The people mentioned in this article have either come out publicly about their mental illness or have have been diagnosed by experts. Often arguments develop about historical personalities who were not examined by modern day doctors. For these individuals, one has to draw conclusions based on their behaviors as reported by others. Doctors have studied the lives of those mentioned here and decided that they all suffered from depression or bipolar disorder.
The Most Influential People in History
Around the turn of this
century, various lists were published giving the most important or influential
people of the past. These lists have a lot of validity compared to just a single
person's opinion.
Winston Churchill appears on all the lists. The power of his personality and speeches probably saved Europe, and maybe the entire world, from the rages of Hitler. It was well known that he suffered from dark moods. He also really loved his booze. I find it interesting that his speeches motivated millions, yet as a child he stuttered. He may have been the single greatest person who ever lived, but he suffered from depression.
Many presidents have had mental illness in the form of mood disorders. President Abraham Lincoln suffered from depression. There is also indications that he had manic depression. Some consider him to be our greatest president. Teddy Roosevelt is generally accepted to have lived almost everyday in a state of hypomania. Many regard him as one of the top ten presidents. I hold him in high esteem for advancing our national park system. Without his energy, we may not have preserved the animals and landscapes of our National Parks and Forests. I have walked the trails of many National Parks. I am grateful that Teddy Roosevelt fought to save them. Time magazine named him one of the most influential people of the 20th Century.
A man who saved my life, and perhaps millions of others, was named by Life magazine in 1990 as one of the 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century. Time magazine also listed him as one of the Most Influential People of the 20th Century. The History Channel named him one of the Most Influential People in the Past 2000 Years. One of the books he wrote is now #2 in sales of spiritual books in the world (The Bible is #1). I am talking about one of the co-founders of Alcoholism Anonymous, none other than Bill Wilson. Bill fought depression most of his life--even after he sobered up. In fact, he wrote most of his books while in a state of depression. Perhaps his effort to discover and write about spiritual principals was a strain on his brain.
Bill definitely suffered from depression, but I wonder if he was also touched with a bit of manic depression. He is often described as a visionary. From the start he hinted that the 12 step program could solve many of the age old problems of the human race. On the first page of his 1939 Big Book he states: "And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all." Later in 1952, in the Foreword of Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions he writes: "Many people, nonalcoholics, report that as a result of the practice of AA's Twelve Steps, they have been able to meet other difficulties of life. They think that the Twelve Steps can mean more than sobriety for problem drinkers. They see in them a way to happy and effective living for many, alcoholic or not." Bipolars often maintain delusions of greatness--that their destiny is to change the world. Bill believed the AA program was capable of changing the world--maybe not in the way of allowing everyone to be rich, but in a way to alleviate human suffering.
Bill Wilson's vision has become reality. Millions of us alcoholics have found a way to stop drinking and become responsible citizens. Our families no longer suffer. True to Bill's dream, hundreds of other human weaknesses are being treated with the 12 steps that he wrote. There are 12-step, support fellowships for hundreds of conditions like gambling (Gambler's Anonymous), mental illness (Emotions Anonymous), overeating (Overeater's Anonymous), and drug addiction (Narcotics Anonymous). Some have concluded that almost 10% of the adult population of our country attends some sort of 12 step meeting each week. Author M. Scott Peck who wrote two best-selling books, The Road Less Traveled and Farther Along the Road Less Traveled wrote "I believe the greatest positive event of the 20th Century occurred in Akron, Ohio on June 10, 1935, when Bill W. and Dr. Bob conceived of Alcoholism Anonymous."
Other people of note that have suffered from depression or manic depression form an impressive list: Boris Yeltsin (Russian leader), Queen Elizabeth (long-time queen of England), George Patton (spirited general of World War II--movie was made of his life), Norman Rockwell (painter of family scenes on covers of Saturday Evening Post), Charles Schulz (creator of PeanutsŐ cartoon), and George Stepanopoulos (national news analyst and presidential advisor).
