HOLLYWOOD—Have you ever experienced anyone who has bipolar disorder? You might think its a little bizarre that one day they speak to you, than the other day they walk right by you without saying a word. What is bipolar disorder?

According to published reports there are different types of bipolar. Those suffering from Bipolar I experience periods of manic highs and depressive lows. Those suffering from Bipolar II experience severe depression and mild manic episodes-known as hypomania- that last for a shorter period of time. Those with cyclothymia experience less severe mood swigs, yet they can last longer. During a manic episode, those with bipolar disorder can feel euphoric and have lots of energy, ambitious plans and ideas. They can become aggressive, and experience symptoms of psychosis. The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. Some experts believe it can be developed as a result of severe emotional distress as a child, as well as genetic and chemical factors.

Mariah Carey opened up this week about her battle with bipolar disorder. She spoke out for the first time about her 17-year battle with the disorder with People magazine. Carey indicated she was first diagnosed with the condition in 2001 after a mental breakdown which resulted in her being admitted to the hospital. Carey, who has sold 200 million records worldwide, said she only recently sought medical treatment. She said it came after “the hardest couple of years I’ve been through.”

“Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” she told People magazine. “I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love-writing songs and making music.” Carey said she is now attending therapy and taking medication for her disorder, which has caused her to have periods of depression and hypomania, which can cause irritability and insomnia. “I’m actually taking medication that seems to be pretty good. It’s not making me feel tired or sluggish or anything like that.”

Mariah Carey is not alone, actor Mel Gibson in a 2008 documentary, said he suffered from bipolar disorder. The actor burst onto the scene as an action hero, then branched out into producing and directing, earning two Academy Award nominations. People magazine named Gibson the “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1985. His personal life made headlines as well, when he berated a police officer during a drunken driving arrest in 2006 and pleaded no contest to domestic abuse charges in 2012.

Singer and actress Demi Lovato starred in the Disney Channel movie “Camp Rock.” After the sequel, she landed a role in the TV series “Sonny With A Chance,” where Lovato admitted herself into a clinic for addiction and self-harm in 2010. It was there she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. MTV aired a documentary about Lovato’s struggles in 2012. Russell Brand who was married to Katy Perry was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a youth, Brand lost jobs with MTV for controversial remarks. His marriage to Perry lasted less than 2 years. He published his first autobiography in 2007 and detailed his struggles with drug abuse in “Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions” in 2017.

Brian Wilson, the leader of the California surfing sound, wrote and produced nine albums and 16 hit singles in a three-year span with the Beach Boys. A panic attack on an airplane in 1964 led him to stop touring. A year later, Wilson began experimenting with LSD. His bipolar disorder, which he’d learn about years later, left him physically and emotionally unable to compose or tour for decades.

Singer Kurt Cobain the co-founder of Nirvana had attention deficit disorder as a child, and later was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He didn’t pursue treatment. Despite success as the leader of Seattle’s grunge rock movement, Cobain’s struggled with depression led to him committing suicide at the age of 27 in 1994.

Rock guitar legend Jimi Hendrix was expelled from high school, once stole a car, and lasted just a year in the Army after his commanding officers suggested an early discharge. He later wrote a song titled “Manic Depression,” which described his trouble with mood swings. Despite his mental health issues, Hendrix’s performances at Monterey and Woodstock still get talked about today. He died in 1970 at the age of 27.

Ernest Hemingway, the Nobel Prize-winning author was prone to manic-depressive behavior throughout his life, a family trait shared by his parents, his son, and his granddaughter Margaux. Despite his larger-than-life personality and novels like “A Farewell to Arms” and “For Whom The Bell Trolls,” Hemingway had bouts of depression and paranoia. Obsessed with death, he eventually shot himself in the head in 1961.

Rose’s Scoop: Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury time penalty sees Real Madrid survive into the Semi-finals in the UEFA Champions League. It marks Real Madrid in the semi-finals for the eight year in a row.