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Wednesday, 27 September 2006

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Kerry Katona: Coping with bipolar

The star speaks out about her manic depression

Although her public image is of the fun, bubbly girl next door, Kerry Katona has bravely spoken out about coming to terms with her diagnosis of bipolar disorder – commonly known as manic depression.

The 25-year-old recently revealed that she's being treated for the illness and admits that doctors say she'll suffer from it for 'the rest of my life'.

A disorder of mood

After having to cope with the heartbreak of the collapse of her marriage to former Westlife singer Brian McFadden and his new relationship with Delta Goodrem, Kerry checked into the Cottonwood Clinic in Arizona last summer for six weeks. She also had two stints in London's Priory clinic.

'It started when me and Brian split up,' she says. 'I just couldn't stop crying and went into The Priory having a nervous breakdown. That's when I realised I had depression.'

Bipolar is a specific kind of depression where sufferers experience severe mood swings. 'It's actually a condition in which there's a disorder of mood, but the mood swings between high – manic or the lesser extent called hypomanic – and low, though there can be complex mixes in between,' says Dr Tony Hughes, co-author of new book You Don't Have To Be Famous To Have Manic Depression.

It can be controlled, not cured

As Kerry says: 'When I left rehab in Arizona I was still really tearful. The doctors told me that I should be feeling more positive. I was on antidepressants, but still crying. It was a relief when they diagnosed bipolar. I thought I was going insane.'

Getting the diagnosis has helped Kerry to understand her illness, which can be controlled but not cured. 'Before I realised I had depression, I used to say to people: "You'll be fine, get over it,"' she says. 'But that's like telling a cancer victim: "Get well."'

Actor Stephen Fry recently spoke out about struggling with manic depression and how he was even on the brink of suicide at a particularly low point. Robbie Williams has also revealed that he takes medication for depression.

Honesty brings comfort

'People think that if you're depressed, you're depressed about something, but I'm not,' Robbie has said. 'I just feel terrible. The real root of it all is that I suffer from an illness.'

Kerry, who is currently pregnant by fiancé Mark Croft, adds: 'I can feel lonely, afraid and scared to go out at times, especially as I'm bipolar. I feel like it's me against the rest of the world.'

Her honesty could bring comfort to other bipolar sufferers who are trying to deal with their condition. 'I'm an up-and-down person,' she says. 'But you'll never see the down person in public. I'm always bright and bubbly Kerry Katona.'

Further information
• Mind (call 08457 660163 or visit www.mind.org.uk for information and fact sheets on manic depression).
• MDF The BiPolar Organisation (call its helpline on 08450 920070 or visit www.mdf.org.uk).
• You Don't Have To Be Famous To Have Manic Depression by Dr Tony Hughes and Jeremy Thomas (£12.99, Penguin).

Ali Agnew

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