Richard Dreyfuss health: 'I’m a manic depressive' - actor on bipolar he was 'born with'

You wouldn’t be you without whatever it is you’ve got. Just because my thing has a name doesn't mean anything. It just means that there’s a group of people that have a name attached to their condition.”

According to Bipolar UK, 1.3 million people have bipolar. Classified as a mental health condition, recent research suggests that as many as five percent of the population are on the “bipolar spectrum”.

Symptoms of bipolar are wide ranging, as they depend on the type of mood an individual is experiencing. For example, episodes of depression can cause the following:

• Feeling sad, hopeless or irritable most of the time
• Lacking energy
• Difficulty concentrating and remembering things
• Loss of interest in everyday activities
• Feelings of emptiness or worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt and despair
• Feeling pessimistic about everything
• Self-doubt.

Whereas, episodes of mania can make individuals feel the complete opposite, feeling very happy, energetic and ambitious. Although some individuals may enjoy these phases, afterwards they quickly become fatigued and may not eat or sleep properly.