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Patty Duke: Bipolar Nightmare For Oscar-Winning Actress Patty Duke!

Posted by Adam

Saturday April 9, 2011

Patty DukePATTY Duke has opened up about her struggle with mental illness.

The actress — who personified courage and strength in her award-winning stage and screen portrayals of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan — says she drew on that same strength when facing her own struggle with mental illness.

“The example set for me by Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan helps me to find inspiration, strength and determination to carry this message as far and wide as I can,” Duke said.

Duke said she first began experiencing the symptoms of bipolar disorder in her 20s, but the disease would go undiagnosed for many years. The longer the disease went untreated, the worse her symptoms became, she said, and her struggles with anger and substance abuse would take a heavy toll on her family.

Finally diagnosed by a psychiatrist in 1982, Duke recalled feeling hope that her symptoms could finally be controlled.

“Thank God, was my response,” Duke said. “It has a name! And if it has a name, then other people know about it … and better yet it has a treatment.

“[We] travel the country to speak on this topic in the hope that shedding some light in the pocket of fear will in time help to erase the stigma that keeps so many people from getting the help they need and deserve,” Duke said.

Duke said she first became aware of the concept of disability at age 12 when she was asked to play Helen Keller during the Broadway production of The Miracle Worker. She recalled connecting with Keller’s sense of frustration as she tried to prepare for the role.

“My response to feeling thwarted and isolated was alternating rage and withdrawal, which I used to my advantage when I portrayed Helen,” she said.

The story of Keller and Sullivan would be a “beacon of hope” for Duke during her own struggle with disability, she said.

“Rarely do we think of mental illness when we think of disability,” Duke said. “Nonetheless, this is a disability that affects millions of us.”

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  • RiRo

    This is news? Patty talked about this at least 20 years ago or more.

    • Kay

      You’re right, Carrie. We can’t be reminded enough that many people suffer from depression or anxiety and some do so in silence. I have severe anxiety/depression too, and it certainly IS real and scary. I’m thankful every day for the medications that are available now that allow some sense of normalcy. For about ten years I used alcohol to self-medicate, it was the only thing that calmed my mind and alleviated fears. My mother suffered from severe depression and I regret every day that she didn’t have the benefits of modern medications. Depression in a family affects EACH member and it can be devastating.

  • Carrie

    I just want to thank Patty for continuing to bring this illness to the forefront. She may have talked about this 20 years ago but people with mental illness are diagnosed every day who may not have heard of this before. We need to be reminded that there is hope for the future and that there are people who go thru this with us. I am not bi polar but have severe anxiety/depression. I need to know that others are out there to help. And people who have never suffered from mental illness in the past are “not” exempt from it. So listen up lest it happens to you or someone you know. It’s real and it’s scary.

  • Jerry Andrews

    I have worked with people with mental illness for the last 30 years and I couldn’t agree more with what Carrie states. It is not just the lives of the person with bi-polar that is affected. Their families suffer deeply as well as a result of the behavior that they witness and experience with their loved one.

  • Barbara

    The story needs to be told over and over again. I know many people with bipolar disorder, and to hear of someone famous who has struggled with it and is conquering it (for it is never cured, of course) is an inspiration.

  • Diana L

    I have a couple of friends who are bi-polar and have attended one of Patty’s speaking engagements. It was wonderful! Her honesty and humility was captivating. Her interaction with the audience appeared to be enjoyed by all. She represents hope for a normal life to many. If you have the opportunity to attend one of her engagements, do so. You won’t be let down.

  • Miriam Butler

    Thank you Patty Duke. I remember when you were in the Miricle Worker, I played the part of Martha. My prayers are with you and your family. GOD gives us strength to endure all things. HE has truly blessed you! LOVE YOU.
    Miriam

  • Lee

    This will always be news. Mental illness never goes away. Thank God for Patty Duke, her courage and her dedication. She once said that the medication she takes saved her life and gave her life. That quote has been forever etched in my mind. It changed my life forever. Thank you, Patty Duke.

  • http://yahoo Mela

    When my own child was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I read Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness by Patty Duke and Gloria Hochman (1997). It is a well-written book with factual information about bipolar disorder (a.k.a. manic depressive illness) interspersed with the heart wrenching personal story of Miss Duke. It is a must read for someone who wants to know how bipolar disorder affects the life of an individual…and in this case a courageous woman.

