News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 0:52
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    David Harbour says acting is his "lifeline" when it comes to managing his bipolar disorder

    The 'Stranger Things' star - who has spent time in a mental asylum - has admitted he relies heavily on his creative work to keep him from ascending into "madness"


    Speaking on the 'Blank Podcast', he said: “First of all, the interesting thing about my own particular brand of it is that I never have an episode when I’m working.

    “So, in some way I’ve generally been able to see a link between my own creative energies when they are channelled into some kind of work form and that when they are not channelled that it goes off into some kind of madness.

    “In that way, it has made working even more vital to me.

    “It’s kind of a lifeline.”

    The 44-year-old star also benefits from regular therapy sessions.

    He added: “There are also these intangibles, things that actually keep us alive.

    “To me, talk therapy is really important, and acting.

    "It’s important for me to be an artist, and I think if I wasn’t an artist I’d be a lot worse off and has made work more vital.”

    David's parents sent him to a psychiatric hospital when he became convinced that he was connected to "some sort of God" in his mid-20s.

    Speaking last year, he said: "I really had like a bit of a break where I thought I was in connection to some sort of God that I wasn't really in connection to.

    "And I have to say one thing about the mental asylum...really, really not as fun as you think it is. You do have a romantic idea...and it just ends up being sad and smells like s**t. And the other thing was boating.

    "I recently went out on a ship in open water, and I'd read Moby Dick a million times, and it's really not sexy, it's horrible. It's very similar to the mental asylum experience.

    "Have you ever been to a mental asylum? The only thing that defines a 'crazy' person and a 'normal' person...is they're convinced they're sane. Crazy people are convinced they're sane, like, 'I'm the only one that gets it.' It's incredible."

    The 'Hellboy' star has admitted his mental health plummeted when he beat his alcohol addiction but, although he turned to booze, he's never been interested in trying drugs.

    He explained: "I realised that I don't really need them [drugs], that I have a capacity to see the elves in the corners of my room if I really allow myself to go there."

    After he spent some time in the asylum, doctors diagnosed him with bipolar and he's since been on multiple medications to try and balance out the chemicals.

    He said: "That's actually when the drugs came in.

    "I've had a struggle, going on and off the medications.”

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     28 Mar: Lily Allen was introduced to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as Rita Ora - and was too mortified to disclose who she really was
     28 Mar: Mel B's fiance visited her father's grave to "ask permission" to propose to her
     28 Mar: Kris Jenner won't spend quality one-on-one time with her grandchildren because it would cost her too much time and money
     28 Mar: Halle Berry's perimenopause symptoms were mistaken for herpes
     28 Mar: Keke Palmer wants 10 kids
     28 Mar: Taylor Swift's father won't face legal action after allegedly punching a paparazzo
     28 Mar: Joey King's relationship "hasn't changed much" since she got married
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Crusaders' struggles to start Super Rugby have drawn concern from Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Government's made a new pay offer to Police More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    The Government's made a new pay offer to Police 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Lily Allen was introduced to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as Rita Ora - and was too mortified to disclose who she really was 21:53

    Entertainment:
    Mel B's fiance visited her father's grave to "ask permission" to propose to her 21:23

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway 6 is blocked by a serious crash, South of Lake Paringa in the South Island's Tasman region 21:17

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway One is has now reopened between Kaikoura and Riverlands - after a two-vehicle collision at Kekerengu, north of Kaikoura, this morning 21:17

    International:
    Shopper swallowed as shopping mall floor collapses in eastern China 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Kris Jenner won't spend quality one-on-one time with her grandchildren because it would cost her too much time and money 20:53

    Law and Order:
    A person has died following an incident at a restaurant in Auckland's Browns Bay 20:27

    Entertainment:
    Halle Berry's perimenopause symptoms were mistaken for herpes 20:23

    Entertainment:
    Keke Palmer wants 10 kids 19:53


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd