Long before she was crowned as the ‘Songstress Supreme’, Mariah Carey was excelling at music in elementary school. Under the tutelage of her mother, Carey started working with various musicians until she had a demo tape. This demo tape caught the attention of the head of Columbia Records, Tommy Mottola, in 1988. That start put her on the path to an illustrious career in the music industry.
That career has included millions of records sold worldwide, multiple number-one hit songs, and several notable awards that have led to her being the highest-certified female artist in the United States. Mariah Carey hasn’t limited herself to music either. She has had numerous acting roles and has written two books.
Given how busy she has always been, it was still concerning when she was hospitalized in 2001 for having a physical and mental breakdown. It was at that time that she was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.
However, in a 2018 interview with People magazine, Carey admitted that it took her a long time to take the diagnosis seriously. It wasn’t until experiencing a tough couple of years that she sought treatment. She now manages the disorder with therapy and medication.
How Bipolar II Disorder Is Treated
The treatment for bipolar II disorder is similar to that of bipolar I. Once you’ve been diagnosed, your doctor will work with you to determine a medical regimen and how psychotherapy can help. Some of the medications your doctor can explore include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety drugs. It can take some time to determine which combination works best for you – especially if you have other chronic conditions.
There are also different types of psychotherapy that can be essential to managing your disorder. These include psycho education, family-focused therapy, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In the rare instance that you don’t respond to the medications or can’t take them, your doctor may suggest electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), where an electrical pulse is passed through the brain briefly.