Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has revealed that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
The restaurateur was previously diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2017 and calls his neurodivergence his “superpower.”
“My most artistic, innovative and exciting work is because I am neurodivergent, which I describe as my superpower,” said the chef, 57, owner of the esteemed Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire, among others.
Speaking about the need for a change in attitudes towards neurodiversity in the workplace, he added: “The world needs to move beyond outdated and archaic misinterpretations of perceived difference and embrace the opportunities that neurodiversity presents.”
So what is bipolar disorder and how does it affect people?
Firstly, it is a surprisingly common mental illness: the charity Bipolar UK estimates that more than a million adults in the UK suffer from it, around 30% more than the number of people with dementia. However, it is also estimated that at least half a million people with bipolar disorder in the UK are undiagnosed.
“It's really vital that people like Heston can talk openly about their illness,” says Simon Kitchen, chief executive of Bipolar UK.
The condition is thought to have a genetic link: evidence suggests that those with one parent with bipolar disorder have around a 10% chance of developing the condition, and those with two bipolar parents have up to a 70% chance of having it.
Humor changes
Bipolar, a serious mental health condition, causes significant mood swings, ranging from highs (hypermania or mania) to lows (depression), as well as a combination of both, where symptoms of depression and mania occur at the same time between periods of stability.
“It's characterized by extreme highs and lows of emotion and also energy,” says Kitchen. “Hypermania is when people fall into a high-energy state, where they can be very productive and very charismatic, and consequently, many people with bipolar disorder can have great achievements because of this.
“The problem with bipolar disorder is that if it's not controlled, it can lead to full-blown manic episodes, where it's like a train going down a mountain: it can't stop,” he adds.
This can lead to sleep problems and very erratic behavior. Kitchen says: “They may be emailing a colleague at two in the morning, they may end up experiencing hypersexual behavior or put themselves in very vulnerable situations. And they can also spend a lot of money in a short period of time and go into a lot of debt.
“The flip side of the truth is that with the high, there is always a low, and the lows of bipolar depression are very debilitating,” Kitchen continues. “People can spend weeks, even months, in bed, and they can also experience really intrusive suicidal thoughts.”
It says around one in five people with bipolar disorder die by suicide, if they can get the right support to manage their condition.
Diagnosis is key
There is effective treatment for bipolar disorder, however Kitchen says 60% of people living with the condition receive no treatment or support, and it takes an average of nine and a half years to get an accurate diagnosis. As a result, undiagnosed people can become very ashamed of their behavior, she says, and their relationships can be severely affected.
“This really damages family relationships. Whereas if you know you have a mental health condition and that's what caused your behavior, that doesn't necessarily make the impact easier, but it does mean that the person living with the condition doesn't have the same level of shame. This is part of the condition that can be managed.”
How is bipolar disorder treated?
Mood-stabilizing medications can be used to treat bipolar disorder, often along with an antipsychotic to control mania or an antidepressant to “lift it up a bit,” Kitchen explains. The most common mood stabilizer is lithium, although Kitchen notes that some people respond better to different medications. Psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling, can also be very helpful.
Additionally, lifestyle changes are important, including making sure you get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, and people with bipolar disorder may benefit from planning their lives carefully.
Kitchen explains: “If you have a new job, if you're really excited about something, those feelings toward bipolar people can trigger an episode. That's why we always encourage people to plan their lives so that they don't have too many things happening at once, good or bad.
“So don't start a new job, get married and go on vacation at the same time; space out the time so things happen at different times.”
While there is no cure, Kitchen says, “With the right medication and support, you can live a really good life. “Sometimes it is really difficult, but it is possible to go for years without serious episodes.”
Peer support can also be very helpful (Bipolar UK has support groups across the country).
Living well with bipolar
“Most people, when they first find out they have a diagnosis, see it as 'this is the end of my life, I have a very serious mental illness and I can't get over it.' “It is a real moment of despair for them because they believe there is no hope, when in reality the diagnosis is the beginning of an improvement in their life,” says Kitchen.
“It's not easy, but life can get better and they can take control of this. And meeting other people who have been through that journey and being able to support each other through it is really powerful.
“Talking about mental health, and bipolar disorder in particular, should not be taboo; that's really fundamental. The more people are open about it, the easier it will be to manage.”
