Celebrity Justice
Britney Being Treated for Her Disease

If you think Britney Spears doesn't give a crap about getting help for her condition, think again.
Britney Spears
Multiple sources tell TMZ Britney has seen numerous doctors. We know that she's seen a new psychiatrist who has come to her home every day this week and that she's on medication to treat her bipolar disease. We also know doctors have indeed concluded she suffers from bipolarity.

Britney has seen doctors who have been referred by other doctors, plus doctors who have been referred by celebrities Britney knows, and doctors referred by her lawyers, family and friends. We're told the process has been excruciating for her, partly because her disease is severe.

Sources tell slightly different stories about the efficacy of the medication. A friend says when Britney takes her medicine she is like "a different person -- normal and sweet." But she takes her meds for a while and then feels as if she can live without it -- so she stops taking them -- and her condition quickly deteriorates. But a professional tells TMZ flatly, "The medication just isn't working."

That same professional tells TMZ, "She's really trying. Whether it works -- we'll have to see." That person also says it's extremely frustrating when the media shows video of Britney out on the town acting crazy, adding, "She has a disease. Sometimes when you see her she's in the middle of an episode. It's like mocking someone with Down Syndrome."

Reader Comments

(Page 4 of 26) Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. 9. Whatever!!!! Please, she doesn't want her kids and by mocking a severe disease she now has an excuse. She's a horrible mother, if she truly was bipolar, than she would take her meds and realize without them she is crazy and not stop taking them. It's nothing to be ashamed of for taking pills when sick. She is a spoiled little brat who did not get everything she wanted and now she is looking for an excuse. BS!!! Any doctor who is given enough money will BS a medical condition for her. What happend to her multpile persaonlities? Right, she is full of bologna!!!!

Posted at 1:34PM on Jan 30th 2008 by lissabell

As a professional in the mental health field, Lissabell, I have to tell you that your attitude is part of the reason that there is so much stigma surrounding mental illness. The majority of people with mental illness stop taking their medication when they feel better assuming they don't need the medication any longer. Many people with mental illness also self medicate an undiagnosed condition with alcohol and illegal drugs. Britney is no different than the average sufferer. It's very difficult to treat somebody with mental illness when they are not interested in recovery. However, it is possible for people to recover and lead a functional life. although it may not be the life they had envisioned prior to onset of illness. Britney needs to find a way that she can manage her illness and her choice of career and companions is not helping her thus far. Hopefully, she will find a place in life that is good for her.

Posted at 1:48PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Carol

47. how can anyone believe that she is seeing doctors when her every move is watched?
is she sneaking the doctors in with the dry cleaning?...or is she meeting the docs in aisle 3 at the drug store.
find it hard to believe that she really is seeking all this help when we haven't seen her let the 1st doctor into her house (aren't they camped out 24/7?) and we surely haven't seen her go to an appointment....unless that is what she did at the gym last week in the middle of the night.
i'll believe it when i see it....come on people, don't be so quick to beleive it! she clearly doesn't think she has a problem and wants everyone off her back....i predict that she still hasn't hit bottom and when she does it will be bad....
always said she is the new Anna Nicole...sad but true
you thought it, i said it!

Posted at 1:49PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Angel

48.
TMZ is still full of crap. No sources to prove any of this stuff........and ANYONE who has ever been on this type of medication (or any news organization who actually looks it up!) is aware at it takes WEEKS for any effect to be noticed, usually between 4 and 6 weeks. There's lots more wrong with the article as well, in terms of revealing that you really don't know anything and are making it all up, but the medication reference is the most blatant.

If you are going to make up stuff, TMZ, at the very least you could do your homework first so you at least SOUND like you know what you are talking about.

The way this article is written, it sounds like a high-schooler wrote it. You really must think all the people that come to your site are stupid.

Posted at 1:48PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Wake Up

49. I think after the second kid came she started going down hill andi t fell apart when Kevin left. Maybe she can get it together soon. I know she made him leave but you don't know how much you love someone until they are gone.

Posted at 1:51PM on Jan 30th 2008 by sandykay

50. Yep, that doesn't surprise me at all. And yes, this disease can be fatal. It's called suicide. I figured TMZ knew more than we knew. By all appearances, Britney is experiencing a manic psychosis. If she's not on anti-psychotics, that would explain why the meds (like lithium or depkote) aren't working. My dad had the same problem with the meds, and his outcome was fatal. To me, this means that once stabilized she's not going to like what she sees when she looks back on all of this. THAT is when she'll be most at risk.
Another thing, trying to get a person with bipolar to go along with treatment is like trying to move a 10,000 lb boulder. They tend to fight it , even if it kills them. I'd really like to hear from others out there who have experienced manic psychosis. When you come out of it, do you always go into a depression? My dad sure did.

