Mariah Carey Talks About Living With Bipolar Disorder for the First Time

Mariah Carey opened up about living with bipolar disorder in an article for People magazine on Wednesday. This is the first time the singer has spoken publicly about her diagnosis.

• What is Bipolar disorder ?

Carey told People she was diagnosed in 2001, but “didn’t want to believe it.” After experiencing what she called the “hardest couple of years I’ve been through,” she finally reached out for treatment.

Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me. 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.

When she first experienced symptoms, Carey said she thought she had a sleep disorder — but soon realized her trouble sleeping was actually due to hypomania, characteristic of bipolar II disorder.

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.

Fans on Twitter reacted positively to the news of Carey’s diagnosis, congratulating her for speaking out:

mariah carey’s honesty about finding medication & treatment is SO important in a world where ppl with mental illnesses are doubly stigmatized for taking meds. https://t.co/rGF8i7msy5

— maria yagoda (@mariayagoda) April 11, 2018

This is so brave, imagine if Mariah Carey said she had bipolar in 2001 she would’ve been written off. Shows how much things have changed in 17 Years. https://t.co/dUCW3FQeBg

— Aadam – آدم (@AllThingsAadam) April 11, 2018

So @MariahCarey has come forward with her diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, and I feel really good about this because it starts a conversation. Let’s end the stigma and help raise awareness for mental health!
Go Mariah!! ❤️#MariahStrong

— Olivia ???? (@selfloveliv) April 11, 2018

It takes a lot of courage and personal growth to finally be in a place where you feel comfortable to talk about mental illness. Proud of you @MariahCarey and thank you for sharing your story ????

— suz (@itssuzbtch) April 11, 2018

Carey said she’s in a good place right now, although she knows how isolating the stigma of mental illness can be. “I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone,” she said. “It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to define me or control me.”