Disney darling Demi Lovato recently opened up in a TV interview with Robin Roberts of  “Good Morning America” about her treatment for not only an eating disorder, but also the bipolar disorder with which she’s been struggling.

The GMA interview aired in its entirety on Friday, April 22^nd on ABC’s 20/20 and the former star of “Sonny with a Chance” spoke candidly about the part childhood bullying played in her eating disorder, as well as a host of other issues. Lovato recently told People magazine that she battled depression from a very young age, but never realized until she went into treatment that she is bipolar. As she reflected, she said “But looking back, it makes sense…That’s why I wasn’t happy when everything in my life was great.”

Much like actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, who also recently released that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the young star is being treated with medication and therapy.

Here’s a link to Demi’s brave 20/20 interview:

Bipolar disorder is very much in the news these days and is making headlines as a mental illness that is often chronically under-treated. Bipolar disorder is also known as a manic-depressive illness and a recent study by U. S. government researchers indicates that less than half of those struggling with bipolar disorder are diagnosed and receive treatment. Researchers also found that three-quarters of those suffering from bipolar disorder were also suffering from at least one other mental disorder – often something in the anxiety disorder family.

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that can often strike early and can cause those struggling with the mental illness lifelong disability.  It is characterized by bizarre shifts in mood, activity and energy and can impact everything from personal life, work performance and relationships. The government researchers surveyed more than 61,000 patients and their findings indicated that some 2.4 percent of the world’s population may have some form of bipolar disorder.

Lovato’s case is not unusual. It is most common that symptoms of bipolar disorder start in adolescence. But what is unusual, in society today anyway, is that the condition is actually diagnosed and treated. In an 11-nation study, the United States has the highest lifetime rate of bipolar disorder, at 4.4 percent.

Photo credit: ABC News