Kanye, Selena Gomez have bipolar disorder. Why is there a stigma? – USA TODAY

Kim Kardashian comments on husband Kanye West's bipolar disorder

Kim Kardashian calls for "compassion and empathy" after husband Kanye Wast's recent comments, stating he struggles with bipolar disorder.

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Like many people,Joscelyn Guzmanknew what it was like to be depressed. For much of her life, she had been shown compassion and empathy whenever she spoke about her struggles with depression that is, until, she experienced a bipolar manic episode.

For onemonth, Guzman was riddled withuncontrollable euphoria. She channeled herenergy into impulsive hobbies and could notsleep or eat for days. If she wanted a T-shirt, she wound up spendinghundreds of dollars on a shopping spree.If she wanted to make a YouTube video, she'd record hours of footagein the middle of the night.

Inone of the worstmoments of her manic episode, Guzman convincedherself that her confidencewas super-human.That her lack of sleep or foodmade her immortal.

She believed she wasGod.

"I haven't shared this very much," says Guzman, 26."People would probably look down on me for saying that, but in my mind, I really couldn't control it."

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But one day, herhighwasreplaced with a newfound wave of paranoia,depressionand suicidal thoughts a lowthat wasso sudden andoverwhelming, it prompted a hospital visit.And shortly after, Guzman was officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder.More specifically, bipolar I, whichcauses manicepisodes that last at least 7 days and depressive episodes that last at least two weeks, according to theNational Institute of Mental Health.

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It's a complex and misunderstood diagnosisthat, despite growing awareness, is still stigmatized.

The pandemic accelerated a positive movement towardmental health prioritization, but experts and those who have dealt with more severe mental health issues,like mania, say the empathy and understanding doesn't always extend to conditions like bipolar disorder.

"I think everybody who reads this story will have mental health problems," says Patrick Corrigan, aprofessor of psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology. "Everyone knows what it means to be depressed or (have) anxiety, but the fundamental thing about stigma is difference. While one may get depressed occasionallyor a bit euphoric once in a while, most people don't know what it's like to be in the throes of a manic episode."

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Like depression, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by shifts inenergy, activity levels and concentration.The difference, however, is those with bipolar disorder experience alternating periods of depression and mania.

A manic episode typically lasts from a few weeks to a few months, accordingto Kay Redfield Jamison, a professor of psychiatry at theJohn Hopkins School of Medicine. Common signs can include "extreme irritability and paranoia, grandiosity and euphoria, changing in thinking (and) speaking a lot, very rapidly."

"People get highly sociable and disruptive. People sleep much less, are much more activated in general. It's a very high-energy state."Jamison, who specializes in mood disorders, also has firsthand experience with bipolar disorder, writing about it inher book, "An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness."

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In some cases, manic episodes can also include elements of psychosis,such as delusions, which Corriganexplainsare false, grandiose beliefs ("like 'I'm a man on the moon'") as well asvisual or auditory hallucinations.

At first, no one helped Guzman during her month-long manic episode. It wasn't because they didn't care. It's because they didn't know.

On the outside, her energy seemed uncharacteristicbut not eyebrow-raising.Friends and familydidn't recognize that she was plagued by powerful delusions while getting little-to-no sleep each night.

But this nuance,experts warn, is part of the complexity of bipolar disorder.

Often times, the media depicts mania (or even "maniacs") in an extremeway. Characters experiencing psychosis, like DC Comic's Harley Quinn, are oftenstereotyped with"crazy behavior. Hearing things, seeing things, talking to yourself and making no sense," Corrigan says.

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The realityis thatmania can manifest in subtle and positive ways at first, making it harder to spot.Singer Bebe Rexha said, in a tweet announcing her diagnosis,the "highs" initially contributed to her strong work ethic.And Kanye West, who has rapped about hisbipolar disorder,is often glamorizedby some fans.

"Sometimes, the maniaseemspositive, but I know it can get really dark. That's why it's important we don't make it seem like this amazing thing, because it's not: It's your mind not being OK, and the real-life consequence is death," Guzman says.

Jamison adds, "It is a very interesting illness and certainly associated with creativity, which runs the risk of romanticizing a very potentially lethal illness." The rate of suicide among people who deal with bipolar disorderis approximately 10 to 30 times higher than the general population, research has shown, with2060% of them attemptingsuicide at least once in their lifetime.

In recent years, more people have been spreading awareness about the importance of de-stigmatizing bipolar disorder including celebrities.

In 2018, Mariah Careyrevealed her bipolar diagnosis, encouraging others to seek treatment after "the hardest couple of years I've been through." Selena Gomezhas shared her personalexperiences in an effort to rid the shame often associated with it, andWest has challengedthe "crazy" label that is often slapped onto mental illness.EvenHalsey, also diagnosed with bipolar disorder, responded to the lack of compassion towardWest duringhis public mental health struggle.

"Im so disturbed by what Im seeing," Halsey tweeted. "A manic episode isn't a joke. If you cant offer understanding or sympathy, offer your silence."

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Open, judgement-free conversations about mental health that gobeyond sadness and anxietyare the first step to de-stigmatization and compassion.

"Know about mania. Know about your illness. Know about the treatments for it. Always ask questions," says Jamison.

Beyond awareness, however, Corrigan emphasizes the importance of learning about these diagnoses by listening topeople's real-life experiences.It'swhat inspiredGuzman to shareher story with us.

"There's so much stigma around mental illness in general and then especially bipolar disorder," she says. "But I'm going to keep talking about being diagnosed bipolar. I'm going to talk about being in therapy. I'm going to talk about mental illness."

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis,call the988 Suicide and Crisis Lifelinewhich provides confidential 24/7 support by dialing 9-8-8.

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Kanye, Selena Gomez have bipolar disorder. Why is there a stigma? - USA TODAY