for any medical condition, it should be my choice to reveal to people what info. I want to–not to have the “public” demand it because I am a public figure (which I am not). I do not reveal the nitty gritty details so as not to worry my grown children. I’m still fighting severe symptoms despite being medication compliant & doing individual therapy & DBT.
I have “bad” genes (mother schizo affective; my dx is bipolar I) & had a lot of “bad” stuff happen to me in my childhood. I don’t want all that to be revealed.
Sometimes a public figure “reveals” a situation such as this as they are aware that one of the media “rags” are going to break the story so the person feels pressured to reveal it in such a way as to diffuse the tabloid sensationalism.
It is sad that often one is “forced” to reveal personal info. before one is ready to or even when one is not “choosing” to do so.
I say let her be & don’t pry. If she wants us to know anything further, she’ll tell us…
Later on a “Show Biz” news type show it was revealed that she did indeed reveal her bipolar condition in advance of the National Enquirer doing a story about it. Many times people who are in the public have to tell things about themselves & their lives that they don’t particularly want to, but they don’t want it told by the National Enquirer but to be able to tell it w/their own “spin” & without all the sensationalism that the National Enquirer would do. Sad but true that the “rags” are all trying to “out” people.
After u claimed Charlie Sheen bipolar [i would say he has addiction issues], I asked 2 b taken off of ur email list. Now another movie star ~ whatever ~ as I mentioned in my last letter, u tend 2 b very shallow, i.e., charging 4 health cards that would help some1 w/the same disorder u have! shame on u. what about people like myself, not a celebrity, but 2,000+ friends on FB, that peer facilitate support groups & really HELP others?
Lauretta, How cruel!!!I have met Julie-she was speaking at the DBSA(Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) conference in Virginia.Julie is all about support groups and she just happens to be a very intelligent(most people with bipolar are) person who is living with bipolar and has written some very good books and these living with cards. She talked openly about her illness and how it has and still does affect her daily. Drs. on all of the networks have said Charlie Sheen was bipolar(hence his clean drug tests taken in the past few weeks while still ranting and raving)and have you not heard about his shows he is doing ?Why someone doesn’t step up and get this guy some help-before he ends up dead.That is what can happen and does with people with out of control bipolar.Julie is a very compassionate person and you my dear are very cruel.
i am a 35 year old mother of 3. my children are ages 18(boy),14(boy),13(girl). I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 1 year ago. i didn’t understand what was going on with me and my family thinks im just plain Nuts. I don’t really understand my sickness so i can’t expect others to. its been hard for me to deal with it. i found out i had this from a suicide attempt. i have no support system and sometimes i don’t know if im coming or going. having this makes me feel like a horrible person, sometimes i hate myself. My oldest son doesn’t like me…his exact words are “I HATE U”. I don’t know how i developed this mental illness, and i don’t know how long i’ve had it. it has put a strain on my family and my relationships. i guess im writing to see if there is anyone out there that understands. i havent taken any medicine for my illness in about 6 months because my family thought it wasn’t necessary, which made me 2nd guess as to whether or not i needed it. after reading about it and seeing that im not suffering alone i realize now that i do need it. I drink on a daily basis, and i smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. if there is anyone out there that can relate or have any comments for me, please reach out…
You’re not alone. Take your meds and hang in there. It does get better. I have BP1 and have struggled for years and now I’m finally on the right combination of meds and I actually feel normal. LOL Your kids will forgive you after you are stable and it may be rocky at times with teenagers but please get back on your meds.
Tiffany: The most important thing I read in your comment was that you haven’t taken an y medicine in 6 months because your family thought it wasn’t necessary. Honey, they don’t understand our illness and maybe they never will. They want you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get over it. Would they deny you medicine if you have diabetes? This is an illness. A real illness. YOU have to make a commitment to doing everything you can to stay well. Taking your medicine and working with a doctor who will moniter what works for you and what doesn’t and what can work better is the number one most imortant factor. You can be a highly functioning member of society. I am and I am a single mother of 3 children who’s father did not want me on medication. I made a lifetime commitment to my medication and through therapy I have walked through the mindfield of being bullied by both my sons and my ex. It is so hard, but you will get through this. Your children will get more mature and you all will look back and start to understand it. I understand, I truly do. Get help, start to love yourself. You didn’t ask for this, but the truly great thing about it is that if we are going to have a mental illness (I hate calling it that because I prefer to say that we have a brain chemistry dysfunction) then this one is the one to have because it is highly treatable and there are a lot of great drugs out there. Good luck. You are not alone! -Renee
Thank you, thank you Catherine Zeta-Jones and also Julie A. Fast for talking about Bipolar Disorder. Hopefully it will help friends and Relatives understand my behavior better.
