Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Catherine Zeta Jones Is BiPolar


Apparently Catherine Zeta Jones checked into a mental hospital within the past five years to deal with her bipolar disorder. Catherine spent about five days in the hospital because she was stressed out about Michael Douglas having cancer and having to star in some upcoming movies and a festival which she has pulled out of, and wanted to check herself into the hospital to get herself into top form. That is what her rep says anyway. Top form. Sounds like a horse. Probably just a British thing. Although I made a joke, bipolar is serious and I hope she is getting the help and medication she needs and that she talks about her illness so other people can get the help they might not know they need.

47 comments:

bluebonnetmom said...

Those poor two small kids of the Douglas'. You know things have been bad when Mommy is off her meds and Daddy has Cancer. Wow. I hope that she gets some help. : (

RocketQueen said...

I was going to make a joke about how it must be maddening to try to keep your real birthdate and your preferred birthdate straight, but it's probably a bit crass. Feel better, Ms. Jones.

timebob said...

I have a feeling it was a combo of bipolar and face lift recovery.

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

She's an extremely beautiful, talented, and successful woman providing a face for a wrenching disease.

Good for her. What an incredibly brave revelation. It lends the disorder some dignity, particularly when so many surely associate it with head-shaving and umbrella-wielding.

Ellen said...

It may just be cynical me, but I can't help but think there is something else going on here.........

califblondy said...

This was very surprising news today. I hope she gets the help she needs and is back in top form in no time.

pegd said...

That's what I was thinking Elle!

Cancan said...

That's rough. We deal with this in my family (a couple of people) and it's very hard. Explains why she hasn't worked much lately.
I'm not a fan but I hope she gets the help she needs and that the kids have a smooth life.

Anonymous said...

Surprise to read this about her since they never indicated anything about her health before.

Gabby said...

I'm very glad and actually surprised that she admits that she has Bipolar. I'm sure it will help many victims of this disease to know that they aren't "weird" or "different" if even a major celebrity has their disease! I've worked in a psych ward before, but never had a VIP patient. I wonder if she's going to group therapy and engaging with other patients?

mikey said...

Could she be cokemom or was she eliminated and I don't remember?

Kingrey said...

Elle, I second your sentiment. Not saying she doesn't have Bipolar Disorder, but things are rarely as simple as they seem.

Meg said...

Wishing her well...

Elizabeth said...

I'm glad she's addressing it. That house cannot have been fun with Michael fighting cancer, Diandra taking him to court, his son going to jail, all while raising two small children and trying to shield them. Sometimes I like her, sometimes she's annoying but with all that going on, it would shake anyone up. I can't believe I just defended Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Jason Blue Eyes said...

A hospital? I sympathize with Catherine (great actress, beautiful woman,loving wife) but isn't a being surrounded by a bunch of people with the same condition really not such a great thing?

When will Dr. Drew give his "diagnosis" about her for everyone in the world to hear. probably tonight on his show.

Jason Blue Eyes said...

Charlie Sheen calls it "Bi-Winning."

Anonymous said...

Poor her. My dad is sick and he hasn't been properly diagnosed (it's alzheimers or dementia or something like that) and it's really taking its toll on my mom. I'm not going to make fun of anyone caring for a spouse.

nancer said...

she's not really 'providing a face' for this illness because her people have repeatedly denied it, and i don't see a statement from her. obviously, someone had proof so her rep finally confirmed it.

that is all.

MISCH said...

She's been on Broadway in "A Little Night Music"....so as for not working that not true...Broadway is hard work...and yes this family has had a tough year...get well...

Anonymous said...

Has this woman came out and said she has bipolar?

Paisley said...

I've known a number of people who are bi-polar. They've only been hospitalized when they've cycled off their drugs and become extremely, dangerously manic. Or on the flip side, gone off their drugs, became depressed and attempted suicide.

Agree with nancer that this story is coming out now because someone was getting ready to talk, probably to a tabloid.

cyberisis said...

I heard she only stayed 24 hours.

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

@nancer -- has she ever been asked if she's actually bipolar? I hadn't heard ANY speculation whatsoever until this news came out. I don't think she's ever issued any prior denials, is my point.

When a celebrity checks herself into the hospital, she has to say SOMEthing. I'm just glad she told the truth and didn't use "exhaustion" as an excuse.

Not that this is any of OUR business, anyway, but I think it's admirable when a famous person decides to open up and share the fact that s/he has some sort of disease or condition. I don't know why. I guess I'm a bigtime sucker for relatability or whatever you want to call it.

Celebrities! They're Just Like Us! They have shitty familial/marital situations and subsequent breakdowns!

Anonymous said...

And how disrespectful, it is for someone to speak to the public about her condition. I really wished she had a better clean up crew to squash the asshole who was about to do this.

Manda_kitty said...

Bi-polar is a disorder not a disease. You can't catch it from someone else. Growing up with a manic depressive brother was very hard & life for them will continue to be hard.

R.Q.- maybe I don't get your joke, but I think you're referring to split personality disorder. That or I completely missed your joke :)

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

@Manda -- "Bi-polar is a disorder not a disease. You can't catch it from someone else."

Point taken. I don't think you were being snarky, and I DO like to get my terms correct. I understand the difference.

I've known loved ones who've struggled with being bipolar, and it's a hard road. Hope your brother is doing okay.

Jason Blue Eyes said...