  • M.D. Brant

    It’s a tragedy that BIG PHARMA has unsuspecting people like Ms Duke to hock their mythical illnesses (Bipolar, ADHD and the like) just to get people cranked up on their chemicals. If your doctor diagnoses you with Bipolar Disease, please ask him or her how they know that… They will say that (you) have a chemical imbalance. There again, how do they know that? Was there a test taken to show a “chemical imbalance”? No! Because this is no test. It’s a giant scam being perpetrated on the population of our great country, and the world alike. Check out http://www.gerson.org for real cures. Go Raw! Live Long!

    • http://yahoo Sharon

      You, sir, are an idiot!!!!! I remember Tom Cruise lambasting Brooke Shields who suffered from postpartum depression, saying that there was no such thing!!!! As I recall, he had to backtrack. Bi-polar and depression are devastating illnesses and you cannot judge if you haven’t been there. You need to research, rather than posting your opinions.

      • ogmiz

        While I agree that “Big Pharma” (the pharmaceutical companies) are part of a corrupt system that has done and still does harm in pursuit of the dollar, and western medicine relies far too much on chemicals rather than a whole person approach, I completely reject that there is no such things as bipolar or similar disorders. And after seeing the link for “gerson” I see there is another agenda afoot here. Don’t rely completely on the “natural” approach, that worked so well for Steve McQueen didn’t it? Schizophrenia, bipolar, depression can all be diagnosed by symptoms AND chemical analysis. I’m sure Ms. Duke had both diagnosis methods. If you find a schizoid who says he cured himself, or used natural methods, you can be sure that’s part of his delusion.

  • Donna Vogl

    I was diagnosed with manic depressive illness at 14, I was the daughter of a manic depressive who had 23 shock treatments,I had to raise my chronically depressed sister, it runs through a family like wildfire, it is genetic and can blow up into full blown schizophrenic affective disorder if not well treated.There are treatments, they do not always work and theeare may mysteries asociated with the disorders mentioned here.

  • Donna Vogl

    my best advise . Find a doctor you trust, comply with all medications, requests and suggestions from him/her and Pray to God you never hurt yourself or others

    • Linda Presser

      Thank you Patty Duke for speaking out about bipolar disorder. Medication is a very important part of the treatment that works best for me. If it were not for the medications that I take daily, my life would probably be a succession of hospitalizations and unhappiness. I still have some difficulties, but I can see past these bumps in the road enjoy my life very much.

  • http://YAHOO SANDRA GILLEN

    I SUFFER FROM MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER WITH PSYCHOTIC FEATURES I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT ROLE ALCOHOL PLAYED IN THIS TIL’ NOW LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST 10YRS OF MY LIFE MAYBE THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME WHY THE DEPRESSION DIDN’T JUMP OUT AT ME IN THE BEGINNING CAUSE’ OF ALCOHOL I DID DRINK ALOT I WOULDN’T ALCOHOLIC BUT MAYBE THAT’S WHAT KEPT ME FROM LOSING IT THEN I EXPERIENCED A LIFE CHANGING EPISODE & HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN & WENT INTO THIS DEPRESSION THAT TOOK ME ALMOST A YR 2 EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD A PROBLEM I’M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE DIAGNOSIS & THE MEDICATION THAT I’M CURRENTLY ON IT HELPS TREMENDOUSLY THAT YOU KNOW YOUR NOT ALONE THANKS TO PATTY DUKE & OTHERS LIKE HER THAT’S NOT AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT HER ILLNESS

  • Lyon

    You look so amazing and different.  I love you, Patty.  Michael Lyon.  Mom is okay, and so is Dad.  Mom's mom passed finally.  I will be leaving home in one year for good.  Although, I have a trial in December I am nervous about.  I love you, Lyon

  • Lyon

    THE most sexiest that night, Mom and Son.  Eh? 
    I love you both. 
    Hi, Mackenzie!  I can't wait to meet.  I love you and your mom, family very very much. 
    My mom is Virginia. 
    Oh, Patty, I sure do love you. 
    Congradulations. 
    I am leaving home for good in a year.  I hope to see you then, or when I go visit LA soon, with David. 
    You look DIFFIRENT! 
    I am proud of you.
    LYON
    LYON
    Michael Lyon
    Lyon Charles