Demi Lovato Says She Was Misdiagnosed With Bipolar Disorder A Decade Ago
Demi Lovato came out publicly detailing her bipolar disorder diagnosis to almost a decade ago.;
In 2011, the Camp Rock star said she is taking treatement for the mental health ailment after teaming up with multiple organisations to help create awareness around it.
Clearing the air, the singer/actor said she was misdiagnosed with the disease in her new documentary Dancing with the Devil.
“I’ve been told that they think I was misdiagnosed when I was 18,” Lovato said on camera.
She said that at the time doctors said she had bipolar as that conveniently justified her erratic behaviour.
“I came out to the public when I found out I was bipolar because I thought it put a reasoning behind my actions,” she revealed.
“You take something public, you become an advocate for it I was acting out when I was 18 for many reasons, but I know now from multiple different doctors that it was not because I was bipolar,” Lovato explained. “I had to grow the up.”
Famous People With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder and fame have been linked both in the present and the past.
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, affects men and women equally, with about 5.6 million adult Americans diagnosed with the condition including many famous people.
The erratic behavior of some celebrities with;mental illness;is often attributed to this condition, since;bipolar disorder;is characterized by disabling mood shifts during which a person goes from an energetic, manic phase to a low, depressed one.
The mood swings of bipolar disorder may be mild or extreme. They can come on slowly or quickly within hours to days. Usually diagnosed in the teenage years to mid-twenties, bipolar disorder can happen at any age and is more prevalent in those who have a family history of the condition.
There are two common subtypes of bipolar disorder: bipolar I and bipolar II. There are other subtypes, most notably cyclothymia, in which patients have depressive and hypomanic symptoms but dont meet the full criteria for either a major depressive episode or a hypomanic episode.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. But several factors may play a role, including:
Risk factors for an episode of bipolar disorder may include having times of high stress, such as the death of a loved one or another traumatic event. Drug and alcohol use are also often associated with bipolar disorder.
Misdiagnosis Is Nothing To Be Ashamed Of
For a long time after I realized mybipolar disorder was a misdiagnosis, I felt deeply ashamed. I was the one who pushed for it. I let it take over my identity, and worst of all, I was terribly harsh with anyone in my life who hesitated to support my diagnosis. I felt overwhelmed by regrets and shame and honestly didnt know how to cope.
Then Demi Lovato said she experienced the same thing. According toInStyle, Demi says in her new YouTube docuseries Dancing with the Devil that she believes she was misdiagnosed withbipolar disorder at 18 to explain her erratic behavior at that time. Her current doctors believe that was a misdiagnosis and, in her own words, I needed to grow the fuck up.
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News And Commentary From The Psychiatry World
byKristen Monaco, Staff Writer, MedPage Today March 17, 2021
The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to BioXcel Therapeutics’ investigational therapy BXCL501, an orally dissolving thin film formulation of dexmedetomidine, for managing dementia-related agitation. The company also announced it submitted a new drug application for this agent for the treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders I and II.
Zuranolone , an investigational GABA receptor modulator, succeeded in the phase III open-label SHORELINE study, with about 70% of those on once-daily 30-mg treatment for 2 weeks achieving relief of depressive symptoms by day 15, as measured by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, drugmaker Sage Therapeutics announced.
People with alcohol use disorder and homelessness were able to cut back on drinking through a harm reduction approach. “We found participants didn’t have to stop drinking to start recovery,” said lead author Susan Collins, PhD, of Washington State University, in a statement.
Beta blockers likely don’t cause depression, but are linked to a variety of sleep problems.
In a survey of nearly 4,000 people who recovered from COVID-19, more than half met the criteria for moderate or greater depressive symptoms.
People with schizophrenia might find help quitting smoking with the aid of high-strength electronic cigarettes, a new study found.
Demi Lovato: Bipolar But Staying Strong
Demi Lovato is a 19-year-old Disney star best known for her role in the made-for-television movie Camp Rock. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011 while receiving inpatient treatment at Timberline Knolls in Illinois.
Last night, MTV premiered a documentary about Lovato entitled “Stay Strong.” In it, Lovato chose to share her story as a way to help others dealing with similar issues. “Why not air all my secrets? Why not share my story because some people need to hear it?”
“I didn’t really realize I was sick,” she confessed on the one-hour show. “I thought that writing seven songs in one night was normal. I thought that staying up until 5:30 in the morning is normal. Last night, I stayed up until five in the morning. I just couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing and it’s an ongoing thing and I still learn how to cope with it.”
Lovato went to the treatment facility on her family’s insistence and admitted that when she was in there, she thought that it was “the end of my life.” But, she said, “I worked harder in those three months than I ever did in my life…. It was a battle, but I stuck it out.” Lovato, like many others, had a hard time accepting her diagnosis because she rationalized that, “There’s always someone sicker than you.”
