First, I have to give major props to Oprah for providing a forum in which the average US citizen might better understand Sinead O'Connor. Oprah--you prove yourself (once again) to be a courageous, compassionate and WISE human being. The thing people need to understand about O'Connor is that this woman has had an extraordinary and unique 20-year career in music. All Music Guide (among many others) has called her "the first and in many ways the most influential" of the generation of legitimate, passionate female singer-songwriters including the likes of Alanis Morrissette, PJ Harvey, Sarah MacLachlan, Paula Cole, etc. And O'Connor has always been SO much +more+ than the freakishly huge cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," which shot her to global superstardom in 1990. It's distressing when people forget that, before +that+ song and the Grammy-winning album (I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got), Sinead was already a major, worldwide star due to her 1987 album, 'The Lion & the Cobra.' That first album alone sold millions and yielded a scad of modern rock chart hits. She wrote and produced that first effort while still a teenager, playing her own instruments, singing with a voice that was so stunning that she earned a 1988 Grammy nomination for her hit song "Mandinka." This is what saddens me, personally, when O'Connor is horrifically dubbed a "one-hit wonder" by those who do not follow or know anything concrete about contemporary music history, much less the course of O'Connor's admittedly unique career. Basically, Sinead was +already+ a multi-platinum "star" and icon and THEN she beat the odds (and the sophomore jinx!) by producing an even bigger, world-beating album. The Prince-song was a glorious, well-deserved crossover fluke, but a fluke nonetheless. O'Connor had always been (and remains) a true "alternative" artist, first and foremost. The second album indeed won a Grammy, Sinead was crowned "Artist of the Year" by Rolling Stone mag, and both of her first two albums are still considered to be must-have "classics" of any musical genre by a wide array of jaded critics and knowledgeable fans alike. Moreover, after the "icing-on-the-cake" success of the "Nothing Compares 2 U" song, Sinead continued to have major international hits in her native Modern Rock genre. Her self-penned "The Emperor's New Clothes" single was accorded the Billboard NO. 1 Modern Rock hit of the year prestige in 1990--a song wherein O'Connor addressed issues of pregnancy and the costs of "fame" hitherto unheard on the airwaves. Sinead followed this up with two subsequent albums that cracked the BIllboard Top 40 Charts: in 1992 (Am I Not Your Girl?) and in 1994 (Universal Mother). Her songs and albums sold millions, not only in the USA, but across the world. Ideally, people would be wise to realize the amazing value of an artist that can command not only a strong American audience, but a worldwide audience, to boot. All told, Sinead went-on to sell more than 15 million albums, even after a complete American boycott of her music after the Pope "incident." The woman has made nine studio albums in her career, and eight of them have cracked the Billboard Top Albums chart, inlcuding her latest this year, 'Theology,'--20 years +after+ her first collection charted. Sinead is an artist who, musically speaking, stayed true to her muse and fused styles before anyone else was doing it, charting successfully in all sorts of genres: "roots" reggae; Irish traditional; wordl music; dance/electronica; modern rock; spiritual; pop. On top of all that, Sinead built what is surely one of the most astonishing back-catalogues of major collaborative work in the industry. The best in the business have always wanted to work with her and she's been ABLE to work--producing an amazing body of song that served to flesh-out her legacy as an icon (U2, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Moby, Dolly Parton, The Chieftains, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Brian Eno, Massive Attack, Afro-Celt Sound System, Shane MacGowan...the list goes on). The accomplishments of this woman are staggeringly underrated by the general public in the USA. As for her activism, yes, she has been extremely controversial, at times. But Sinead made it quite clear that, when she shredded a photo of Pope John Paul II on national television in 1992, she was not personally attacking the man himself, nor was she seeking to offend good Catholic people. Rather, she was protesting a vicious cycle of institutional child-molestation that was already destroying thousands upon thousands of lives via systematic cover-ups and pay-offs, in both her native Ireland and across the world. Yes, her act was brazen and offensive, but what is worse (or more offensive)--shredding a little photograph, a piece of paper, in symbolic protest...or the ruined life of ONE child, much less thousands...not to mention the BILLIONS of dollars in pay-offs & hush-money that we have all sadly seen come to pass? Sinead's heart and sincerity have always been directed in places of honor and goodness, though her methods have been definitely extreme. But precious few listened to her passionate explanations about the molestation protest--she did it in '92 and the heart-wrenching scope of the scandals would not really hit the world until the late '90s and onward to this very day. For better of for worse, she was ahead of her time and, as a result, her reputation as one of the world's greatest singers and artists would be vilified and diminished. All of her wonderful artistic accomplishments would be brushed under the proverbial rug. Yet, she soldiered on--as a successful artist, a hard-working mother, and as a human being with a conscience. No, she's no saint, and I daresay she'd be the first to admit that very thing. But this little woman's determination, particularly under the burden of a bipolar disorder, can scarcely be denied. Her music is so spiritual, so uplifting, and so other-worldly, that only the blind and callous could fail to see the goodness of her heart. And it was the "blind" that failed to see the institutional defects of a Roman Catholic hierarchy that tried to hide some systemic "problems." That's not a reflection upon good Catholic Christians, who remain the very salt of the earth, doing so much good for the world. Now, it's all before our very eyes, every day that we read of the latest gazillion-dollar settlement, and O'Connor was the first to have the courage to risk her own sanity, safety, and livelihood to speak-out. If Springsteen or Dylan had done it (instead of a petite, bald Irish-woman) perhaps people would have gotten the message sooner. But they didn't do it. She did. Really, too much attention has been focused upon Sinead's "controversy" instead of her amazing achievements. Perhaps Oprah (one of the world's most amazing women) can help bring things back into perspective for this artist--because a great many people have missed-out on music that truly "matters" due to preconceived bias. I hope Oprah's audience can see the importance of O'Connor in the "big picture." Oprah's audience is one of the most caring, intelligent, and understanding audiences in the modern media world. If any audience can come to a compassionate, rightful assessment, it's the Oprah audience. 20 million records sold (under duress!) don't lie. Thank you for "hearing" me on this subject, and an abundance of thanks to Oprah--Woman of Vision, as usual.

