Dec 16th, 2008 · In a new memoir, Carrie Fisher — actress, novelist and self-described daughter of "Hollywood inbreeding" — writes about her tumultuous life as showbiz royalty. In Wishful Drinking, Fisher discusses her bipolar disorder, addictions and divorce — and still manages to laugh.
Dec 3rd, 2008 · Essayist Ayelet Waldman lives with bipolar disorder. A few years ago, in the throes of a depressive episode, she wrote a blog post that implied that she might take a fistful of pills. But she was lucky; her Web community reached out to her.
Sep 22nd, 2008 · Every parent hopes their child's misbehavior can be easily corrected with a time out or appropriate punishment. But many parents find themselves unprepared when their children are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental illness. In this week's Behind Closed Doors, Dr. Ellen Leibenluft, Dr. Carl Bell and author Cassandra Joubert discuss parenting children with the illness.
Sep 4th, 2008 · In his memoir, Scattershot, David Lovelace chronicles what he calls "the family sickness." Terri Cheney joins the discussion and shares details from Manic, a chronicle of her own struggle with bipolar disorder.
May 6th, 2008 · A new study suggests that many people are being diagnosed as bipolar even though they do not meet the criteria for the disorder. Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital found that about half of 700 patients who'd been diagnosed as bipolar should not have been.
Feb 4th, 2008 · Terri Cheney was a successful entertainment lawyer, representing some of the biggest names in the business, but few knew of her inner struggle with bipolar disorder. In this week's Behind Closed Doors, Cheney talks candidly about manic depression, as chronicled in her new book, Manic.
Apr 21st, 2007 · Linda Wertheimer talks to journalist Pete Earley about his struggles to get help for his son, who became bipolar while away at college. Earley says unless a mentally ill person becomes a threat to himself or others, it's often exceedingly difficult to secure any kind of treatment. Pete Earley is the author of Crazy, and a former Washington Post reporter.
Jul 24th, 2006 · In a recent five-part series of first-person essays, Orange County Register newspaper reporter Valeria Godines offered readers a window into her personal struggle with bipolar disorder. She speaks with Noah Adams about her illness and her struggle to regain a sense of normalcy.