Mariah Carey

• Carey was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder in 2001 after being hospitalized during an emotional and physical breakdown. At first, she did not accept the diagnosis. [1]
• She has also said that she had been treated for depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. [1]
• She kept the diagnosis private for many years and feared that someone else would reveal it. In 2018, she spoke about it publicly in a People interview. [2]

• Carey has described elevated periods when she slept very little and kept working intensely. She became irritable and felt constant pressure not to disappoint people. [1]
• She has described depressive periods involving very low energy, loneliness, sadness and guilt about not being able to meet the demands of her career. [3]

• In 2018, Carey said that she was attending therapy and taking medication that worked without leaving her too tired or sluggish. [1]
• She also described exercise, acupuncture, healthy eating, time with her children and a supportive circle as helpful. [1]

• In 2018, Carey said that she was in a good place and had returned to writing and recording music. [3]
• She has continued her music career since speaking publicly about the diagnosis. In 2025, she released her 16th studio album, Here for It All. [5]
• Her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, is a broader account of her childhood, struggles, career and personal life. [6]

• Carey said that she spoke publicly in the hope that greater openness would reduce isolation and stigma around mental illness. [3]
• She has said that she does not want bipolar disorder to define or control her. [3]

“It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to define me or control me.”

— Mariah Carey [3]