She’s the star of everyone’s Christmas playlist and boasts an illustrious musical career spanning more than 30 years in the music scene.
And Mariah Carey has even gone on to explore other artistic careers including her impressive singing and song writing career as the starlet has stepped into the acting world and even produced her own film.
From her slew of chart-topping ballads to her incredible whistling top notes, fans all over the world swarm to see the blonde bombshell perform live as she continues to sell out arenas across the globe.
But what her doting fans may not be aware of is the difficult 17-year battle the 52-year-old has struggled with after she opened up about her bipolar diagnosis to People magazine in 2018.
Now, more than four years after the songstress shared her condition with the world, the star has gone on to embrace her condition and continues to live a happy life with her boyfriend Bryan Tanaka and her two children.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
The NHS defines bipolar disorder – formerly known as manic-depressive disorder – as a mental health condition that affects your moods which can swing from one extreme to another.
Without treatment, people who suffer with the condition can experience symptoms including drastic shifts in mood from manic, elated, and impulsive to depressive, unmotivated and low episodes.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bipolar I is defined as the more severe form of the disorder in which manic episodes can last more than seven days and may require the person to be hospitalised.
Bipolar II, which the songstress was diagnosed with back in 2001, is understood to be a less severe condition compared to Bipolar II.
While people with the lesser condition do experience depressive and manic episodes, they are thought not to be as acute and extreme as those with Bipolar I.
Hospitalisation
The starlet first learnt of the condition following her “emotional and physical breakdown” in 2001 after she experienced a slight dip in her musical career after the TV drama Glitter which she starred in received a cold reception.
Just a few months later, the star was hospitalised when she suffered severe exhaustion which led to her cancelling all public appearances including her headline appearance at MTV’s 20th anniversary show.
A spokesperson for the singer explained to The Associated Press at the time: “She suffered an emotional and physical breakdown … she is under psychiatric care.”
Although the outlet reported how she arrived at hospital with cuts to her body, her representative clarified that the injuries were unintentional, stating: “She did break some dishes and glasses and she may have stepped on them.”
Diagnosis
It was then that Mariah was diagnosed with bipolar disorder II, as she told People magazine how she “didn’t want to believe it”.
She explained how she was convinced for a long time that she “had a severe sleep disorder” before she was informed she was experiencing a manic episode.
The artist told the publication: “For a long time I thought I had a severe sleep disorder but it wasn’t normal insomnia and I wasn’t lying awake counting sheep.
“I was working and working and working … I was irritable and in constant fear of letting people down. It turns out that I was experiences a form of mania.”
But despite learning of her mental health condition, the starlet was convinced this wasn't the reason behind her exhaustion as she pushed on to succeed in the music scene.
Denial
The singer went on to smash her way to the top of the charts with her impressive music as she quickly became one of the biggest names in the industry.
But the mum-of-two failed to address the underlining problem behind her low moods and sleepless nights as she continued to hide from her condition which she left untreated.
And it appeared as thought things came to a head for her when she was reportedly hospitalised back in 2016 after believing music icons including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Prince were scheduled to arrive at her home for an exclusive star-studded dinner party.
The Blast reported at the time how one of the star's nannies found Mariah "wearing a ball gown and a tiara" along with a candy ring which she claimed was given to her "from the royal family".
Despite the fact that all three music legends were dead and buried, the starlet was convinced they were set to appear for dinner which happened just weeks after she split up with her then fiancé James Packer.
She later explained how that period of her life was “the hardest couple of years I've been through” as she confessed how ashamed she was of accepting the mental health disorder.
Mariah told People magazine: “Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me. It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore."
Acceptance
In 2018, more than 17 years since she first received her diagnosis, the music sensation finally came to terms with her condition and revealed she is not in therapy and taking medication to manage her condition.
And with 18 number one hits and more 200million records sold worldwide under her belt, the singer has forever immortalised herself as the queen of Christmas music.
The blonde belle revealed to People magazine how she turned her life around once she accepted her condition and received the right course of treatment and medication.
She explained: “I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love – writing songs and making music.
“I’m actually taking medication that seems to be pretty good. It’s not making me feel too tired or sluggish or anything like that. Finding the proper balance is what is most important.”
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