Mental Illness in the United States
There are millions of people who live with a mental illness or disorder. I have compiled a basic list of well-known Americans, authors, celebrities and men of letters.
Names of people who live(d) with bi-polar disorder:
The most famous example of a well-known person is Edgar Allan Poe. Judging from published letters, he would have been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Producing incredible work when not experiencing major depression during which he would frequently abuse alcohol. Meriwether Lewis of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition also was documented to experience severe problems with depression when not active. Lewis' major depressions were published in letters and eye-witness accounts by the likes of Thomas Jefferson. Lewis also died by suicide. Kay Redfield Jamison, Jane Pauley, Linda Hamilton, Carrie Fisher, Maurice Bernard, Vivien Leigh, Margot Kidder, Ernest Hemingway, Alvin Ailey, Ned Beatty, Art Buchwald, Stephen Fry, Richard Dreyfuss, Mel Gibson Brian Wilson, and Mike Wallace.
Names of people who live(d) with schizophrenia (surprisingly a lot of musicians):
John Nash, Lionel Aldridge- Green Bay Packers football player from the 1960's, was even homeless after experiencing intense paranoid schizophrenic breakdowns. Charles "Buddy" Bolden, Jack Kerouac, James Beck Gordon, Peter Green, Tom Harrell, Skip Spence, Bob Mosley, Roger Kynard and Rose (sister of Tennessee) Williams.
Names of people who live(d) with depression:
Abraham Lincoln suffered from serious suicidal depressions. John Quincy Adams, Shawn Colvin, William Styron, Eugene O'Neill, Charles Schultz, Tennessee Williams, Buzz Aldrin, Pat Conroy, Sting, Diane Arbus, Drew Carey, Jose Canseco, Dave Matthews, Halle Berry, Harrison Ford, Billy Joel, Amy Tan, Billy Corgan, Dick Cavett, Jim Carrey and Brooke Shields.
Names of people who live(d) with obsessive compulsive disorders:
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Howard Hughes, Donald Trump, Harrison Ford, Leonardo Di Caprio, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Michael Jackson, Billy Bob Thornton, Howard Stern, Penelope Cruz, Howie Mandel, Charlie Sheen, Marc Summers, Joey Ramone, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubric, Warren Zevon, Fred Durst, Rose McGowan, Kathie Lee Gifford and Justin Timberlake.
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Jimi Hendrix was once quoted, "craziness is like heaven."
ReplyDeleteThis may be true in certain places and times (like the '60s,) but mental illnesses can be a silent hell for many.
It's amazing and inspiring to see so many famous people who've battled such obstacles.