Doug Colbeth

• Colbeth has publicly identified himself as having bipolar disorder. In a first-person essay for the International Bipolar Foundation, he wrote that he was not diagnosed until his thirties, although he recognized signs of the condition in retrospect going back to adolescence. [1]
• He has since spoken openly about living with bipolar disorder in the context of both his personal life and his work as a technology executive. [2]

• Colbeth has described living with periods of intense mental activity, which he has compared to having a “NASCAR race” in his mind. He wrote that this could help him function amid chaos but could also create unnecessary and harmful chaos for people around him. [1]
• In his late twenties, Colbeth experienced what he called a major “brown out,” during which he missed about 90 days of work. He attributed the absence to prolonged mania that left him severely exhausted and was followed by panic attacks and other stress-related health problems. He has also said that bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse negatively affected his work. [1]

• Colbeth has described developing his own program for managing bipolar disorder. By his late thirties, he said he was developing better tools and methods for managing the condition, and he has described his treatment program as involving “many elements.” [1]

• Colbeth has described improvements in his relationships as he became better at managing bipolar disorder. He said his family came to experience him as a better husband and father, while describing better relationships with family, friends and coworkers as a continuing journey rather than a quick fix. [1]

• Colbeth has spoken publicly about reducing stigma around mental illness, particularly in the workplace. He has used his experience as both a CEO and a person with bipolar disorder to encourage greater understanding of mental health at work. [2]
• Colbeth and his wife Margaret also helped establish the Colbeth Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic at the University of Illinois Chicago in 2000. The clinic focuses on early diagnosis, treatment and access to care for children and families. [3]

“Developing better relationships with my family, friends, and co-workers has been a journey – and not a quick fix.”

— Doug Colbeth [1]