Posted at 1:48PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Lori B

51. NOW, IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST LEAVE HER ALONE!!!! I'M SURE THIS IS VERY HARD FOR HER.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR A PATIENT TO STOP TAKING THEIR MEDICATIONS ( THINKING THEY ARE WELL AND DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE) KIND OF LIKE AN ALCOHOLIC. AFTER A DRY PERIOD THEY THINK THEY CAN HAVE " JUST "ONE OR TWO" DRINKS AND THEY CAN HANDLE IT. SADLY, IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. GOOD LUCL TO HER

Posted at 2:13PM on Jan 30th 2008 by mitzi

52. You people are hilarious! Obviously you have NO idea what Bipolar Disorder is. It not a thing where you take Meds and tomorrow your all better. It takes Therapy, Support and of course Meds. It doesn't help she's in the spot light but If anyone knows Bipolar you know your moods can shift like the wind. Theres also different Degrees of this Disorder. People should Think before they write a bunch a crap here and EDUCATION is the key for a lot of you people who look down on Mental Illness.

Posted at 1:50PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Sunshine

53. I honestly believe that it would be of great help if everyone just lays off her for a period of time. Including the photogs.
Her family is giving her the attention she needs. She most likely does not need anymore outside stresses.
I mean this is her life.
I enoy celeb news, however, there come s a point when it is affecting someone's health that people should give some space for a bit.
As far as the Brit accent.
I'm not sure that really means she has a mental problem.
I had a friend who liked to joke around a bit and would occasionally do a certain accent. Just for fun.
I hope that Britney and her family have considered natural means to help her before loading her up with prescribed meds.
In this instance maybe talking to Tom Cruise / Scientologist might be of help.
I believe her character is all a means of dealing with her fame,fortune and constant media attention.
The other day outside her home she requested to be left alone.
Isn't the girl intitled to some privacy?

Posted at 1:53PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Really!!!

54. I have faith that Britney will rise above this.

Posted at 4:00PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Me

55. "bipolarity"~~is that a word?

Posted at 1:50PM on Jan 30th 2008 by bb

56. I can't believe you people, she is a human being and this is obviously just jealous people trying to put her down. I'm going to X17 to find out the truth!!!!





;)

Posted at 1:58PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Chris "sucks" Cocker

57. I have known several tuly Bi-polar people and none of them ever created different personalities. I don't buy the Bi-polar theory. There is more to it...and the meds don't work over night!

Posted at 1:51PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Hmmm....

58. TMZ get over it Brit is yesterdays news....her star has fallen and it can't get up! I would like to know about the real stars....not someone driving around in the middle of the night and stoping at gas stations....who cares it's nothing new!

We have all stoped caring about Brit and what she does.....please get back to your job of the REAL STARS and what they do....not someone who is crazy....we already know this! Your wasting space on TMZ with her crap instead of the real stars who we really want to know about!

Posted at 3:05PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Respect 4-1 Self

59. Thank you to the specialist for pointing out that taking constant videos of a person with a didease like that is like making fun of them. Don't get me wrong, Briney needs major help. I don't think it's just a bipolar disorder I think there's some schitzophrenia going on there as well!!! Look at all her "new" personalities. She could be just doing that for the publicity but even so, come on all you papparazzo (even you TMZ!!) stop following her around and filming her every move!!! It's exactly what she wants but it's going to lead to another death of another young and still very talented entertainer. Think about her children, do all of you who are enabling this behaviour want the death of a mommy to 2 precious boys on your conscious? Think about fellas. Maybe if she stopped getting so much attention for this crazy behaviour she would stop it and finally let those around her her "truly" care get her the help she needs. Haven't we had enough senseless deaths of such insperational people already?

Posted at 1:53PM on Jan 30th 2008 by April

60. 9. Whatever!!!! Please, she doesn't want her kids and by mocking a severe disease she now has an excuse. She's a horrible mother, if she truly was bipolar, than she would take her meds and realize without them she is crazy and not stop taking them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If she's in full blown psychosis, her decisions aren't based in reality. It's not something they have control over. If she can't comprehend she's very sick, she's not going to take her meds. Then throw in there her stubbornness and you have a timebomb.

Posted at 1:52PM on Jan 30th 2008 by Lori B

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