“Lizzie McGuire” and “Revenge of the Nerds” star Robert Carradine has died at the age of 71, with his family confirming that he took his own life amid a battle with bipolar disorder.
“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” his older brother Keith Carradine told Deadline.
“It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul,” he said. “He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day.”
His family described his nearly two-decade-long experience with bipolar disorder as a “valiant struggle.”
Carradine’s older half-brother, fellow actor David Carradine, died of asphyxiation in Bangkok in 2009, which the younger Carradine had said contributed to the decline of his own mental health, according to TMZ. Soon after that incident, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In 2017, TMZ reported that in 2015 he had been in a car crash as a result of being in a “psychotic state,” which he claimed was due to his being taken off his medication.
It’s estimated that 7 million Americans are bipolar, which carries one of the highest suicide rates of any mental illness.
What is bipolar disorder?
Formerly known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes “extreme mood swings,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Emotional highs, also known as mania, are often accompanied by severe depression.
The mood swings themselves can have an impact on other parts of a person’s life, from the quality of their sleep to their amount of energy and their ability to think clearly.
What are the three different types of bipolar disorder?
There are three classifications of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymia.
Bipolar I is characterized by a manic episode that comes before or after a major depressive episode, and is thought to have a close genetic association with schizophrenia. The Mayo Clinic adds that, in some cases, “mania may cause a break from reality. This is called psychosis.”
Bipolar II, however, is characterized by a major depressive episode that’s paired with a hypomanic episode — less severe than a manic episode — but no history of mania.
Cyclothymia is defined as being less severe than major depression, but involves “many periods of hypomania symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms.”
The Mayo Clinic adds that bipolar II disorder “is not a milder form of bipolar I disorder,” but a separate diagnosis. “While the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder can be severe and dangerous, people with bipolar II disorder can be depressed for longer periods of time.”
Who is at risk for bipolar disorder?
Carradine had said his mental illness was triggered by his half-brother’s death. In some cases, major life events can lead to the development of mental health disorders like bipolar, anxiety and depression.
The Mayo Clinic states that bipolar and related mental health disorders can be caused by “certain drugs or alcohol, or due to a medical condition, such as Cushing’s disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke.”
Unless triggered by an event later in life, Mental Health America says bipolar typically starts in adolescence, though it’s frequently misdiagnosed.
While no genetic link has been discovered, it’s thought that bipolar runs in families, and people can inherit a tendency to develop the illness, according to Mental Health America. It can be activated by environmental factors, such as the distress Carradine experienced after the loss of his family member.
What are the symptoms?
The two defining symptoms of bipolar are mania (or sometimes hypomania) and depression. Under those umbrellas are a range of possible symptoms.
Mental Health America lists the potential symptoms of mania as: “excessive energy, activity, restlessness, racing thoughts and rapid talking (also called ‘pressured speech’)”; extreme high or euphoric feelings; being easily irritated or distracted; decreased need for sleep.
In more severe cases, mania can also involve “unrealistic beliefs in one’s ability and powers,” lack of judgment leading to recklessness, “unusual sex drive or abuse of drugs,” aggression and psychosis.
Hypomania is described as a “less severe and more brief” form of mania.
The symptoms of bipolar-related depression include “persistent sad, anxious or empty mood,” changes in sleep habits and appetite, irritability, difficulty focusing and fatigue. In more severe cases, suicidal ideation and attempts may also be a symptom.
What is the treatment?
Many bipolar patients rely on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and a range of medications to manage their symptoms.
The most commonly prescribed medications include lithium, anticonvulsants and mood stabilizers, while antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and beta-blockers may also be prescribed depending upon the severity of the diagnosis.
Certain lifestyle habits can supplement the clinical interventions, like better sleep and careful consumption of things like caffeine, alcohol and other drugs. Meditation can also be a helpful practice for people with bipolar.
While bipolar is a lifelong diagnosis, it’s beginning to be better understood by clinicians and practitioners and is often manageable with the right kind of support.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
