Mariah Carey: My Battle with Bipolar Disorder

[Venus XCX 10,308]

 

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In this week’s PEOPLE cover story, Mariah Carey reveals for the first time her battle with bipolar disorder.

Although she was first diagnosed in 2001 (when she was hospitalized for a physical and mental breakdown), “I didn’t want to believe it,” the superstar singer-songwriter tells PEOPLE editor in chief Jess Cagle.

Carey says she finally sought treatment recently after “the hardest couple of years I’ve been through” — years of professional upheaval, an E! reality show and romantic drama.

“Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” she says. “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.”

One of the most successful singers of all time, with 18 No. 1 hits and more than 200 million records sold, Carey spent many of her years in the spotlight suffering in silence.

She is now in therapy and taking medication for bipolar II disorder, which involves periods of depression as well as hypomania (less severe than the mania associated with bipolar I disorder, but can still cause irritability, sleeplessness and hyperactivity).

“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,” Carey tells PEOPLE.

“For a long time I thought I had a severe sleep disorder,” continues Carey, now back in the studio working on an album due later this year. “But it wasn’t normal insomnia and I wasn’t lying awake counting sheep. I was working and working and working … I was irritable and in constant fear of letting people down. It turns out that I was experiencing a form of mania. Eventually I would just hit a wall. I guess my depressive episodes were characterized by having very low energy. I would feel so lonely and sad — even guilty that I wasn’t doing what I needed to be doing for my career.”

Carey, who co-parents her 6-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-husband Nick Cannon, says she decided to come forward because “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.”

For more on Mariah Carey and her battle with bipolar disorder, dealing with fame and raising twins, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

 

[Venus XCX 10,308]

It is so amazing to see her personal and open. Seeing the cover brought tears to my eyes because it was so sudden and when she hurts, I hurt!

 

[VaginasAreDisgusting! 10,039]

[Sylk 143,264]

I'm literally in tears rn 

[Savage 17,300]

I thought everybody knew this about her. Didn't her brother once tell her to take her bipolar meds publicly in an interview? he even talked about how their mom had it too.  

 

@Royale is this tea correct?

[Guest]

“I lived in denial and isolation”

omg she better stan  

[LIBERATION 310]

25 minutes ago, Urbanov said:

“I lived in denial and isolation”

omg she better stan  

[Chris 58,349]

27 minutes ago, Urbanov said:

“I lived in denial and isolation”

omg she better stan  

i lived in elusive denial  

 

 

 

jk  

[Krista 629]

41 minutes ago, Beaux said:

I thought everybody knew this about her. Didn't her brother once tell her to take her bipolar meds publicly in an interview? he even talked about how their mom had it too.  

 

@Royale is this tea correct?

Personally, I've suspected that she had some type of depression, but wasn't sure. So this finally gives me the answer, but this doesn't surprise me too much, all things considered. It's good that she's getting better, though.

[Savage 17,300]

36 minutes ago, QueenCedar101 said:

Personally, I've suspected that she had some type of depression, but wasn't sure. So this finally gives me the answer, but this doesn't surprise me too much, all things considered. It's good that she's getting better, though.

I'm not surprised either, not in the slightest tbh, because i remember watching a video of her and it documented her 'breakdown era' and my impression of her was that she is a workaholic person and she doesn't feel like sleep is a necessity, then as the video progressed, it was evident her case was getting worse and left untreated, then i found out she checked herself into rehab back then and got herself together, it all happened after her 1st divorce which obviously took a toll on her health, especially her mental health.

 

It is good she is opening up and doesn't feel bad about it, i actually like how she doesn't care about stigma ppl have with mental illnesses, now this is the type of diva i can get behind. She doesn't seem to take herself too seriously as well. This is good for her.

 

[Royale 72,016]

1 hour ago, Beaux said:

I thought everybody knew this about her. Didn't her brother once tell her to take her bipolar meds publicly in an interview? he even talked about how their mom had it too.  

 

@Royale is this tea correct?

The source is PEOPLE and I usually don’t think they’re a 100% reliable source in general. However, I’ve heard/read about her suffering from depression following her exhaustion so who knows, it might turn out to be true!  If so, we’re wishing the queen the best!

[Savage 17,300]

Just now, Royale said:

The source is PEOPLE and I usually don’t think they’re a 100% reliable source in general.  However I’ve heard/read about her suffering from depression following her exhaustion so who knows, it might turn out to be true!  If so, we’re wishing the queen the best!

She posted it to her instagram herself, i also remember sipping on this tea:

he's disgusting to me.

[Royale 72,016]

4 minutes ago, Beaux said:

She posted it to her instagram herself, i also remember sipping on this tea:

he's disgusting to me.

Not only to you. 

[Savage 17,300]

Just now, Royale said:

Not only to you. 

i actually remember running a double check to see if he was her actual brother, because the way he spoke about her...   

[Krista 629]

Just now, Beaux said:

I'm not surprised either, not in the slightest tbh, because i remember watching a video of her and it documented her 'breakdown era' and my impression of her was that she is a workaholic person and she doesn't feel like sleep is a necessity, then as the video progresses, it was evident her case was getting worse and left untreated, then i find out she checked herself into rehab back then and got herself together, it all happened after her 1st divorce which obviously took a toll on her health, especially her mental health.

 

It is good she is opening up and doesn't feel bad about it, i actually like how she doesn't care about stigma ppl have with mental illnesses, now this is the type of diva i can get behind. She doesn't seem to take herself too seriously as well. This is good for her.

 

Right. She's really honest and I respect that a lot. Depression is a hard thing to go through and I've gone through it myself, so I empathize with her. Either way, I'm glad that she's getting better. I especially love what she said here:

"It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to define me or control me."

Honestly, some of the things she's said (even her shade) have helped me through some tough situations.

[POPBOIY 407]

I feel 4 her . 

[Mitski 13,494]

It's not easy rendering yourself vulnerable this way to the entire world. mental illness is no joke and hopefully the medication she's currently taking helps her in achieving her best state of health! 

[Savage 17,300]

8 minutes ago, QueenCedar101 said:

Right. She's really honest and I respect that a lot. Depression is a hard thing to go through and I've gone through it myself, so I empathize with her. Either way, I'm glad that she's getting better. I especially love what she said here:

"It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to define me or control me."

Honestly, some of the things she's said (even her shade) have helped me through some tough situations.

 

she's a superb shade thrower  and shade is a peaceful mode of attack for when you wanna defend yourself, so i get both of you  

[fab 21,653]

proud of her  

[Jake 19,498]

Oh wow, I wouldn't think. People call her problematic, but this could really be the cause of her "diva" behavior. It's nice having such a big name be able to help the mental health fight. Proud of her!