MAD MAX MEL’S BIPOLAR HELL!
Mental disorder turns Gibson into troubled time bomb
MEL GIBSON is a ticking time bomb — locked in the agonizing grip of a severe mental illness that plunges him into dark depressions and terrifying rages!
The scandal-scarred star has struggled to curb his emotions for years — and in this world exclusive, GLOBE can reveal his desperate battle for self-control.
“There’s no excusing Mel’s rage-filled behavior, but he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that definitely explains it,” confides a concerned friend.
“Mel’s been calm and controlled lately and people are guessing he’s finally on the right medication. They’re hoping he stays on it because things are liable to get ugly otherwise.
“The fear is he could derail at any time and go off on a mad rant. Mel’s even warned others it could happen!”
The Lethal Weapon star, 62, became a showbiz outcast after two nasty outbursts were caught on tape.
In 2006, he unleashed a tequila-fueled, anti-Semitic tirade at a police officer who stopped him on suspicion of drunk driving in Malibu.
Four years later, the Mad Max maniac was heard raging at his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, mother of his then one-year-old daughter Lucia, cursing and threatening her life. He pleaded no contest to physically abusing her.
“Living with mental illness has been hell for Mel,” adds the pal.
“He doesn’t remember half the things he’s done in the past. If it weren’t for the tapes being released, Mel probably wouldn’t remember those episodes either. They’ve been hard to live down.”
The father of nine spoke about his bipolar illness — also known as manic depression — for the first time in the 2008 documentary Acting Class of 1977.
According to experts, the mood disorder is characterized by extreme highs and lows, ranging from episodes of sadness and depression to manic periods of hyperactivity, creativity and impulsiveness.
In the film, Mel admits: “I had really good highs but some very low lows. I found out recently I’m manic depressive.”
Adds the friend: “Now