Today's Movers and Shakers
Some sufferers of
depression/manic-depression are creating a deep impact on the world. Buss
Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, is very active in promoting
space travel for the average person. Ted Turner, a colorful bipolar, has
provided the world with 24 hour news and is preserving some of the very best
movies with his classic movie channel. A few years ago he donated one billion
dollars to charity, the single largest donation ever. That is not too shabby for
a person diagnosed with bipolar depression. He is perhaps the largest land owner
in the United States; one of his pet projects is to buy enough land so he can
ride his horse from Mexico to Canada without ever leaving his property. Ellen
DeGeneres has one of most popular television programs. She is one of the
most respected people as evidenced by the high profile people who are her guests
each day. Arguably, the number one expert on bipolar illness, Dr. Kay
Redfield Jameson, is afflicted with bipolar illness herself. She has written
numerous books and research articles on the disease. I am grateful to see so
many people achieving great success even though they have mental illness.
Because many have the destructiveness of their illness under control with
medication, we can all see proof that modern medicine can indeed work miracles.
Their accomplishments demonstrate to the rest of us that we can also live full
lives.
Many of our best musicians suffer from mood illness
It seems that
just about everyone involved in popular music for the past 50 years has either
been a depressive, manic depressive, and/or drug addict. Many of us in 12 step
programs have described feeling as if we had a big hole inside that we tried to
fill with alcohol, drugs, and/or relationships. Maybe great applause helps fill
the holes in their psyche and of never feeling good enough. Getting the
sustained applause from thousands would seem to be the ultimate method of
feeling whole and good enough.
The list of those in the music business who have suffered mental illness sounds like a chapter out of Who's Who. Nirvana's lead singer Kurt Cobain suffered bouts of depression, then in the end took his own life. Nirvana's "Sounds Like Teen Spirit" was ranked #3 of the Top 100 Rock Songs of all time according to MTV and Rolling Stone. The group also was named #6 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. Gun 'n' Roses (lead singer Axl Rose has manic depression), the Beach Boys (singer and main writer Brian Wilson has had depression), Fleetwood Mac (group member Steve Nicks suffered from depression), Elton John, Alanis Morissette, Billy Joel, and Janet Jackson all have songs listed in the Top 100. Elton John has three songs in the Top 100--as many as anyone else.
Peter Gabriel, who has manic depression, had the #3 Video of all Time according to MTV. He also was listed both in Rolling Stone's Top 100 Albums of the Last 20 years and in the Best Singles of the Last 25 years. Paul Simon who sang with Art Garfunkel has made great music for over 40 years. He has had albums listed in the Top 100 of the 80's and in the Top 100 of the Last 20 years. One song, "Bridge over Troubled Water" made the cut for one of the 100 Best Singles of the Last 25 years. Some other great recording artists who have had bouts of depression/bipolar depression are Judy Collins, Dolly Parton, Teddy Pendergrass, Charlie Pride (has bipolar illness), Bonnie Raitt, Tammy Wynette, Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Courtney Love, Dave Matthews, Ozzy Osbourne, Rich Springfield, and James Taylor. Also, many of the classic oldies were done by other depression sufferers including John Denver, Connie Francis, Marie Osmond, Donny Osmond, Tony Orlando (has bipolar disorder ), and Dusty Springfield.
One of the greatest promoters of popular music, Dick Clark, has had bouts of depression. The producer of many favorite recordings, Phil Spector, also has had depression.
Much money and fame has been accumulated by people in the music business who at times suffered from violent mood swings. Without their contributions much of the music we love so much may never have been made. Many who love music would live drab lives without their music.
Many of the best movies are made by depressives/bipolars
When I
studied the list of people in the film business, I found a disproportionate
number of people who suffered from depression or bipolar disorder. This is
another field that holds the promise of praise and acclaim. In my life, I have
done anything for a bit of attention; I just ached for someone to recognize me.
