STRANGER THINGS actor David Harbour has opened up about struggling with bipolar and alcoholism in the past and how his life was saved by a cat at one point.
David Harbour plays the role of Hopper in the hit Netflix show Stranger Things – a dishevelled, alcoholic police officer who becomes one of the main heroes of a fictional town called Hawkins. Like his character, Harbour went through a journey of his own: moving from alcohol issues and mental health problems to international stardom.
He told the Big Issue magazine that he was diagnosed “after an episode that landed [him] in an institution”, which he thinks was caused by living in poverty.
He said: “There is a mental illness component that requires medication, but there also is a very social component to mental illness. It’s not like a broken leg.”
Bipolar, once known as manic depression, is comprised by episodes of depression and mania, according to the NHS.
Depression consists of feeling very low and lethargic while mania consists of feeling very high and overactive, while mania may consist of an unstable, euphoric mood comprised of excess activity or energy.
In The Guardian interview, he explained that his mania was triggered by his desire to solve all of the world’s problems.
As he received treatment, he learned of his passion for acting and put his energy into this activity. “I was able to do stuff on Broadway that was complex and really rich,” he said.
And with the growing success of his career, he found his mental state improve for the better.
“I hit the age of 35 and in my mind, I’d been fairly successful,” Harbour said.
“I could pay the rent on an apartment, have food on the table and I was very happy about that.”
Harbour is not the only one with bipolar to find respite from his condition using art and creativity.
Some studies have found that creative therapies like art therapy and music therapy can help people to manage their bipolar symptoms.
Some high-performing creatives, such as Stephen Fry, have even credited the condition to making them better at these creative activities in the first place.
The NHS has posted guidance on how to manage the condition. The health body highly recommends reaching out to talk to people if you think you have bipolar.
“Many organizations run self-help groups that can put you in touch with other people with the condition,” states the body.
Original Article – https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1636073/david-harbour-health-bipolar-disorder-symptoms-signs-stranger-things