Kerry Katona: Coping with bipolar

The star speaks out about her manic depression

Wednesday, 27 September 2006

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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5 comments

Duncan Hacon November 12 22:49

Kerry had every reason to feel down when she split up. Depression is feeling down persistently when you have no reason to feel that way. Crying is good for you - its called grieving in this case and is the natural way to let go. Taking anti depressants in this case just masks the pain that you have got to go through to grieve. If you dont grieve this can cause later problems. I think if you are grieving you should only take anti depressants if you are suicidal.

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julia May 06 19:00

hi i am bipolar, i'm a 38 year old mum and i have suffered for many years now. i was under the priory in hants a few years back myself, i fel for kerry so much as it is so hard to live with this, you say to yourself ... i,d rather be dead than live with this.. And i totally understand the robbie williams story as being his huge fan for many years... i get angry when people dont understand and think your just being a pain in the ass. but it,s so hard to live with... my husband finds it hard sometimes when i have a bad day and totally kick off.. all you think is.... LORD WHY ME!

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Shaun May 10 20:05

I may have bipolar but i find it hard to talk to the doctor and i cnt talk in groups because i get really emotional. Sometimes i cry hysterically other times i really enjoy my life. I always get dumped with bfs because they say they cnt handle me.

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LISA July 28 13:34

Im suffering from bipolar disorder and i know exactly what kerry's going thru. I rate kerry for speaking out about it because it took me nearly a year to accept it. i love you kerry, you will get thru this! xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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tara September 25 11:20

i was in and out of psychiatric treatment since 1994, it started off as just episodes of depression as well as alcohol mis-use, i drank to feel normal and even when i didn't drink and had episodes ofbein high people would think i had been drinking anyway..... this year i was properly diagnosed as having bi polar disorder. finding the right meds has been a battle but i have just started one that seems to be keeping me on an even keel for now. i also rate kerry for speaking out about bi polar disorder, because living with the condition aint easy for all involved... and most of the time sufferers are clearly mis understood.. i admire you kerry you are my idol, we will get through this. xxxx tara.

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