Lord Of The Rings Star Sean Astin Talks About Bipolar Disorder And Calls For Earlier Symptom Recognition
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"Lord of the Rings" Star Sean Astin Discusses Bipolar Disorder and Advocates for Early Symptom Recognition
Summary:
Sean Astin, renowned for playing Sam Gamgee in the acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, shares personal insights from his experience with a family member diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Through his story, he aims to increase awareness and promote early recognition of the condition's symptoms.
Article Body:
Sean Astin, celebrated for his iconic role as Sam Gamgee in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is opening up about his experiences with a family member who has bipolar disorder. By sharing his story, Astin hopes to raise awareness about the early symptoms of the condition.
Astin's mother, the actress Patty Duke, experienced undiagnosed bipolar disorder throughout his childhood, displaying the characteristic emotional highs and lows. It took years for Duke to receive an accurate diagnosis and begin effective treatment. Unfortunately, this delay is common, as highlighted by a new survey of over 500 individuals with bipolar disorder, which revealed an average 13-year gap between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by AstraZeneca, included 500 participants with a medical diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Astin recalls the impact on his family, explaining, "While my mom struggled with her symptoms, our entire family felt the effects. Her depression was painful to witness, and her manic episodes were frightening. We initially misattributed her extreme moods to her personality, not realizing they were symptoms of a treatable chemical imbalance. Earlier recognition could have led to faster medical intervention."
The Role of Loved Ones in Recognizing Symptoms:
Over half of those surveyed (56%) credited family, friends, and coworkers for first noticing their symptoms. Additionally, 35% said they might not have sought professional help without the encouragement from others.
Commonly recognized symptoms by loved ones included mood swings (49%), arguments (40%), and reckless behavior (31%). Other signs such as overspending and substance abuse were often observed before the affected individual noticed them. In contrast, survey respondents frequently recognized depressive symptoms on their own, such as feelings of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, and loneliness. Notably, 70% were initially misdiagnosed with depression alone.
Astin emphasizes the importance of support from family members in bridging the gap between symptom recognition and diagnosis. "For my family, it was around 11 or 12 years. The survey indicated an average of 13 years," Astin states. "I want to help close this gap. My mom’s journey shows that recovery begins with empathy, communication, and recognizing symptoms."
Astin wants families dealing with bipolar disorder to know that with the right diagnosis and treatment, there is hope.
Image Credit: Rio Films
Keywords: Sean Astin, Bipolar Disorder, Early Symptom Recognition, Patty Duke, Lord of the Rings
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