David Harbour recently disclosed that he has embarked on "intense psychotherapy" to address his mental health concerns. The "Stranger Things" actor, who is living with bipolar disorder, has been in therapy since he became sober in 1999. However, he recently decided to change his approach to managing his mental health.
"Only recently have I started intense psychotherapy, and it has made a world of difference in my treatment," he shared in an interview with Future of Personal Health. The 50-year-old actor continued, "There has been a significant resurgence in the belief that psychotherapy, combined with responsible medication, is crucial for remission. I haven't had a manic episode since I began psychoanalysis with a skilled therapist."
Harbour emphasized that "medication alone is only half the battle. There is no one-size-fits-all solution; it's all about individual effort." According to America's National Institute of Mental Health, psychotherapy encompasses various treatments designed to help individuals identify and modify troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
At the age of 26, two years after becoming sober, Harbour was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, characterized by extreme mood swings ranging from manic highs to depressive lows. "There's a fundamental narcissism at the core of it all that makes me feel like I'm the center of everything, for better or for worse," he explained. "My manic episodes are, of course, a reflection of my own unique psychopathy." He added, "While they all share those traits, each episode is linked to specific fixations I had at the time."
David Harbour's personal life has also been in the headlines recently due to his split from Lily Allen in 2024 after four years of marriage. She addressed their marital issues on her explosive music album, West End Girl, last year.
