Andy Behrman Speaks Out About Britney Spears
And so does Andy Behrman, author of Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania. In an email sent to us, he said this:
"Lately, I find myself being asked if I think that Britney Spears has bipolar disorder. Frankly, I don't know, as I'm not a psychiatrist or a mental health care professional, but I'm glad she's seeking treatment by qualified psychiatrists.
I've been horrified at how the media has turned her erratic and often risky behavior into something of a joke. If she is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she -– like any one else –- deserves our best wishes, because she will struggle with a disease (for which there is no cure) for the rest of her life. At the least, we can be grateful she is finally getting the help she so clearly needs.
Some studies show that for 25% of women who have bipolar disorder, the condition began with a postpartum episode. Britney's odd behavior (at least, her public behavior) really started spiraling after her first child was born.
With more than six million people suffering from bipolar disorder in this country (and that number rising every year), it's time to take mental illness seriously. It's not a laughing matter, no matter how famous you may be." Andy has summed up the situation very well. We will continue to make no comment regarding Spears at this time.
~Kimberly and Marcia
Comments
Amen! But once again BiPo becomes the laughing stock. We keep taking steps backwards, thanks to the media. (Andy … absolutely loved your book)
Winston
I have to respond to this article about Britney, as this has progressed, I have been saying to myself, her behavior is almost like a duplicate of my family member, minus the media, and this in fact increased after her child was born, and i in fact do believe there was post pardom depression at the start of all this, this all led to drug abuse, and addiction to everything, and anything, bouts with the law, incarceration etc..its been a living hell for the family, and yes she lost her child to her now ex husband, because of all this, she has been in and out of inhouse treatment, she only lets it go as far as a short detox period, goes home with the meds, does not follow through, and with in a short while back onto street narcotics, i cannot begin to tell you all we have experienced, and all the vindictive behavior associted with this BP and Drug addiction, i Personally call it self medicating, all the help in the world was there for her, more than the avgerage person would ever get offered, but she will not do it, she only throws herself in detox/theraphy when things get hot for her, and she is hiding from something or someone, she has torn our family apart, always playing one against the other stating awful terrible hurtful lies about each one of us to other family members, i had to back away, it was effecting my health, and life way too much, i dont have the mental or physical strenght any longer to be involved with this, and the thing is, they know exactly what they re doing, and there are not too many people out there that can handle these disorders, they can seriously trick the professional, they are that good..I am saddened to hear Britney is back out of the hospital, i seriously think this is what is going on with her, and the media should back off!!!!!!!!
I’ve been maintaining that she’s bipolar because I had the same pattern-erratic behaviour during a second, unplanned pregnancy too close to the first.
She deserves our sympathy and empathy as a person-the fact that so many people cannot give her that, regardless of diagnosis…bothers me, saddens me and frightens me.