While I concede that Sinead is a very talented singer, I think the focus here should be on the fact that she is discussing her bipolar disorder, and is courageous to do so. As someone who has also had a long struggle with this condition, I applaud Oprah for bringing it to her viewers attention. There is still such a stigma with bipolar disorder (manic depression) and a change in public perception is long overdue. Let's dispel some myths! Let's illuminate the struggles of so many people around the world. People with bipolar disorder did not ask for it any more than someone who has diabetes. It's an imbalance in brain chemistry, and it doesn't mean people who have it are crazy. We are suffering from a condition that causes us to have extreme mood cycles, from suicidal depression to euphoria and a loss of connection with reality. Lifelong medication is essential for most of us to function as contributing members of society. But the right combination of medications (as often both an antidepressant and mood stabilizer are required) can take years, even a decade to discover. We don't take the pills because they are an "easy solution"; they are far from it. They have many unpleasant side effects, and it's hard to accept that we need drugs to be happy and relaxed. But I've lived the alternative, and it is no life. Thankfully, after a 9-year rollercoaster and many trials of medication and therapy, I am now "balanced." I don't wish this struggle on anyone else, and thank God that these medications exist. In the not-too-distant past, I may have been forced into a mental institution for life. I am also blesses with a very caring, insightful psychotherapist who helps keep me on track. One thing I can say is, I have known true despair, but I have also known true joy. I'm also extremely empathetic and can relate to others' pain, and that's not a bad thing. People with bipolar disorder are often very creative, and very talented in music, art, mathematics, writing, comdey, acting, and other areas. Some people believed to be bipolar/confirmed bipolar include Beethoven, Lord Byron, Kurt Cobain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Dickens, Richard Dreyfuss, Patty Duke, Stephen Foster, Macy Gray, Linda Hamilton, Vivien Leigh, Isaac Newton, Ernest Hemingway, Abbie Hoffman, Mozart, Edvard Munch, Cheri Oteri, Jane Pauley, Mark Twain, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Van Gogh, Virginia Woolf... Sinead is very talented, and I wish her continued success both in her personal and professional life.

