Bipolar Disorder on 90210
Silver, played by Jessica Stroup, is the “outspoken free spirit who marches to the beat of her own drum machine.” She is a teen who has bipolar disorder. In an interview with the Associated Press, Jessica shared that she’s done a lot of research about bipolar disorder and “she appreciates the challenge of playing someone with a mental disorder.”
It’s been a few years since I was into the teen television scene. So fans of 90210 what do you think? Jessica feels that portrayals of bipolar disorder are important because "it's something that touches so many people but isn't really explored." She is being careful not to play Silver's mood swings too over the top. Does Jessica Stroup bring empathy and reality to Silver? Is Silver a character that you can relate to? ~Kimberly
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Comments
I like how so much is coming out regarding bipolar now on television and the movies. It helps to reduce the stigma which is still very huge. My own family members are having a problem with my bipolar even. Its tough.
Shows like this can only help.
So is she on meds, or flying free. Is this going to be an example of someone successfully being treated? The last entertainment offerings seem to say that when someone commits a heinous murder, they must be bipolar, with family making the diagnosis and no evidence the person has been treated by professionals.
So what is she using for reference or resources?
Just What We Need – Someone “Acting” Bipolar
Bipolar Disorder is a complex disease that affects each and every person in a unique way. A large percentage of those who suffer from the associated symptoms go through life with their illness undetected, and thus experience no stigmaic discrimination. Some may hide their symptoms, accepting the label given by friends and family as “odd” or “quirky”. And, though a smaller percentage, some are completely enveloped by the disease, and the life they have is completely controlled by the symptoms. I am very uncomfortable having Ms. Stroup represent the bipolar community, repeatedly, to millions of people for a number of reasons.
1. It is not possible to “play” a bipolar person accurately. For each of us the disease displays unique symptoms, moods, attitudes and “quirks”. However, an ignorant public will see her character as accurately portraying the life of a bipolar person.
2. She said that she “did as much research on the disorder as she could” in order to give an accurate depiction of someone with bipolar disorder. That statement is pure crap. That would be the equivelent of studying one person, and then feeling adequately trained to act as all people would act. There are some common characteristics, but they become unique when individualized.
3. She doesn’t want to play the “mood swings too over the top”. Why not? What does “too over the top” mean, any way? It sounds to me like her character will go from the low of being occasionally sad to the high of jaywalking.
When someone attempts to portray a person who is bipolar, at the very best they can only act as one person with one form of the disorder. What level of mental illness will she chose to represent through her character? Will she be Bipolar I or II? Will her friends us her mood swings to their advantage? Will she see a psychiatrist or a therapist? Will she be medicated and, if so, will she take her meds? Will she ever be arrested or hospitalized? If she has ECT, will the procedure be shown as the positive, effect treatment of today, or will it be depicted a hostile and diabolical, like what happened to Jack in “Cuckoo’s Nest”?
Through her acting and “research”, she could underplay the character, and people will think that the disease is no big deal, or overplay it, sending the message that we are weird, unapproachable and untrustworthy. How her character acts is how the viewer will relate to a person with bipolar disorder. By “playing” with our disease, with the great likelihood that they’ll damage the cause we have all rallied around. This characterization will hurt us more than help us, and it gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
She has no idea what damage this can do to the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder. Just because an issue is being represented doesn’t mean that it is being represented well. Placing the awareness and understanding of bipolar disorder with people who know nothing about it, yet will be presenting it to millions of people is wrong. I don’t think that you’d like that, either.
Submitted by: Michael W. McKinney Sr.
bipolarpastor@yahoo.com
.
I agree with Mike. I am so sick and tired of television shows always trying to “portray” bipolar disorder.
I am a grown adult, single mother, with a teenage girl, who’se father just died and guess what? Even with being BP I am still working full time and still handiling my business…I am medicated and take my meds seriously.