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Demi Lovato Speaks Up About Living With Bipolar Disorder
The singer shares what it felt like to be diagnosed, and what life is like in recovery.
Demi Lovato has never been shy about sharing their personal story. Back in 2011, the now-28-year-old entered rehab, where they were diagnosed with bipolar disorder after years of struggling with bulimia, cutting, and drug addiction.
Now, the singer of hit songs such as Heart Attack and Skyscraper is the spokesperson for a campaign called Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health. The initiative focuses on encouraging people with mental illness to speak up, as well as for others to raise their voices in support of changing the way mental illness is talked about and breaking down the stigma surrounding it.
Its a passion of minemental health advocacyand Ive decided to partner up with Be Vocal because its something thats really powerful when it comes to not only informing people about what mental illness is, but also what you can do to get help, the singer tells WomensHealthMag.com. Demi wants women to know that its possible to live well, feel well, and also find happiness with bipolar disorder or any other mental illness theyre struggling with.
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During these manic periods, Demi would stay up until 5 a.m. and write seven songs in one night. Sometimes I felt invincible, and it was these moments when my mind would go all over the place, the former Disney Channel star says.
Demi Lovato: How I Treat My Bipolar Disorder
“It’s a daily thing,” the former “X-Factor” judge said of how she copes.
Demi Lovato Details Past Drug Use
“Its a daily thing. I treat it with medication. Not everybody does that, but for me it works,” the former “X-Factor” judge told Cosmo for Latinas. “Thats what works for me medicating, checking in with people, being honest, and being grateful for things.
Lovato, 21, has gone to rehab to cope with addiction, has always wanted to establish an open dialogue with her fans, especially young ones. Telling Cosmo that she wants to stand for “positivity and light and happiness,” to help inspire young girls who may be looking for a star to “idolize.” That might be one reason she holds herself to such high standards professionally.
Demi Lovato Responds to Joe Jonas’ Tell-All
“I’m very proud of how far I’ve come, but I definitely want to win a Grammy one day, and I dream of winning an Oscar,” she said. “I want to continue to tour and build my fan base and make music that will last for decades.”
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Demi Lovato Opens Up About Drug Addiction Mental Health And The Challenges Of Recovery In New Documentary Simply Complicated
Demi Lovatos rise to fame didnt come without complications. In fact, there were several obstacles in the young stars life that almost ended her stardom before it truly began. These are all detailed in her new YouTube documentary, Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated, which was released just last month.
Simply Complicated is an honest, candid, raw look at Demi Lovatos life and her road to recoveryrecovery from depression, from bipolar disorder, from an eating disorder, and from drug addiction.
Turnbridge first wrote about Demi Lovatos drug addiction a few years ago, when she had just started her recovery journey. The 25-year-old is now five-years sober and using her story to encourage others struggling with substance abuse. The documentary Simply Complicated is one real, unconventional way to do so. Here is we took away from Demi Lovatos addiction and recovery story.
1.; Recovery is in fact a journey, and relapse is often a part of the recovery process.
Demi Lovato didnt get sober overnight, or even after her first stint in drug rehab. Rather, it took the star time to learn how to live sober, and to embrace that sober lifestyle.
2.; Drug addiction often stems from other underlying, mental health disorders.
3.; Teen drug use isnt always just a phase.
4.; Everyone has their own path in recovery.
Demi Lovato Gets Real About Her Health In Her Latest Video
Not many stars would open up to the world about their long list of health issues but Demi Lovato does exactly that in her new YouTube documentary, Demi Lovato:Simply Uncomplicated.
The 25-year-old bares her soul, tackling serious subjects like depression, bipolar disorder, addiction and substance abuse, and eating disorders.
While Lovatos been pretty honest about her problems with drugs and alcohol , along with her body image, the documentary is the first time shes opened up about having an eating disorder and battling serious mental health issues.
Demi was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 18. She had been on a bender right before, using alcohol and drugs almost daily and was forced to check into a rehab facility after she punched one of her backup dancers in the face for telling management about her drug use.
It took another stint in rehab for Lovato to get sober.
Her relationship with food and body image
One demon she hasnt fully figured out is her eating disorder. She still struggles with bingeing and purging, and admits in the documentary that she recently relapsed. While she says its still weird to discuss these intimate details of her life in front of a camera, she does, explaining that she binges when her heart feels hungry.
One thing that has helped the singer overcome some of her health challenges is exercise.
The power of staying fit
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Demi Lovato Opens Up About Living With Bipolar Disorder
Actress and pop singer Demi Lovato is an open book. She’s publicly discussed her struggles with addiction, bulimia and bipolar disorder.
Though it’s an ongoing struggle, Lovato recently chatted with People magazine about how she’s doing today.
“If you know someone or you’re dealing with it yourself, just know that it is possible to live well,” Lovato, 24, told People. “I’m living proof of that.”