I am not the typically story - READ ME! About five years ago, I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar I. I was a successful 24 year old that had started my own business, had been married for six years and had my 3000 sq ft house and two cars and life was good. Or so I thought, everyone around me knew that something was wrong but I thought I was the person that was normal and they were the ones with issues. During about a six month period of time I experience about 10 traumatic events including a miscarriage at 6months along, moving to Chicago, my husband wanting a divorce, losing my new job in Chicago, moving again out of the apartment my (soon to be) ex-husband and I were sharing, and a severe car wreck where I broke a few bones. I went off the deep end; I really don't remember now feeling much during the next year or so. I received a settlement from my car wreck and the next weekend I bought a car for 15K and scheduled plastic surgery for the following week, which was going to cost me $8K. I have no idea where the remaining $30K went. I would drink every night to calm the "noise" in my head. I did not hear voices I just had thoughts that would take over, acute sensitivity to everything around me. I was constantly trying to find a new way to make my thoughts stop. I would have anxiety attacks to the point that I was put back on a plane in Atlanta (trying to get home to see my parents) because they would not let me take my dog on the plane with me. I would sleep all day and not shower, and everyone that knows me knows this is not the "real" me. My mom - was my lifesaver, seriously. She has a brother that is mentally ill; she stepped up when he was having problems 15 years ago when many in the family did not want to. She did it for me too. She later told me that she had seen patterns and odd behavior for years in me, but just could not put a finger on what might be wrong. Her and my dad came 800 miles in a horrible snowstorm in January, helped pack me up in my recently purchased SUV and bought a trailer to haul all my personal belongings back to their home. They took me home; my mom proceeded to help me get assistance from the state so that I could get the care that I needed. I was put into an in-patient program for only three days (all the state would cover). Then I was placed in an outpatient program at a state ran facility. I was placed into group therapy and I was assigned a social worker and a psychiatrist (p-doc). This was my circle - these were the people that were there to help me over the next six months. I was not going to be a statistic and push to the side. They all knew my determination. I would see others in group therapy that did not want to take the medication and they were still drinking, smoking pot, doing meth or in jail every other week. Some could not drive because they were so drugged up by the very medication that was supposed to help them, some were so catatonic they barely spoke, and some that had chosen (to me) that it was ok to be on disability and that was the life for them. I wanted my old life back - I wanted to move back to Chicago and start over again, I believed in me. To make a VERY long story short - that is what I did. If you saw me walking down the street in Old Town you would not know that I had BP. Most of friends still do not; only a very select few that I know will accept me for me and not who they want me to be. My work does not know that I have BP and it is somewhat sad because it's a part of me that I didn't choose. People don't look at someone with cancer and say oh scary don't go around them they might go "bi-polar" on you. No, the average person would feel for them, try to help them, maybe offer support. However, society as a whole has created a stigma, a stereotype that if you have a mental (illness) disease, something that you didn't choose you are looked at as defective. I have struggled over the last 5 years with comments from people when walking down the street with them - they will look at homeless person and say would they are acting mental I have to bite my tongue. Is it that person's fault that due massively to our deinstitutionization of America we have left many to fend for themselves and not know where to turn for help. But nope, they have a mental illness don't touch them, somewhat barbaric if you ask me. Yet I have some of my family members that have called me because they have had a person come into their life that has BP and they want to know more. I LOVE that you are bringing light to what BP is about and how others can support us, not judge us, how others can help recognize it instead of avoid it, how we can make this as acceptable of a illness as someone that might have depression. My family has a genetically pre-disposed gene that has caused me (and other family members) to have this illness and I will not be brought down by something I don't understand. I will educate myself and others even if it means making some people uncomfortable. Thank you Oprah!!

I read several years ago she had to leave her singing career due to Fibromyalgia. Hopefully she has found a way to cope with the Fibromyalgia

Who are you....... Her manager..... if not you must have alot of time on your hands:D

It was nice to see people on todays show telling the world about such a personal illness. Im 24 years old and have recently be diagnosed with bi polar disorder. I was going to therapy taking meds and it just got too expensive for me so i did the worse thing....I stopped. I was on lithium and that wasnt really helping as much as I though it should. Watching the show I now know i should do some research and get back into therapy and the medicine. I was also happy to hear that there are support groups out there to help someone like me who has just read books and seen programs about this disorder. My father passed away early this year due to a heart condition and sometimes he was self medicating to help with his bipolar disorder. I dont know if that had anything to do with making his health worse but it scares me to know that I could end up that way if I dont get the help I need now. If anyone reads this and knows of a number I can call to help with the proper treatment that would be great because I dont have insurance so things get expensive and then i get stressed about money. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

First of all thank you for educating the public about bipolar disorder. I am a licensed clinical professional counselor LCPC, and have a private practice. I have offices in Chicago and Orland Park, (south suburb). My years of experience is working with those with mood disorders. I have worked 14 years on several psychiatric units. While watching your show I wanted so desperately to make several points in managing mood disorders. Your guest spoke about medication management, which I wholeheartedly agree. The other two major components in managing mental illness is exercise and talk therapy. I have worked with clients suffering from bipolar disorder, major depression and anxiety disorders. I work with them to provide healthy coping skills in managing these symptoms. The other idea I would like to mention is the fear of getting better. There is a secondary gain to being sick. What if I get better and my family expects me to care for them, and what if I fail. Your guest appeared to focus on what he couldn't do as opposed to what he was doing about his disorder. I have met so many patients and clients who view themselves as "less-than". I see them as "more-than". Not only do they live with all the stressors most of us live with, they are also juggling these horrific symptoms. There I feel better just putting my two sense in. A committed viewer Priscilla Romanov, LCPC