Some Famous People With Bipolar Disorder

When you're in the limelight, your entire life becomes an open book for people to scrutinize and criticize. Some of these criticisms may not be very pretty, and some of them may even be downright offensive, but it's the price of fame. It's what you have to sacrifice for being a celebrity. You'll become the object of gossip, the target of rumors, and the subject of judgments.

Hence, when it comes to famous people with bipolar disorder who’ve come out in the open to talk about their condition, you can’t help but admire their courage. Bipolar disorder doesn't really command the sympathy garnered by other ailments, after all. Often, people who suffer from bipolar disorder are misunderstood, and this leads to ridicule, if not outright scorn.

But how can society, understand the plight of those who suffer from bipolar disorder if no one will step out to admit to having the ailment? These famous people with bipolar disorder have come out to raise public awareness on the emotional condition that plagues 2.6% of the world's population.

Would you like to know some famous people with bipolar disorder who’ve come out in the open to discuss their condition?

• Sting, the former lead vocalist for The Police, is one of the popular personalities leading the way for global awareness on the existence and the true nature of bipolar disorder.

• Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane opposite the late Christopher Reeves in the Superman films, is also an acknowledged bipolar disorder patient.

• Jean-Claude Van Damme, one of the most prominent action stars of our time, has also admitted to having bipolar disorder. In fact, he attributes the impact of his films' action scenes to the hyperactivity he derives from his disorder.

• Carrie Fisher, Princess Lea of the original Star Wars trilogy, is also among the elite group of celebrities brave enough to admit having the emotional disease.

• Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler magazine and the subject of a movie about his rise to fame, has chronicled his bouts with bipolar disorder as well.

• Ben Stiller, comedian par excellance, star of hit films like Starsky and Hutch (the remake), Meet The Parents, Meet The Fockers, and Zoolander, is also an acknowledged bipolar disorder patient.

There are more celebrities we can add to the list. If these famous people with bipolar disorder can muster the courage to tell the world about their condition, then every person, regardless of race, sex or creed should likewise be able to do the same.