Becoming a great actor/actress would seem to be a sure ticket to permanent fame.
Many who have felt the moods swings of depression or bipolar depression have won top honors. Vivien Leigh won two Oscars for best actress. Her performance in "Gone With the Wind" was outstanding. She won best actress and the movie won best picture. That movie may well have been the top grossing movie of all time when one accounts for inflation. Vivien Leigh had bipolar disorder. Spencer Tracy and Marlon Brando both won best actor two times. No other actor won more. Time Magazine called Marlon Brando one of the 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century. Other Oscar winners who have had depression include Halle Berry, Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence Oliver, and Rod Steiger. Francis Ford Coppola who has bipolar disorder, directed "The Godfather, Part II," one of the highest aclaimed movies of all time.
There is hope
My research convinced me that the world would be in
the dark ages if not for the depressives and manic depressives throughout
history. But what does it mean to all of us average guys? For one, it means that
although we have been stricken with depression or bipolar disorder, we can still
succeed. God did not deny us a full life when we developed mental illness. If
many other people can do great things even though they are sad nearly all the
time, why can't we at least be average, responsible members of society. In other
words we are out of excuses. Some people even overcame other problems in
addition to mental illness to achieve significance; Churchill stuttered, Lincoln
was homely, Teddy Roosevelt was weak and sickly as a child.
Mental illness causes greatness?
Some have suggested that mental
illness causes greatness. Well, this idea can not be 100% true because many
stable people have done great things, and all mentally ill people do not become
famous. However, some qualities of our sick minds might help.
To change the world, enormous effort is needed--sustained effort over long periods of time. Most people can not do anything for very long--they get very tired and very, very bored. Wild, maniacal moods can drive us. Our zeal can urge us to not only work many hours each day, but in addition to contemplate projects nearly 24 hours per day. Almost anyone would achieve some measure of success if they devoted themselves as much. If the focus of our ambition happens to be useful, we may make a big impact on society. Many will go to any lengths for the possibility of praise, acclaim, or applause. Because of our excessive sensitiveness, we may resolve to make the world a better place, so that no one has to ever suffer the pain that we once did.
Another motivating factor is that we may isolate ourselves from others, thus creating our own little worlds. We may spend so much time working at our dreams that we finally reach a place in which we feel comfortable. We can be in control at last. Our obsessive work may transform us into experts. If we have some talent, the intensity of our efforts will propel us to the top. Our excessive drive can be further fed by the high we feel when we work at our projects. A good hobby is one where we lose track of time and feel good engaging in it. Our passions are like extreme hobbies. Every time we enter our world we get a break from the dreariness of average living.
Be it the entertainment industry, business, or any other field; we can reach a point where we can effect big changes. Our intense passion allows us to achieve at such a high level that our examples raise the bar for others. What I am talking about is work, lots of work. Thomas Edison said, "Genius was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." The seeds to this great effort may be found in our sickness.
Selected Bibliography
Alcoholics Anonymous. 1955. Alcoholics
Anonymous World Services, Inc. NY "Famous Living People with Bipolar Disorders."
www.pendulum.org/information/information_famous_lbi.html
Fieve, R. 1975. Moodswing. Bantam Books. NY
"100 Most Influencial People of the 20th Century." home.earthlink.net/~speaker/100mostinfluentialpeople.html
"People of the 20th and 21st Century Who Had Depression or Manic Depression." www.frii.com/~parrot/dead.html (does not work anymore)
www.oocities.org/coverbridge2k/artsci/famous_people_depression.html
"Stolen from Rolling Stone Magazine to RollingStone.com." www.rocklist.net/rstone.html
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. 1953. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. NY
"Top 100 Rock Songs according to MTV and Rolling Stone." home.att.net/~Classic Rock/MTVSonglist.html
Facts at your Fingertips. 2003. Reader's Digest. Pleassantville, NY
Torrey, E. and M. Knable. 2002. Surviving Manic Depression. Basic Books, NY
To return to home page.