David Harbour Gets Honest About 'Manic Episodes' Amid Erratic Behavior & Scandal: 'A Fundamental Narcissism At The Bottom Of It All'

David Harbour is opening up about his mental health. The actor has no doubt been in a lot of controversy as of late . First, he got a very messy divorce from his now ex Lily Allen , and then got into some drama on the Stranger Things set with his costar . It’s been Millie Bobby Brown a rough ride for his public perception recently. Now the 50-year-old is getting honest about his bipolar disorder and “manic episodes” in a new chat with Future of Personal Health . He said in the interview: “I have been in therapy since I got sober in 1999. When I quit drinking, it forced me to confront a lot of demons that rose to the surface. I was very poor. However, I still was able to work once a week with a [Clinical Social Worker] who put me on a sliding scale.” What really made a difference, though, was when he discovered something called psychotherapy. According to The National Institute of Mental Health , it’s a type of “talk therapy” that includes a “variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors”. Related: David Dumped This Actress For Lily - Now She’s Reacting To Breakup Album! David said recently starting this type of therapy has made a big difference for him: “Only recently have I started intense psychotherapy, and it has made a world of difference in my treatment. I have not had a manic flare-up since I started psychoanalysis with a good therapist. Medication alone is only half the battle. There is not a cure-all formula, there is only hard individual work.” While talking about his therapy work, he also revealed what his “manic episodes” feel like: “Thought becomes disordered and chaotic. Things that have no meaning became meaningful. Names, numbers and colors acquire a twisted symbolism. There is a fundamental narcissism at the bottom of it all that makes me think I am the center of all things, for good or for ill. My manic episodes are, of course, a manifestation of my own particular psychopathy. They all share those traits, but each episode has been linked to certain fixations I had at the time.” All in all, David just hopes his openness about his mental health will help someone else: “I wanted folks to know that although I am living my dreams now, this is not the way it’s always been. There might be a mother of a child recently diagnosed with a mental illness out there who worried that her child would be an outcast. I wanted to speak to her and to the millions that know and love folks who are suffering.” We’re glad to hear David is putting in the work to do better for himself and those around him. Mental health is no joke. For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help . If you or someone you know is experiencing substance abuse, help is available. Consider checking out...

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