There really is no support group that eases one into instant celebrity, fame, and wealth. In 2011 Jean-Claude Van Damme opened up about his bipolar disorder on the British reality show Behind Closed Doors, explaining his diagnosis 13 years earlier. “Sometimes you’re gonna like me, and sometimes you’re gonna hate me. But what can I do? I’m not perfect,” he said.
Oscar Pistorius began his 30-day mental health evaluation at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria on Monday. Pistorius was admitted as a day patient by the hospital following an order by Judge Thokozile Masipa in the High Court in Pretoria.
Three psychiatrists and one clinical psychologist would evaluate Pistorius to determine whether his general anxiety disorder and his disability had an effect on him when he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
Pistorius pictured here on his way to his evaluation
What are the signs and symptoms?
1) Recent social withdrawal and loss of interest in others.
2 )An unusual drop in functioning, especially at school or work, such as quitting sports, failing in school, or difficulty performing familiar tasks.
3) Problems with concentration, memory, or logical thought and speech that are hard to explain.
4) Heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells or touch; avoidance of over-stimulating situations.
5) Loss of initiative or desire to participate in any activity; apathy.
6) A vague feeling of being disconnected from oneself or one’s surroundings; a sense of unreality.
7) Unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal powers to understand meanings or influence events; illogical or “magical” thinking typical of childhood in an adult.
8) Fear or suspiciousness of others or a strong nervous feeling.
9) Uncharacteristic, peculiar behavior.
10) Dramatic sleep and appetite changes or deterioration in personal hygiene.
11) Rapid or dramatic shifts in feelings or “mood swings.”
Is this what Pistorius has been secretly living with? The judge’s instruction came after a psychiatrist testified that Pistorius, who has said he feels particularly vulnerable because of his disability and long-held worry about crime, had an anxiety disorder that could have contributed to his shooting of Steenkamp.
Rich, famous celebrities may seem to have it made, but they have problems just like the rest of us. And because they’re in the public eye, it can be difficult to keep those problems out of the spotlight.
These are the kinds of people that many refer to as the “slip through the cracks” types. They spend their lives just squeaking by without many people noticing there is something really wrong with them. And the people that do notice often don’t do anything about it, because the little something that is wrong with them, makes people afraid of them.
Over the last year, the world watched as golden boy Pistorius went from a seemingly normal athelete to a man who seems in serious mental distress.
Should we be supporting him at this time? How can we tell if this is a trick to get sympathy?
How does he differ from the Hollywood stars?
DMX
Former rapper, DMX has been completely ravaged by drug addiction and mental illness. DMX was reluctant to speak about his illness in an interview with Blender mag, and only admitted to ever acknowledging it when reminded of one of his own songs:
“Listed as a manic depressive with extreme paranoia/And dog, I got something for ya/Hear my name, feel my pain . . . ”
Halle Berry
Halle Berry publicly admitted attempting suicide after divorcing from baseball superstar David Justice, but stopped when she “had an image of [her] mother finding [her].” Berry says her sense of self-worth was so low, she tried to suffocate herself with carbon monoxide in the garage of her house.
Heath Ledger
Actor Heath Ledger died a tragic and untimely death when he overdosed on drugs during the filming of The Dark Knight. Ledger had been suffering from depression, anxiety, and, as a result of the two, sleep deprivation.
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson is notorious for having an awful temper, he’s been known to absolutely lose it in public.In 2005, insanely insecure boxing legend Mike Tyson says of himself: “I’ll never be happy. I believe I’ll die alone. I would want it that way. I’ve been a loner all my life with my secrets and my pain. I’m really lost, but I’m trying to find myself. I’m really a sad, pathetic case.” Once an undefeated heavyweight champion, Tyson struggled with depression and severe insecurities since childhood.
Demi Lovato
The Disney star checked into rehab in 2010 for “emotional and physical issues” including bulimia, cutting, and bipolar disorder. “I had no idea that I was even bipolar until I went into treatment,” she revealed in 2011.
Mel Gibson
The veteran actor/director opened up about his struggle with depression after starring in the 2011 movie The Beaver, about a depressed toy company CEO. Though he told Deadline his depression had never been “really severe,” he admitted to having some “low” moments.
Jim Carrey
The Liar Liar actor has said he took Prozac “for a long time” while battling depression.
What do you think about the mental state of Pistorius?
Article: Charis Apelgren
Pictures: Gallo/Twitter
