Kerry Katona - Bipolar Disorder in a Reality TV Show?
Apparently in October she took some really bad heat over a trashed interview on iTV 1’s This Morning show – a television broadcast company and show in the UK. Julia Raeside, a blogger on guardian.co.uk, described Kerry as “looking distracted and at times confused, slurring her words and almost unable to string a cogent sentence together.” There was a lot of flack and speculation following this about Kerry relapsing into drug and alcohol use.
However, today The Sun reported that Kerry is attributing this behavior to chlorpromazine, an antipsychotic she is taking for bipolar disorder. The article notes, “She wants to explain how her condition and medication affect her work and relationships.”
So I’m torn. I think, if handled correctly, this could be really interesting and illustrate how difficult bipolar disorder can be. But, I’ve watched Survivor and Big Brother. It is always the worst and most dramatic scenes that are aired so I think this has the potential to really cast those with bipolar disorder yet again into a bad stereotype. How do you feel about this? ~ Kimberly
Comments
i wanna be on this show!!! how do i sign up??
I’M IN!
At the risk of sounding insensitive, bipolar disorder seems to be becoming the pop culture celebrity “disorder of the moment” in the UK.
A celebrity reality series about bipolar disorder fronted by KK? I don’t know. Even Stephen Fry’s very sensitive treatment of the subject last year left much unanswered and an impression that it may not really be that debilitating, after all.
Kerry is a tragic figure with many feeling that she only has herself to blame for her fall(s) from grace. Has it been bipolar disorder all along? It may be a good explanation, but does a series really do other sufferers any kind of service and will it add to the general understanding of the illness? More questions than answers, but my hunch is that “NO” will answer most of these questions.
A show about this would be wonderful if done appropirately and showed the difficulty for the family members as well. Anyone who has any type of alcohol abuse or overuse in the family line/history can most definitely develop bipolar. It is the “commom” of today because of the excessiveness of alcohol and the damage it has done. Generally self-medication of usage tends to cover the bipolar disease for many years. May it be one of helpfulness to get people into treatment and let others know this is definitely a dibilitaing disease of the chemical system in the brain if left untreated is progressive and is a respector of no persons.
I think it would be great to show the most difficult times possible. If the “real issues” are not shown, there IS a danger that people might get the impression that it’s “not all that debilitating.” That it’s “not debilitating” can be the impression of people who do not live with the disorder — either having it themselves or in a close relationship. I get real tired of “the real thing” being hidden — publicly, as in film or television. Sufferers talk ABOUT bipolar disorder; but nothing can compare to scenes depicting the real thing. For instance, the movie **Mister Jones** has some great scenes. But his anger scene doesn’t even come close to the rages I used to have. Hey — the guy kicks a tire; big effing deal.
As a long time suffer of manic depression and as a resident in UK I am familiar with the exploits of Kerry Katona. I really cannot see how she will have any positive contribution to add to sufferes who are not so fortunate as to make money out of their condition. This is a serious, debilitating life threatening disease and shame on the media outlets who make money out of the unfortunates such as K Katona and J Goody. I have tried several times to take my life and believe me having my condition splashed over TV is not one I would relish.
Her ex-husband has tried to gain custody of their two daughters, she admits to having had a cocaine and alcohol dependency problem (during pregnancy!!), she is a shameless self promoter who appears to be very unstable and immature. It’s a shame they can’t use someone with a better character and less of a train wreck.
I believe that the Bipolar community would be better served by a televised group that discusses the ups and downs of dealing with the disorder. A panel discussion of symptoms and how to manage it with life style changes, exercise, meditation,diet, medical intervention and family support would better serve other suffering from this. Bipolar disorder can attach a person at any age and having panel discussions with different people each week may help others understand the dramatic impact on others involved with the affected person. I will help the people affected by giving them hope and ideas on how to manage this illness.
Keep in mind that no two cases of Bipolar are the same and there are no meds that work for everyone. It is also a well known fact that many suffering from this disorder are not compliant with taking their meds if they happen to be lucky enough to find a combination that keeps them stable.
I pray that people with means and influence in any media, understand the power and opportunity they have to HELP those suffering with Bipolar challenges and not use their platforms to further confuse the public and newly diagnosed.
I feel it could go either way, for better or for worse; but at least it would go! It’s hard to talk, or explain anything unless it is “aired” so to speak. However, I hope that her “reality” is not just an act. A cover to give her something other than herself to blame for having a bad reputation.
