Inside Kanye West’s mental health battle: What is bipolar disorder? - NEWS.com.au

Kanye West’s very public meltdown at his first presidential rally earlier this week raised some eyebrows.

But Kanye’s Twitter meltdown the following day – where he claimed his wife Kim Kardashian-West was attempting to lock him up – had fans and non-fans genuinely concerned for the rapper’s wellbeing.

While it’s not been overly documented, it is no secret that Kanye, 43, has bipolar disorder, something he has previously called a “superpower”.

Fellow singer Halsey seemingly came out in support of Kanye today, revealing she also battles with bipolar.

“No jokes right now. I have dedicated my career to offering education and insight about bipolar disorder and I’m so disturbed by what I’m seeing,” Halsey wrote. ”Personal opinions about someone aside, a manic episode isn’t a joke. If you can’t offer understanding or sympathy, offer your silence.”

Kanye’s erratic behaviour this week – which follows a career marred by similar outbursts – has shone a renewed spotlight on the disease.

MORE: Kanye West cries onstage at presidential rally

WHAT IS BIPOLAR?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a neurological brain disorder that affects around 2.3 million Americans, while Black Dog Institute reports one in 50 (1.8 per cent) adult Australians experience bipolar each year.

According to Beyond Blue, the exact cause of bipolar can’t be known for sure.

It can come down to genetics, while other circumstances are known to trigger it, including traumatic life events, situations of high stress and drug and alcohol abuse.

People with bipolar experience extreme emotions, good and bad.

In a manic state – which can often be described as an episode – those suffering bipolar are operating at a higher speed.

They have increased energy and this reflects in their speech and movements.

Being in this state can also affect irritability, the ability to sleep and in some cases, those with bipolar in a manic state can have hallucinations.

On the other end of the scale, when people with bipolar are upset or down, they experience symptoms similar to that of depression; where they lack any motivation and shut others out.

MORE: Kim Kardashian reportedly devastated over Kanye’s meltdown

KANYE WEST’S HISTORY WITH BIPOLAR

West has previously confirmed in interviews that he has bipolar disorder.

In 2018, the cover of his Ye album featured the line: “I hate being bipolar. It’s awesome.”

He later said in an interview: “I had never been diagnosed until I was 39. But like I said on the album, it’s not a disability, it’s a superpower.”

Speaking to Vogue in 2019, Kardashian spoke about her husband’s struggles and said he wasn’t on medication.

“For him, being on medication is not really an option, because it just changes who he is,” she said at the time.

“Right now everything is really calm. But we can definitely feel episodes coming, and we know how to handle them.”

Kardashian said in the same interview: “I think some of the hurtful things that I read online, ‘What is she doing? She’s not stopping him …’ Like it’s my fault if he does or says something that they don’t agree with?

“That’s my husband,” she said. “I share every opinion that I have and let him know when I think something’s wrong. Or if it comes to him being in the middle of a bipolar episode, I’ll do everything to be supportive and help to calm the situation.”

In an interview with David Letterman, West once explained what it was like to go through an “episode”.

“When you’re in this state, you’re hyper-paranoid about everything,” he said.

“Everyone – this is my experience, other people have different experiences – everyone now is an actor. Everything’s a conspiracy.

“You feel the government is putting chips in your head. You feel you’re being recorded. You feel all these things,” he said. “You pretty much don’t trust anyone.”

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2020-07-22 05:34:10Z
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