Boxing legend Frank Bruno admitted to hospital after bipolar disorder relapse

[Matt W]

He inspired me to start training, I'd never seem a physique like it. Some how it always impressed me more than Arnold, Bertil Fox, Franco Columbo and the like. I just wish his mind was as strong. All the best Franklin.

Being mentally ill doesn't mean you have a weak mind, on the contrary you don't get through these kind of episodes without being strong. I expect you didn't mean it in that way, but still it is a presumption that a lot of people make.

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I hope he sorts himself out quickly.

I've met Big Frank a few times & he's one of the nicest people you could ever meet.

[Matt W]

I remember a TV show with him quite a few years ago called Celebrity Sleepover or something and it was the first time I had seen anything other than the public image; he was very uncomfortable with the situation and it was pretty shocking to see him being off with the people that he was staying with. They seemed decent enough people as I recall, I know one of the things he was funny about was alcohol and I think they may have ran a pub?

He's clearly a far more complex character than his popular public persona, I wonder if he struggles with reconciling the two as it must be very difficult playing up to so many expectations of how you should act by a mass public that always expects a jovial giant.

All the best Frank, get well soon.

[palooka]

He inspired me to start training, I'd never seem a physique like it. Some how it always impressed me more than Arnold, Bertil Fox, Franco Columbo and the like. I just wish his mind was as strong. All the best Franklin.

Being mentally ill doesn't mean you have a weak mind, on the contrary you don't get through these kind of episodes without being strong. I expect you didn't mean it in that way, but still it is a presumption that a lot of people make.

That's a good point, Matt. I've had long term issues with mental health and can say from my perspective the mind is not a single 'thing' that is in steady state. I feel the mind is a series of differing 'things' that is in flux and change constantly. When you are healthy and coping the mind works in your favour automatically. The stresses and strains of life can obviously cause great pressure and problems mentally and emotionally. I've not of explained myself very well - sometimes I feel strong and other times wantf to hide or run away - other people have said they think I'm strong but its only because I've had no option.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Feel a bit mean-spirited at the moment as have been discussing Frank's personality over on the Boxers of the Past forum and I made mention of the fact that Lawless and Duff crafted a cuddly/approachable public image for Frank whilst he still had plenty of demons and anger inside of him. Should really have made mention of the fact that it was his mental illness - as yet undiagnosed - was almost certainly the cause.

Boxing does take a toll on some many people that I sometimes do feel guilty about loving the sport so much....George Francis who was perhaps the man closest to Frank when he fought ended-up so unhappy that he commited suicide. George had family bereavments that he took hard but he was also apparently lost without being in the sport.

Frank Bruno probably was suffering with Bi-Polar all the way through his teens, when he was close to ending up in prison after a series of violent assaults.

It's known that regular exercise helps moderate the effects of bipolar - and I would imagine (doubt anybody has studied it) the structured routine of boxing also helped with the condition, plus the boost to self esteem from being a successful sports person. One of the problems that Bipolar sufferers face is the low self esteem it brings.

[Sklar]

He inspired me to start training, I'd never seem a physique like it. Some how it always impressed me more than Arnold, Bertil Fox, Franco Columbo and the like. I just wish his mind was as strong. All the best Franklin.

Being mentally ill doesn't mean you have a weak mind, on the contrary you don't get through these kind of episodes without being strong. I expect you didn't mean it in that way, but still it is a presumption that a lot of people make.

That's a good point, Matt. I've had long term issues with mental health and can say from my perspective the mind is not a single 'thing' that is in steady state. I feel the mind is a series of differing 'things' that is in flux and change constantly. When you are healthy and coping the mind works in your favour automatically. The stresses and strains of life can obviously cause great pressure and problems mentally and emotionally. I've not of explained myself very well - sometimes I feel strong and other times wantf to hide or run away - other people have said they think I'm strong but its only because I've had no option.

I appreciate that mental health professionals say what they do, but I'm highly skeptical that they genuinely understand what they're trying to fix. Some of the chemical koshing that goes on is obscene in my view. It's a tricky profession though, for sure. It may be not the appropriate choice of words in today's society but putting things in simple terms i.e. suggesting that somebody's inability to cope with the everyday rigours of life is an indication of some sort of weakness isn't too far out of line.

[Matt W]

[/quote] I appreciate that mental health professionals say what they do, but I'm highly skeptical that they genuinely understand what they're trying to fix. Some of the chemical koshing that goes on is obscene in my view. It's a tricky profession though, for sure. It may be not the appropriate choice of words in today's society but putting things in simple terms i.e. suggesting that somebody's inability to cope with the everyday rigours of life is an indication of some sort of weakness isn't too far out of line.[/quote]

It is FAR more complex than this. I've suffered with serious depression twice over the last 10 years and in the past year I've been through a divorce, separation from my kids, the threat of redundancy, a further relationship breakdown and have moved house twice. And I'm fine. So it's clearly about a little more than 'coping with the rigours of everyday life'.

[Sklar]

It is FAR more complex than this. I've suffered with serious depression twice over the last 10 years and in the past year I've been through a divorce, separation from my kids, the threat of redundancy, a further relationship breakdown and have moved house twice. And I'm fine. So it's clearly about a little more than 'coping with the rigours of everyday life'.

We'll not descend into an argument, after all we want the same end result i.e Frank to get better. I'm glad you're okay.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Trouble with Bi-Polar, is that without medication, people suffering from it, have episodes of severe depression which can lead to suicide, and periods of hypermanic behaviour which put them in serious danger.

The medication though has unpleasant side effects, leading to bipolar sufferers to self medicate with alcohol and other recreational drugs, or to just come off their medication because they don't want to be subjected to the problems the medication causes. I watched this happen with several people I knew over the years, a very unfortunate cycle. Quitting medication almost always led to periods of serious problems and sometimes them being sectioned.

[TJ77]

Trouble with Bi-Polar, is that without medication, people suffering from it, have episodes of severe depression which can lead to suicide, and periods of hypermanic behaviour which put them in serious danger.

The medication though has unpleasant side effects, leading to bipolar sufferers to self medicate with alcohol and other recreational drugs, or to just come off their medication because they don't want to be subjected to the problems the medication causes. I watched this happen with several people I knew over the years, a very unfortunate cycle. Quitting medication almost always led to periods of serious problems and sometimes them being sectioned.

A good well informed post