Glenn Close and Sister Jessie Speak Out About Mental Illness

By Joe Kraynak
October 22, 2009

Yesterday, on Good Morning America, accomplished actress Glenn Close and her sister Jessie Close spoke about mental illness in their family (watch the clip). Except for George Stephanopoulos saying that Jessie “is” bipolar, I thought it was a good piece. The Close sisters did an excellent job of presenting bipolar, the stigma surrounding it, and the necessity of making a commitment to manage the disorder.

Please watch the video and share your insights.

In 1999, my wife, Cecie, experienced her first major manic episode. She ended up in St. Vincent’s Stress Center, where she was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. She has been hospitalized a total of three times – all for mania. She rarely experiences the debilitating depression that many people with bipolar disorder struggle with. We have two children together, both of whom are pretty much adults at this point. Over the past decade or so, we’ve struggled to coexist with this disease. At times, it seems to be a cruel puppet master pulling our strings to act out some demented drama on the stage we call our home. Most times, we manage to keep this beast chained up, through a combination of medicine and therapy, but occasionally it escapes and turns our home inside out. In 2005, I had the good fortune to co-author Bipolar Disorder For Dummies with Dr. Candida Fink. In the process, I learned a great deal about bipolar disorder and strategies for treating it, preventing major mood episodes, and dealing with the fallout when preventive measures are ineffective. Through this blog, I hope to share what I’ve learned about bipolar while I continue to discover even more.

Related Posts

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Links to This Article

Jessie Steele Josephine Bib Apron, Café Toile | Kitchen (October 26, 2009)

3 Comments to
“Glenn Close and Sister Jessie Speak Out About Mental Illness”

tim adams at 11:48 am on November 13th, 2009

My wife has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and both she and myself are grateful that people like Glen Close stand up for people who suffer with this disease

Courtney A. Walsh at 1:57 pm on November 13th, 2009

As someone who is a Mental Wellness speaker and author I am so encouraged when public figures bring light to these issues. I do suicide prevention talks at high schools and colleges and have formed a company called “LoonyBus” to destigmatize and bring awareness to mental wellness challenges that teens, twentysomethings and their family members face using hope, healing and humor. After my own suicide attempt 5 years ago I have since found so many tips and techniques on my own healing journey that have helped me tremendously and now I feel passionately about sharing them with others. None of us has to be limited or stigmatized by a diagnosis. Life can be wonderful again. If I can go from Rock Bottom to Rock ON—then anyone can.

Thelma at 8:34 am on November 19th, 2009

I have been diagnosed with PDSDS. Just recently on a second opinion and based on my focus real feelings he suggested that it had to Bipolar (discript bipolar medications but I never taken it). Tiried of new meds and its side effects. Am 50 years old today and I have been suffering from Major Depression since 1987. I have gone through 1 treatment of ECT, which i still can not feel if it even worked for me (ECT teatments to fully be successful will require at least every six months at Hawaii) Where I live does not offer this treatment at all. Since my only ECT is has beed is so hard to pinpoint my very inner feelings and thoughts, because I get so confuse. I am the “Greatest Pretender”. And mask it with medications. Lately I been often thinking about suicide more often than before. Although, I have never amptemted(not consider) ever. Ofcourse the medication I currently take, as turn me to addiction (xanax). I think that the biggest most mishap of this all is still having to feel deep down inside depression confussion and lost. I can write, talk about my situation and still think its not a “mental illness” or I’m I in denial? I don’t have the funds to continue treat of ECT. but I strougly need to be in an hopital for more research since my thoughts of sucide that talks to me.I am been married for 32 years and in just an unhappy marriage, and 3 children, seven grand and most of all my living arrancement play a factor to my stress disorder aswhell. But I stuck with it because I always made sure that I pretend everyting is all fine. If there are any centers that can help me in trade for on going research, I consider it if my finances get better. Ofcourse there more to the moral of my story. However even talking about it makes me tired.
Thank you,
Thelma