Mariah Carey gets frank about life with Bipolar Disorder

Mariah Carey has come forward to share her own personal truth.

On Wednesday, People published an exclusive interview with Mariah Carey in which the legendary singer spoke out for the first time about her life with bipolar II disorder. Bipolar II is characterized by bouts of depression and hypomania, though the bouts are less severe than bipolar I.

“For a long time I thought I had a severe sleep disorder,” Carey told People. “But it wasn’t normal insomnia and I wasn’t lying awake counting sheep. I was working and working and working … I was irritable and in constant fear of letting people down. It turns out that I was experiencing a form of mania. Eventually I would just hit a wall. I guess my depressive episodes were characterized by having very low energy. I would feel so lonely and sad — even guilty that I wasn’t doing what I needed to be doing for my career.”

Carey said she came out about her mental health status because she is in a “really good place right now.”

“I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone,” she said. “It can be incredibly isolating. It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to define me or control me.”

According to People, Carey was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder during her infamous “public meltdown” during the rollout of her album and film, Glitter.

“Until recently, I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” she says. “It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love—writing songs and making music.”

Carey is one of only a few celebrities to speak up about their mental health. In the past, singer Demi Lovato has spoken up about her bipolar disorder and struggle with suicidal ideations.

Several people congratulated Carey for her bravery on Twitter.