Celebrity Chef Heston Blumenthal Opens up About Being Diagnosed With Bipolar
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Blumenthal talks candidly about being “sectioned” under the UK's Mental Health Act.
Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal runs several award-winning restaurants, including The Fat Duck in Berkshire, which has been awarded three Michelin stars. He also has bipolar disorder. The 58-year-old chef is now raising awareness about the condition by speaking up about his experience.
Blumenthal said that his wife, Melanie Ceysson, had him “sectioned” in 2023 after a mental health crisis in which he was manic. He said that he experienced hallucinations and had suicidal thoughts. He thought the TV was talking to him. He also hallucinated a gun on the table and believed that he could pick it up and use it on himself. Blumenthal was sectioned and hospitalized for two months. He was eventually diagnosed with bipolar 1. Blumenthal said this saved his life.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder can have a significant impact, not only on the person, but on family members, as well. When a person is in the grips of mania, it can be exhausting for family members. Blumenthal acknowledged that dealing with bipolar disorder was very difficult for his wife. But he said that her support was lifesaving.
Blumenthal told BBC that being sectioned was the "best thing" that happened to him. Until he was hospitalized, Blumenthal didn’t realize that the highs and lows he had been experiencing were not normal. He was surprised when doctors said, “You are bipolar.” Blumenthal said that he never imagined that he had bipolar.
What is Sectioning?
So, what can lead to a person getting sectioned? In the UK, a person can be “sectioned” or held for mental health treatment without their consent under the Mental Health Act (1983) if they are a danger to themselves or others. There are different sections to the law. The length of time you can be kept for sectioning depends on the section under which you are detained.
A loved one can’t directly section a person, but they can contact mental health professionals with concerns about a loved one’s behavior, which can lead to sectioning. This is what happened in Blumenthal’s case.
Bipolar Diagnosis
The celebrity chef said that he didn’t see his diagnosis as “all doom and gloom.” He is now an ambassador for Bipolar UK. Blumenthal hopes that in telling his story, it will help more people recognize the symptoms of bipolar disorder and get help.
Common symptoms of bipolar
Treatment
The right bipolar treatment can make a significant impact on a person’s well-being. Blumenthal says that he is “back in the kitchen” and “thinking more clearly” now that he is being treated for bipolar disorder.
At first, Blumenthal said that he was reluctant to take medications because it dulled his creativity in the kitchen. However, he is now on the right medication and says that his creativity and imagination are still there. Blumenthal says that he has more clarity and is thinking a lot more clearly now.
More about bipolar medications
Blumenthal acknowledged the role that stress plays in bipolar symptoms. The kitchen can be extremely stressful for professional chefs. Blumenthal says that this can lead to poor mental health. He made the decision to stay out of the kitchen for a while following his diagnosis. This has significantly improved his mental well-being.
