Cox News Service
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Britney Spears' continuing, bizarre
behavior, from shaving her head to reportedly instigating a
standoff with police at her home, has led to periodic reports that
the singer may suffer from bipolar disorder, formerly called manic
depression.
There even were interviews with People magazine managing editor
Peter Castro, where he quoted unnamed relatives of Spears saying
they fear she has this mental condition and want her to be treated.
The constant attention and speculation has led an advocacy group
- The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance www.DBSAlliance.org -
to take advantage of the focus on Spears to put out some real
information, as opposed to rumor mill and fan mag stuff. (The
group's vice president, Larry Fricks, was scheduled to appear on
NBC's The Today Show to talk about the condition.)
Meanwhile, the takeaway message is that bipolar is a "treatable
illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and
behavior. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal
weakness."
We can forgive Britney, therefore, if she is mentally ill and
not, say, a bad mother, whatever that is. But it's definitely a
question for Dr. Phil to ponder on his next television special.
Anyway, the DBSA stresses that a person suffering with this
condition will have moods that can alternate between the "poles"
of mania (highs) and depression (lows).
"These changes in mood, or mood swings, can last for hours,
days, weeks or months."
No one has come out and stated categorically that Spears has
this disorder, and she might have other conditions, be addicted to
drugs or alcohol, or have post-partum depression. Or none of the
above. Take your pick.
The point is that the condition known as bipolar disorder
usually develops in late adolescence or early adulthood, (Britney
is 26) and "It is often not recognized as an illness, and people
may suffer for years before receiving a proper diagnosis and
treatment."
Mental illness is often the last answer to any question
involving erratic behavior, but when celebrities are diagnosed and
go public, it makes it both easier to accept the possibility and
also leads to better awareness.
As the DBSA points out, celebrities such as Patty Duke, Carrie
Fisher, Linda Hamilton and Margot Kidder have been open about their
bipolar conditions and have led the way for others to be diagnosed,
treated, and come forward.
Many people remember those terrible photos of Kidder, the former
Superman star, routing around in garbage cans before she was
diagnosed and treated.
While some people have to reach rock bottom before they
recognize they need help, or can even accept that they might
actually have a mental illness, it seems incredible that no one in
Spears' family appears able to get her the help she seems so
desperately to need.
But maybe her parents are too busy tending to their younger
daughter, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn, who recently announced her
pregnancy.
Carolyn Susman writes for the Palm Beach Post. E-mail: carolyn
UNDERSCORE susman AT pbpost.com.