Kanye West has been candid about his mental health struggles and how his bipolar type 1 diagnosis has affected him.
West, who goes by Ye, revealed in 2018 that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he released his album YOU. In the record, West recounted his struggle with his mental health and included the statement, “I hate being bipolar, it’s awesome” on the cover art.
Later that year, West revealed that he had stopped taking his medication, saying it was stifling his creativity.
“I can’t take medication and look at the throne level or dark fantasy music-wise,” he tweeted at the time, referring to his previous critically acclaimed albums.
Victor Boyko/Getty Images Kanye West has found himself – yet again – at the center of controversy after sharing a series of anti-Semitic messages during a days-long social media rant. West turned heads on Friday, February 7 when he shared a series of X-rated posts containing anti-Semitic remarks, with the rapper praising Hitler and telling him […]
Following his statement, West made headlines by sharing outspoken political and anti-Semitic comments on social media. In January 2026, West wrote an open letter published in the Wall Street Journal apologize for one’s actions and opening up about your struggles with your mental health.
“In early 2025, I fell into a four-month manic episode of psychotic, paranoid, and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life,” West wrote. “As the situation became more and more untenable, there were times when I didn’t want to be here anymore. »
Keep scrolling to learn everything about West’s bipolar type 1 diagnosis:
What is bipolar type 1?
Bipolar disorder type 1 is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings, according to the Mayo Clinic. This condition is also called manic depression. Bipolar type 1 is one of many forms of this disorder. For people diagnosed with type 1, this means the person has experienced at least one manic episode which can occur before or after hypomanic or major depressive episodes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What are the symptoms of bipolar type 1?
Those who suffer from bipolar type 1 experience episodes of mood swings resulting from depression or mania, according to the Mayo Clinic. Episodes may occur rarely or several times a year and may last several days. Sometimes a person with bipolar disorder can experience long periods of emotional stability.
Some symptoms include being much more active, energetic, or restless than usual, experiencing a distorted sense of well-being or excessive self-confidence, needing much less sleep than usual, being unusually talkative, speaking quickly, having racing thoughts, being easily distracted, and making poor decisions.
Is there a cure for bipolar type 1?
There is no cure for bipolar disorder type 1. The condition can be treated with medication and therapy. Making lifestyle changes and having a support system can also help combat the disease.
When was Kanye West diagnosed with bipolar?
Kanye West was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder in 2016 after being hospitalized following the abrupt cancellation of one of his concerts. The rapper went public with his diagnosis two years later.
What has Kanye West said about his condition?
After revealing his diagnosis, Kanye West spoke candidly about his struggles.
“It’s like having a sprained ankle. At home, once our brain is about to sprain, people do everything to make it worse,” West said in a May 2019 interview on David Lettermanthe Netflix series, My next guest needs no introduction.
The musician has continued to publicly struggle with his mental health by posting controversial opinions on social media. In January 2026, West said his online posts were due to his struggles with “constant mental illness.”
“When you go into a manic episode, you are sick in that moment,” he wrote in a letter published via the Wall Street Journal. “When you’re not in an episode, you’re completely ‘normal.’ And that’s when the damage caused by the disease hits the hardest.”
The wife credited by the West Bianca Censors for standing by him and encouraging him to seek help during this dark time.
“Bipolar disorder has its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You think everyone is overreacting,” he continued. “You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re completely losing control.”
