Catherine Zeta-Jones' Bipolar II Struggle

After supporting husband Michael Douglas through his battle with throat cancer, Catherine Zeta-Jones needed medical care for herself. After “the stress of the past year,” her representative said in a statement, the movie star “made the decision to check into a mental health facility for a brief stay to treat her bipolar II disorder,” a condition similar to bipolar I disorder, characterized by mood swings from high to low.

Zeta-Jones has been hit with a series of devastating events: In 2010, her stepson, Cameron Douglas, was sentenced to five years in prison on drug charges, and four months later, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Compounding the stress, Michael Douglas was also slapped with a lawsuit by former wife, Diandra, seeking half of the profits from his hit movie, “Wall Street: The Money Never Sleeps.”

What’s the difference between bipolar I and II? Formerly known as manic-depression, bipolar disorder has a spectrum of severity, with the most severe form being bipolar I, marked by cycling between extreme emotional ups and downs. With bipolar II, the ups never reach full-blown mania. Instead, people experience intense elevated moods known as “hypomania,” with the disorder being diagnosed if the person has had at least one such episode in his or her life. People with both bipolar I and II also suffer from depressive spells, with depression usually being less intense for those with bipolar II.

Understand the complexities of bipolar disorder and how it affects your life.

Who is at risk? Six million Americans—about one in 40--have some form of bipolar disorder, which typically starts when sufferers are in the teens or 20s. Almost everyone with bipolar II shows symptoms before age 50, as was the case with Zeta-Jones, 41. It’s most likely to strike people with a family history of the condition and is slightly more common in women, while bipolar I is more likely to affect men. Patty Duke is another actress who has struggled with bipolar disorder, but since her symptoms were more severe, she appears to have bipolar I.

What are the symptoms? People with bipolar II experience episodes of soaring energy called “hypomania,” but less extreme emotional highs than the full-blown mania of bipolar I. They may jump from one idea to another, skimp on sleep, make poor financial decisions or go on shopping sprees, act impulsively or recklessly, and abuse drugs or alcohol. During Michael Douglas’ health crisis, sources told Popeater, Zeta-Jones was chain smoking and drinking, though there have been no reports of her being treated for substance abuse. Episodes of hypomania can last a few days to months, and may be followed by spells of depression that are less severe than those associated with bipolar I.

Is it depression? Learn to recognize the warning signs.

What’s the treatment? Because the symptoms are milder than those for bipolar I, bipolar II can sometimes go undiagnosed for years. Once it’s detected, sufferers may receive mood-stabilizing medication, such as lithium, Lamictal (FDA-approved for bipolar disorder), and antiseizure drugs that impact mood used off-label, such as Depakote, Neurontin, or Topamax. Drug therapy can reduce the risk of slipping into hypomanic or depressive episodes, thus helping prevent hospitalization. For more severe cases, antipsychotic drugs may be prescribed. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or other forms of counseling, can also be helpful.

Follow these simple ways to manage stress.

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