I am grateful that she was honest and up front about her treatment need.However the author of this original article makes the comparison to BPI from BPII so many times that once again those with BPI feel like fresh dog doo on our new suede boots. Some of this is the numbers game. We Americans suffer from having to have numbers about everything.
Regardless of whether we have I or II Bipolar Disorder (formerly manic depression), requires strict adherence to medical and spiritual principles if
afflicted people are to function in family and society.
Forget the numbers comparison. It is good to show a fancy gorgeous talented star who has been performing for years and has let the Bipolar Disorder CAT out of the bag and there is no gun or jail sentence looming. Admirable
I too am a member of your fan club. I admire those who deal with grace and honesty and hope it confers the same respect for you as you have had for others. The sad thing is to find l)the stigma is huge still 2) as with all such illness, it is grossly misunderstood and therefore mishandled. No one should suffer from this or any other affliction, but to learn how to handle it with the most dignity for the individual and life altogether, is what we strive for for each one who suffers from bipolar disorder. Much can and is being learned, and I wish you well and know you’re already a champ!
It is so important that people like you have come forth and are able to show the world that bipolar disorder can be treated with success. You surly know the “power of pushing the positive with bipolar disorder.” It proves that you can continue to raise a family and live and work in your chosen field as a fantastic actress. I look forward to you next two films.
Best of Luck to you !
Dr Fred
Hello Miss Jones or rather Mrs. Douglas,
I have been a fan since the “…Buds of May”. I know I’m going back a few years, I can only say that I was very impressed with your talent for such a young person.
You were very open during the time that Mr.Douglas was ill despite all the stupid questions that were asked and managed to box your way through the press as well a you could.
I would like to wish you all the very best and hope, truely from the heart, that you manage to overcome this difficult time that you are now going through.
You have fans out here who are thinking of and feeling with you. When you feel up to it please let us know how you are.
gorau o ran
June Baker
I think Tiffany should also be given a break. I recently had hand surgery & while the stitches were being taken out the hand SURGEON said to me that I was on too many medications (bipolar meds as well as thyroid, cholesterol, blood pressure, pernicious anemia, low potassium, ADHD–have metabolic syndrome now from bipolar meds).
I have been in incredible pain for a year & had signed for the surgeon to communicate w/my psych meds provider as I needed to be “put under” & anesthesia had not worked for me previously (during a colonoscopy where cutting was involved–sorry to be so graphic, but you do not want the surgeon to be cutting stuff out of you when the anesthesia is not working!!).
My children (grown now: 34-years-old & 31)still think my medications are not needed (have been dxed as bipolar for 25 years {mother was dxed as schizo affective}). I was misdiagnosed since 15 (unipolar depression after 1st suicide attempt). They have seen all the horrific side effects as new meds were tried. I haven’t revealed my inner pain, my paranoia, etc. (tried as best as I could to shield them from my stuff but did explain my depression was not their fault & I was going to a doc to try to get help from when they were a very young age; unfortunately, they have seen me deeply depressed from a very young age).
So it is not only family members who tell you not to take meds, it is doctors (like my hand surgeon) who are not experts on psych meds & conditions who think you are “drug addicts” or something if you have to take a drug “cocktail.” I told the hand surgeon at my next appt. he must not deal w/very many bipolar patients who have been in excruciating pain for a year (not to mention having had several suicide attempts which I didn’t tell him; I don’t think I should have to tell everyone all the gory details) or bipolar people who have not had much sleep (I had to be put on morphine due to not being able to sleep due to pain by a pain management doc {also renowned anesthesiologist}–another stigma–pain medication!!!; another surgery in a month–think it is some kind of auto immune thing in combination w/severe carpal tunnel damage)–bipolar patients do not want to be on these meds & often will look for any excuse (like a DOCTOR telling you) to stop taking them.
I was really angry & felt “guilty” & “wrong”, etc. & I did go off my meds after his comment suddenly & totally & guess what? Trouble! Not only did my pain increase (Lamictal that was prescribed for bipolar I actually was helping some w/the nerve pain as it is a “cousin” to Neurotin which is prescribed for nerve pain & I was lucky that I didn’t have a seizure by stopping it suddenly after being on Lamictal for 25 years).
That doctor should have talked to my meds provider if he was that concerned–not to me while he is taking out my stitches!!
Don’t you get tired of it all? Hiding your condition? Hiding your meds? Being judged so severely even from the medical professionals? Having horrible side effects. I certainly do!
Just started back on Lamictal after a month off (& my pain is excruciating again) but you have to titrate it up slowly to avoid side effects so it will be weeks before it helps relieve any pain…
Catherine Zeta-Jones…YOU ARE MY HERO!