Lovato Said She Had Conflicted Feelings When Patrick Died In 2013
After Patrick died as a result of cancer, Lovato admitted to her mixed feelings toward him in a YouTube interview. I;was very conflicted when he passed, because he was abusive, she said.;He was mean, but he wanted to be a good person. And he wanted to have his family, and when my mom married my stepdad, he still had this huge heart.;To know that it wasnt fully his fault really was saddening to me. I wanted to write about it. I wanted to process it.
Lovato also tweeted about her fathers funeral, and how difficult it was for her to move on. Today I put my Daddy to rest. hardest thing Ive ever done.. But I know great things will come of this she tweeted, followed by:;Theres an overwhelming sense of peace knowing my dad is no longer battling his demons anymore and that makes me so happy..
Lovato wrote the 2015 song Father in Patricks memory.
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Demi Lovato Takes ‘100 Percent Full Responsibility’
Lovato admitted to physically striking one of her backup dancers, Alex Welch, during the South American leg of their international tour.
“I take 100 percent, full responsibility.” Lovato told Roberts. “I feel horrible. was my friend.”
Lovato’s family and management team held an intervention.
“They sat me down and said, ‘You can’t live like this,'” Lovato said.
She immediately quit the tour and checked in to Timberline Knolls — a residential treatment center in Illinois for women battling addiction and eating disorders — where she was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder.
While in treatment, Lovato learned to alter her coping skills and found better ways to deal with her emotions.
“For the first time in my life, I started to feel,” she said.
During the tough times in treatment, Lovato says it was the thought of her younger sister, Madison, who plays Juanita Solis, the daughter of Gabrielle on “Desperate Housewives,” that got her through her darkest hours.
“A picture of my little sister, on my little bulletin board, was one of the main things that kept me going,” she said. “I just kept thinking, ‘OK, set this example for your little sister.'”
Lovato wanted to set an example — not only for Madison, but for all the other women fighting the same issues.
“The real reason why I’m sitting down with you,” she said, “is to open up the eyes of so many young girls, that it doesn’t have to be this way.”
We Need To Talk About Misdiagnosis More Often
Ive never heard anyone else talk about being misdiagnosed with amental illness, let alone a superstar like Demi Lovato. For her to come out and say that this thing shes been an advocate for since she was 18 was a misdiagnosis all along is a powerful statement about self-acceptance. She is still her, regardless of what label best describes hermental health.
I feel like thats the message Ive been trying to learn for years now. But, because I felt so alone in my misdiagnosis journey, I had no idea where to turn for advice nor could I even find someone who could relate. I felt alone, and I felt silly. I felt like Id made a huge mistake in mymental health journey, one I could never take back or undo.
But, we learn through making mistakes. As much as we want it to be, its just not possible to learn by doing things perfectly every time. Im still not sure what Ive learned from mybipolar misdiagnosis. But I know one thing for sure now Im not alone in it.
Dancing with the Devil premiers on YouTube March 23, 2020.
Lead image courtesy of Demi Lovatos YouTube channel
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Demi Lovato Says She Might Have Been Misdiagnosed With Bipolar In New Documentary
I was certain that I hadbipolar disorder. I was in college, 19 years old, only one year older than Demi Lovato when she was diagnosed with the same disorder. I was so certain, and that certainty colored the way I reported my symptoms and I was formally diagnosed shortly after I started therapy. It all made sense and I thought that this was the beginning of me getting better.
But it wasnt.
I lived with the diagnosis of bipolar, integrating it into my personality, making it a huge part of who I felt I was, only to switch therapists five years later and finally see mybipolar disorder for what it was a misdiagnosis.
Demi Lovatos Overdose And Her Openness About Her Journey Towards Sobriety Demonstrates That We Cant Neglect To Take Care Of Ourselves While Working To Combat Bipolar Disorder Stigma
*Update: On Friday, Oct. 26th, Demi Lovatos mother Dianna De La Garza said on the podcast Conversations with Maria Menounos her daughter marked 90 days sober
In the movement to spread the awareness of mental health and helping people realized they arent alone, sometimes we forget about our own struggles.
Im pretty sure everyone by now has heard about Demi Lovato and her overdose . Im pretty sure a lot of people are going to talk about it on this blog. I just wanted to offer my personal take of it.
I was in my office, working on my latest projecta project and business that has been giving me anxiety chest pains for the last few days , when I heard the news on the radio.
When I heard it, I was kind of hit with a wave of sadness. Not disappointment, but sadness. To be clear, Im not a Demi Lovato follower. Shes almost a generation younger than me, and if it wasnt for her public disclosure of her bipolar disorder and other issues, I probably wouldnt even know who she was.
Ive heard one or two of her songs a few times when I was living in New Mexico, but only recently found out that she was the artist. I also want it to be clear that even though I wrote about Mariah Careys bravery, I dont typically follow celebrities outside of their workOnly when they do something that really catches my attention is when I take notice and separate them from their celebrity personas .
But the news about Demi really kind of hurt me.
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