For goodness sake…even in the media the seem to portray any out of character behavior as Bipolar…was Brittney Spears actually diagnosed, what about the kid that shot up Virgina Tech..they claim they are bipolar but if that is the case, how did they get the medical records (which are supposed to be sealed) to truly say that’s what is wrong with someone??????
I’m sick and tired of this bs aboout bipolar disorder. It’s the catch phrase of the last couple of years and I say enough is enough…leave it and us alone.
Thank you Mike. You asked all the right pointed questions and made the remarks that prove it is impossible to have some one “act” as if they have bipolar. As you said, it would be impossible to research the topic and feel you are qualified to do such a thing. I believe you called it pure crap. That would be like me being told to go to the Super Bowl, put on the uniform and “act” as the starting quarterback. I mean, come on. I do watch football. Hollywood does get some weird ideas about their product, but what do they think gives them license to believe they are capable of portraying someone with a mental illness such as bipolar? I am 52 years old and I was diagnosed with bipolar 16 years ago. Rapid cycler. Is she going to be a rapid cycler too? Meds? Ive been through every one in the book until my doctor came up with the right cocktail. I take seven different meds a day. How many is she going to be taking? In patient hospital stays? 8. Usually long ones. 11,20,30 days at a time. ECT? 2 sessions, 9 procedures each time. Suicide attempts? 2 The 911 responders were real nice. The following 9 days in the hospital were not. Over spending? I have clothes in my closet with the price tags still attached. Days missed from work? Too many to count. Beautiful sunny warm summer days spent in bed? Again, too many to count. Speaking so fast while manic, people look at you like you have three heads? Many days in a row without bathing? Yeah, I’d like to see this actress with dirty hair. Although I have had this illness, I have been able to finish my career to retirement and collect full retirement benefits. My doctor thought I’d never be able to do it. Many of us are very intelligent and very hard workers when we are healthy. When I was healthy, I was every boss’s dream. I was the most pleasant and hardest worker. My co-workers truly enjoyed working with me. Everybody always said they would rather have one of me than ten of the others. There’s a bit of my sixteen years. Let Hollywood sink their teeth into that.
Another important entity in the life of a person with bipolar is the support system they may have or not have. Family and friends lives are also affected. The spouse or significant other is the life that is most affected by living daily with someone with bipolar. Is this person on the brink of driving their spouse or significant other to the point of a break up, or does this supporter understand the illness and how it affects their loved one? Do they handle the mood swings well? Are they able to help monitor and recognize your manic and depression symptoms, come every night to the hopital when you are in, understand when you can’t attend a social event, make sure you take your meds and even watch you take them if he has to? Does he try to make you eat, even cook if he has to? Does he understand when you can’t get out of bed for days or clean around the house? Does he tell you not to worry about the house being a mess? “You’re sick” he says. What about the rest of you family. Are your parents and siblings supportive. Do your parents call you several times a week to see how you are doing? Are you loved and treated with respect by the rest of your family? Then there is the other family in your life. The life of your significant other. Are you “out of the closet” with them. Do they treat you as any other member of thier family, unphased by your illness, or are you shunned away. These are all important questions in the life of someone with bipolar. When it comes to 90210, I have no idea how they are going to handle this part of the life of a person with bipolar. I happen to be very fortunate and have all these great things in my life with my support system. Even though I have been as close to people involved in the support sysyem of a person with bipolar as anyone could possibly be, I have absolutely no idea what goes through their minds, how they think, what they are really going through and how I have really affected their lives. It just happens that is not my role in life, nor could I “act” this role realistically. All I know is that I have left my footprint in their lives, and continue to do so.
It’s important for teens to see that having a mental illness isn’t anything to be ashamed of.
90210 did a great PSA when Silver was diagnosed for the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation. The site has chat for teens diagnosed with bipolar, depression, or other emotional disorders nightly at http://www.bpkids.org/90210.
I’ve heard that alot of kids have visited that chat room and like it.
Even if the bipolar can’t be portrayed “correctly” it at least makes kids know that its ok to look for help if they are feeling bad.