Us magazine says her rep says she was treated for Biploar II disorder.

I knew a girl who was bi-polar. She would cut her wrists with pieces of glass and as I stood there in shock she'd ask me, "What's the matter with YOU?"

Behavior like that is rational to them.

Lori said...

@Manda: It's called Dissociative Identity Disorder, not Split Personality Disorder ...but you are correct, Bipolar (or Manic-Depressive for the older folks in the room) is a disorder, not disease.

I think RQ was making a joke about CZJ being way older than she pretends to be:)

Lori said...

@Nate: I had a friend who had Borderline Personality Disorder and did wierd stuff liken that too...very self distructive and impulsive.

RocketQueen said...

@Manda - yep, Lori was right. I was trying to fit a square joke peg into a round hole :)

I have to agree with nancer on this one, though - by all accounts, she was denying this until she couldn't any longer.

Anonymous said...

Dealing with a lifelong mental illness is awful, and anyone who has anything snarky to say about this knows where to shove it. I don't really care about CZJ's personality, possible plastic surgery, etc. I sincerely doubt she'd be claiming to have Bipolar II if she didn't--it's not exactly something to brag about.

Chrissy Buns said...

i'm bi-polar, and i have been through some REALLY tough s@!t, and i would have loved to go hide in a hospital. at least she can get the help she needs and the meds she need. i doubt she has to worry about the cost of prescriptions!

Linnea said...

I agree with those of you who think this must have been brought up by a tabloid, or something like that. I would expect to see something in next weeks mags

lunabelle said...

Regardless of whether she was going to be "outed" or some bad behavior on her part reported on, she has a lifelong disorder.

Do you realize what it is like to have a lifelong disorder? You are never even close to "normal", you always have to have I insurance (unless you are independently wealthy), you always have to watch your own back to make sure your meds are continuing to work and generally you spend most of your existence looking for a better med or whatever to help you live a more normal life, eve new friend or lover that comes into your life, you have to explain your self too, eventually. There are so many more ways that your lofe changes after being diagnosed.

Who cares if there is more to the damn story. She is stating she has an issue and that is courageous. She has no need to become the face or hope or whatever, she is helping ny simply speaking up.

Bravo!

Krissie said...

Well, well. A few years ago she told a magazine that she would "never" have therapy or take pills because "I'm a warrior". I have OCD and I thought her quote was ignorant and insulting. Refusing help when you need it doesn't make you a damn "warrior". I know way too many people (my dad, for example) who feel this way and it's sad, because with help you can sometimes feel much better.

Anyway, it looks like CZJ has since changed her mind about the subject...

Paisley said...

The National Enquirer had an article that came out today about where she stayed, alias used, etc. They said they had multiple sources. I'm curious if there will be an investigation because it's an invasion of her medical privacy.

Robin the Mad Photographer said...

Paisley--Can you say "HIPAA violation"? Sure you can...

IIRC, Bipolar II is more like depression w/periodic manic bouts that aren't quite as high as Bipolar I patients tend to have. If this is indeed what she has, I can understand not wanting to publicize it; nobody wants people whispering that they're "unstable", particularly an actress who's getting older, but hopefully now that it's out in the open she won't have to worry as much. I wish her well, and hope she's feeling much better very soon.

Anotheramy said...

When we hear about things like this I always rack my brain trying to remember if this was a blind.

Mango said...

Eek, at first glance I thought the photo was of Tatum O'Neal.

Selock said...

Is this some kind of warning that nasty stories are about to surface....?

Manda_kitty said...

Ida: no snark :) and thank you.

Lori: yes, thanks. I believe it was called split personality before they changed it to dissociative. I think. Not sure. Its a scary disorder though.

R.Q.- it was still funny :)

Bleu said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tea Lady said...

@Manda @Lori it was split then "muliple personality disorder (MPD)" and now "dissociative identity disorder (DID)"

Lori said...

@Tea Lady: you are correct. It was called split personality disorder before multiple personality disorder and now DID... I could have been more clear and indicated that it was an outdated name for the disorder. Thank you for clarifying:)

BlahFrickinBlah said...

Let me start out saying that I am no fan of CZJ. With that said, she doesn't owe anyone any explanation about her health period. She doesn't have to be the poster child for bipolar disorder. Her only responsibility is to her family and herself to try and take care of herself the best way she possibly can. Anything beyond that is up to her not some outing asshole at the National Inquirer. I hope they find out who gave up her medical records and fire them. Then blackball them in their field. If they have licenses? Make sure they lose them. HIPPA laws are a fucking joke. I've seen people on the shit end of them myself and couldn't prove it. Healthcare workers are the worst offenders and abusers of even co workers.

It would be one thing if she all of the sudden had a drastic change in her appearance. Of course, being a public person, she knows people are going to question what is going on and her fans would be worried. This however was a case where she was obviously being very quiet about it.Sue them blind.

Sis said...

Wow, I hope she gets all the help she needs, and it makes sense considering her reputation of being bitchy and hard to work with etc., especially (I am assuming she was off meds and needed them).

Could she be the answer to the blind where the little kids were being exposed to the moms drug usage and one had actually gotten into the drugs and needed medical attention, and the dad was threatening to leave but didn't? Does anyone remember that particular blind?

shakey said...

^Wasn't that a Coke Mom blind?

Anyway, very brave of her to finally let the truth be known. I wish her the best.

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