I wanted you to know my foundation invited Ben Stiller to be on our Honorary Board. Although we never stated he “had bipolar”, we were reamed out by his agent for assuming he was BPD & she said” the quote in GQ was taken out of context, he is not BPD”.
Therefore, I advise you take him off your list.(just my 2 cents)
I am bipolar and i think its good to raise awarness of this disorder. It would be good for people to be more positive about this disorder. I am trilled for Kerry and wish her well. I know she has made mistakes but noone is perfect and unless you live with bipolar you really dont know how hard life can be.
I am newly diagnosed with BP II. This project of Kerry Katona seems a bit superficial to my knowledge. If she’s surrounded by professionals on this subject and IF she’s not in the project for self gain, money, to clear her reputation/conscience or to confuse people then I give her my conscent. This is certainly not a glamorous disease but if it causes a small percentage of people to gain clarity, then so be it. Personally, I’ve done many things due to my condition that I would take back in an instant if I had the chance. Please don’t let this be the reason Kerry Katona.
“Even God cannot change the past.” Agathon
I agree with you Kimberly…I have Bipolar and the last think I want is ,for those of us who have it, to be burdened with more stigma as a byproduct of shows like these.I am more in favour of documentary which shows that mental illness recovery is possible and prevalent.
I was diag. w/bipolar disorder 10 yrs. ago. I have studied, read, talked to, emailed, in other words been very proactive in my treatment of this disorder. I can’t imagine how a reality tv show would ANY WAY help society as an education tool to understand this illness. If anything, if will make all of “us” look like true “nuts”!
I would have to agree with you Brenda I have been a bipolar “bear” for well over 15 years and if this show happens it will make ALL us look like true nuts!!!
I fear that the presense of cameras will encourage ‘acting out’. This can’t possibly provide a true representation of what dealing with BP is really like.
I think this would open a few doors. I have had serious issues with medications doing the same thing to me and have employers and family think i was “lazy” for not being able to get up bright eyed and bushy tailed for the day. I think that Kerry has a lot to add for a group of us who have had issues with this! I have had beaucoup of times where I felt unsafe to drive to work; when I got to work, I could not function properly; I had to lay my head on my desk. It was frustrating to have NO ONE “understand” what I was going through. My parents thought I was being “ridiculous” and “lazy”. I truly think that we need to have an open mind and that if Kerry has good intentions of showing the world what we go through from time to time, then this could potentially be a good thing!
I am not familiar with Kerry, but seeing the comments of those who are, leaves me feeling she may not serve the bipolar community well. I have been treated for 15 years with a rather severe case of rapid cycling Bipolar II. I feel the comments made earlier about panel dicussions would be much more effective. The meds we take are so varied, the severity of each of our conditions is so vareied, with the amount of time spent in and out of inpatient hostital stays, the effectiveness of our doctors, along with so many of the different types ofsuffering we experience This diorder has been sadly a huge part of my life. People need to know and be educated regarding mental health issues so the stigma of these issues can begin to be erased.
I’ve never personally liked Kerry K (and I am Brtish so familiar with her attention grabbing ways…) but I had sympathy for her on the breakfast show she messed up - because I know what I’m like on seroquel when i wake up… no-one will ever make a programme that ’sums it up’. Stephen Fry is my personal hero from long before i found out he is BP - but he represents a highly educated and very considered point of view, Kerry Katona is the antithesis of that. but a show about ‘normal bipolars (!)’ would never be made because it wouldn’t get the viewers. she won’t do the bp world any harm if she makes the programme - in England anyway. i think people here will just think ‘yes dear. now stop making excuses and just start pulling yourself together.’
I think a format showing before and after bipolar people might be valuable. We all know how we acted and lived before we were properly diagnosed and I am certain there are plenty of success stories where we’ve evened out and become productive and stable once our meds and treatment are sorted. I applaud this idea as another way to break the stigma surrounding mental illness - especially bipolar disorder since it is so misunderstood.
I think it’s rediculous! If they don’t make those of us look like nuts, then they’ll have NO show…….wake up…..it’s all in the dollar bill….
and if done tastefully or accurately or delicately? please it’s the media
and as far as the medication effecting whoever…..if she’s anything like most of us…it’s always something new that will help a little better….maybe she wasn’t use to this particular med……..give her a break!