Drew Barrymore was born in 1975 in California. She began acting in commercials at the age of 11 months and acted in her first movie at the age of 6. By the tender age of 9 she was addicted to various drugs and alcohol and her personal life had gone out of control. She was diagnosed bipolar disorder at the age of 13.
Even with the substance abuse and bipolar disorder, Drew Barrymore still had her acting career going. As her life continued to spin out of control and she hit rock-bottom she was able to get help for the substance abuse and the bipolar disorder. This allowed her to regain control over her life and her career. She is now one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood and one of the best known faces in the world.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder does not mean your life has come to an end. There are plenty of successful people who lead normal lives despite having bipolar disorder. Drew Barrymore is an example of an individual who suffered with bipolar disorder but was able to overcome it to lead a very happy life and have an extremely successful career in the public eye.
There are many medications that can be prescribed by mental health care professionals to control the symptoms of bipolar disorder as well as behavioral therapies that help the patient learn to lead a normal, productive life. There may be times when the illness will relapse, but if the patient is aware of the signs and sees that the symptoms of an episode are increasing, they can work with their doctor to modify the medication before an episode goes into full effect.
Medication, therapy and a good support system are very effective in relieving symptoms as well as avoiding full-blown manic and depressive episodes. It is important that the patient and their support system be educated about the disorder, its treatments and how to avoid relapses to continue to lead a normal, productive life.
