
Originally Posted by
Kosh Naranek
I think her behavior is real typical of someone with bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression. The emotional instability, the public outbursts and scenes, the, um, public exposure. they're all symptoms.
I hate to see anyone's life ruined by mental illness. Although I don't know her personally and really have much less sympathy for filthy rich celebrities than for the average person who doesn't have as much means to help themselves.
Bipolar suffers also tend to be in denial and refuse to take meds. If you're bipolar and cursed with being fabulously wealthy, you can support your illness and the behavior it causes for a long time before you hit bottom and have to go on your meds.
When in denial and off their meds, bipolar sufferers also tend to medicate with alchohol and recreational drugs. In their manic state, they party a lot, can be overly flirtatious and promiscuous, expose themselves, spend money irresponsibly, and exhibit reckless behavior. They're prone to shallow and capricious relationships. Like marrying a guy and getting it anulled again within days. They can go from partner to partner, breaking up or hurting them without a thought.
They can be overly excitable and irritable. I've known bipolar sufferers who terorized their families ranting and raving, having fits of rage all the time at home. Out in public, they turn on the charm.
In the depressive phase, they have low energy, no motivation, and feel hopeless.
If Spears dies, it's not like I'll miss her. OTOH, I hate to see anyones life ruined by mental illness.
But if she gets it together and gets on her meds, it might be a tragedy as well. Then we'll have to put up with her being on Oprah, doing commercials to raise awareness of bipolar disorder, founding some organization to help mentally ill people and asking us for donations, etc...
I hope she gets on her meds, gets it together, and just goes away.