Us and Them

So I watched the Golden Globes last night and I saw some people...Quentin Tarantino, Joaquin Phoenix...those 2 come to mind. But so many. Wildly creative, intelligent people - crazy out there. Don't they have BP? How do they cope? Are they on meds? Or are they just lucky to be in the right place to be appreciated for who they are?

My favorite people in history were bipolar. Lincoln, Mozart, and many current actors but I know we suffer inwardly mostly and it’s easy to see them and their life and wander why not me but to my kids and grandchildren I am a super hero lol so that’s all I need.

I'm not sure if Tarantino and/or Phoenix have mental health issues and if/how they treat them. I like both of these guys, and have watched a number of the movies they directed (Tarantino) or were in (both). Neither are "average Joes" for sure! Perhaps they embrace that. I still don't think that makes them always happy. I think they have struggles, too. Wealth and fame do NOT always bring happiness.

I admire both of the above, but I wouldn't want to be either. They do their things, and I do mine. They obviously make a lot more money than I do, and are recognized and admired by more people. But is that what I'd want? I do think they were in the right place at the right time. I don't know enough about Tarantino to say how he got his start, but Joaquin Phoenix was kind of pushed into the industry by his mother. He was benefited by that, by his brother, by his uniqueness, quite interesting upbringing, of course talent, and other things. I know that he has "kind of retired" at times, trying new things...and kind of failing. He seems to be quite selective about his roles, which I like about him.

I did see both The Joker and The Marriage Story. Driver was great, but I think Phoenix was even more amazing and had a more challenging role. I didn't see any of the other movies the Best Actor-Drama males were in, but between Driver and Phoenix, Phoenix deserves all the awards in this category. If people haven't seen The Joker, it's amazing! It could be triggering for some, though. It's NOT a light movie! It may have some link to the Batman story, but it's not a kids film!

I don't think I'm any lesser of a person than a famous person, so I don't see it as "Us (or Me) and Them".

Hmm... I did a quick google search and couldn't find anything about Joaquin Phoenix and Quentin Tarantino having BP. At best, all I could find was Quentin Tarantino talking about one of Leonardo DiCaprio's on-screen characters having undiagnosed BP. Of course, that's not to say that Joaquin Phoenix and Quentin Tarantino DON'T have BP, but I just couldn't find anything. Maybe I'm searching the wrong terms?

But anyways, I don't *fully* know how people with BP cope in Hollywood in general. Now, I know this may sound crazy, but... Carrie Fisher (whom I absolutely adored) was posting pics of herself on Instagram a few days before she died where she was surrounded by drinks. Close friends had even suspected she had relapsed on drugs around the same time. Both of those things, IMO, likely lead to her cardiac arrest.

I'd venture to say that a lot of people with BP (in general) turn to drugs and alcohol -- even the biggest celebs like Carrie Fisher. I'm not saying they SHOULD do that, but I'm just saying they do in order to cope. Even Demi Lovato did/does the same with drugs and alcohol (I'm not sure if she's sober yet, as I think she had a recent relapse).

Then you have people like Kanye West. He says he has bipolar, but he was legit bragging about having a bipolar diagnosis (calling it his "superpower" and whatnot), so I don't know if he does or does not have BP. Either way, I think we can all agree the guy is mentally ill and delusional, and he admits he doesn't take meds. I think he spends most of his time being delusional, though, rather than depressed, so maybe he isn't even aware of his delusions, hence it's "easier" for him to cope in that state of mind than people who are experiencing severe depression.

I'd say that a lot of them are lucky, though, yes. But some (like Carrie Fisher via Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher) had connections to get their career started.

My niece is in tv and film and lives near Hollywood. She's 14 and has been doing this since before she could even read her lines. I have seen no inklings of bipolar from her at all.

Many actors/singers have come forward about there Bipolar and struggles. It’s a blessing and a curse having any kind of mental illness whether your a well known actor singer or joe the plumber on 123 Main Street USA.

I honestly think most people even those starving actors waiting tables at a bar hoping for a break just happen to be in the right place at the right time.

Interestingly, my T had also watched the Golden Globes. Said she believe that BP (and other mental health disorders) are as common with celebrities (and great literary, music, art figures in history, of course) as in the rest of the population. But, celebrities of today can afford personal trainers, on-call psychotherapists and pdocs, dieticians and chefs to plan meals (reduce med weight gain), and - perhaps more than anything else - access to body restructuring (liposuction, etc. etc.), AND healthy creative outlets.

Valid points.

Another consideration is that (specifically speaking of the Golden Globes) I think most of the people there were rather loose-lipped from all that champagne

When I think about it, though, there are a few brave souls who do share their mental health struggles with the public. Sinead O'Conner comes to mind. Kanye West...I dunno what his trip is, lol.

In my lifetime, I've been fascinated by Van Gogh. The more I learn about him, the most convinced I am that he was a classic BP1.

Brings up interesting questions, of course. Would we have Beethovans, Van Goghs, Mozarts, had there been medication treatment back then? Were their shortened lives worth the magnificence they left as legacies for humanity?

Meds have existed for quite a while, but the acceptance of meds and mental illness has only come about recently. Like, we are talking the past 10 years being the first time people started openly talking about and accepting mental illness. Before that, it was more or less taboo, with people rarely mentioning mental illness.

As much as I hate social media, I think it's helped people be more accepting of mental illness because people started spreading awareness across various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc..

But to answer your first question, I'm inclined to say "no for the most part" based on what I said about acceptance.

I remember watching an interview with Paul Newman. The interviewer asked him how he had become so famous...did he have to work hard at it, network with the right people...? Newman;s answer was one I'll never forget. He looked straight at the interviewer and said "One word. Luck."

I think you got that right, Christina.

blue, good point about social media. Oh, my gosh...I remember when mental illness was thought to be such a hopeless state of existence. People were terrified of being "locked up" for being "crazy" - and I'm really not sure those people even knew what they were referring to when they used the word "crazy."

I have absolutely no doubt that younger generations, those 35 and below, will view mental illness just the way they view any other illness. And hurray for that!