David Harbour, known for his role as Jim Hopper in the Netflix series Stranger Things, has discussed how David Harbour intense psychotherapy has played a crucial part in managing his mental health. The 50-year-old actor, diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 25, recently opened up about his ongoing efforts to maintain mental stability through therapy and medication.
Harbour Describes the Impact of Therapy Alongside Medication
Harbour emphasized the vital role psychotherapy has in his overall treatment.
“There has been a great resurgence in the idea that psychotherapy, along with responsible medication, is key to remission,”
he stated, highlighting how his progress goes beyond medication alone. He further explained,
“I have not had a manic flare-up since I started psychoanalysis with a good therapist,”
noting that medication by itself addresses only part of the challenge. Harbour urged those who cannot afford therapy to seek low-cost or free group options, assuring, “You will improve.”
Long-Term Commitment to Treatment After Sobriety
Since becoming sober in 1999, Harbour has continuously worked with a therapist. He credited this sustained therapy with helping him face difficult personal challenges.
“When I quit drinking, it forced me to confront a lot of demons that rose to the surface,”
he remarked. More recently, Harbour began an intensive form of psychotherapy, which he described as profoundly beneficial to his mental health journey.
“Only recently have I started intense psychotherapy,”
Harbour said,
“and it has made a world of difference in my treatment.”
Insight into Harbour’s Manic Episodes and Mental State
Harbour offered a vivid explanation of what happens during his manic episodes. He said,
“Thought becomes disordered and chaotic. Things that have no meaning became meaningful. Names, numbers, and colors acquire a twisted symbolism.”
He also discussed the underlying self-centeredness of these episodes, saying,
“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.”
Harbour acknowledged each manic episode reflects elements of his unique psychological makeup, linked to specific obsessions he had at the time.
Motivation to Share His Story and Ongoing Career Context
The actor’s decision to speak publicly about his experience stems from a desire to support others facing mental health struggles. Aside from his work on Stranger Things, Harbour’s film credits include movies like Black Widow, Thunderbolts, and Revolutionary Road. His personal life has recently attracted attention due to a public split with singer Lilly Allen and rumors of tension with Stranger Things co-star Millie Bobby Brown. Representatives for Harbour and Mediaplanet were contacted for comment by Entertainment Weekly.
Therapy’s Role in Managing Bipolar Disorder and Personal Growth
David Harbour’s story highlights the significance of combining professional psychotherapy with medication in managing bipolar disorder. His example underlines the necessity of individualized, sustained mental health treatment and encourages those struggling to seek accessible support. As Harbour’s experience demonstrates, intense psychotherapy can be a transformative force in achieving mental calm and stability over time.
