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“When she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid.”   A child’s nursery rhyme? Or a contemporary metaphor to describe mood swings that can darken one’s days?

Recently a number of celebrities have come out of the closet. (Not for being gay --there’s nothing shocking about that these days.) They’ve come out of the closet confessing to some pretty nasty behavior, that’s been triggered by serious mood swings and uncontrollable rage. 

Here is what they have owned up to:

“If I’m suffering, everyone around me needs to suffer.”

“When I’m out of control, whoever is in my way gets swallowed up.”

“Rage is a huge part of my life.”

“When I go ballistic, it’s all about me, me, me.”

“I’ve been a bully. The cruel things I’ve said to people make me cringe.”

“At times I’m so plagued with dark thoughts, I can’t get out of bed.”

What’s happening here? Why do bright, beautiful, successful, rich and yes, caring people blow a gasket, flip out, feel so out of control?  You would think, just by looking at them, that they’ve got it made. What’s the problem?

Well, as we all know, but frequently forget, looks can be deceiving. Underneath the sweet smile of some lovely ladies and handsome men is a serious emotional problem – often some type of mood disorder (Jane Pauley admits to being manic-depressive).

Some famous people have gotten to where they are, precisely because of their strong drive for success and need for perfection. Yet, those very same assets can work against them when things don’t go their way.  Under stress, they can lose control, say awful things, and even become dangerous –to themselves or others.

You don’t have to be rich or famous to be out of control, however. Emotional distress is an equal opportunity heartache. But, here’s the good news -- which is also the reason those celebrities are coming out of the closet now.  Mood disorders can be successfully treated – with psychotherapy and, for some, with medication.

If you recognize that there are days in which your emotions are completely out of whack, don’t despair. Though there is no “snap your fingers and you’re all better” solution, there is treatment that, over a period of time, will make life a lot more satisfying for you –and for those who love you. Stress that’s overwhelming today will be a lot easier for you to cope with in the future.  Decisions that torment you today will be a lot less painful in the future.

Listen to how Marilyn described her odyssey from Then to Now – just a few of the ways her life has improved since addressing her emotional problems head on.

Back then I responded to everything as though it were an earth-shattering crisis. Now I keep a sane perspective on the stress and decisions that I need to make in my life.

Back then life was exhausting. I was always a bundle of nerves, obsessing about what might go wrong. Now I know that life is full of surprises. Since I can’t prevent the unexpected from happening, why make that my mission?

Back then I’d pop my cork when challenged by anyone close to me. Now I know, people don’t always have to agree with me.  I don’t have to be perfect. “Good enough” is good enough.

Back then I was afraid to admit that my emotions were off the charts. I thought that meant I was going crazy. Now I know that I’m not going crazy. But I do need help to keep myself on an even keel.

Copyright 2005