Boxing legend Frank Bruno told how being sectioned was “one of the best things that could’ve happened to me”.
The former world heavyweight champion, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003, told ITV1’s This Morning programme: “When the bipolar was coming on I was doing some odd things – phoning up people, going to people’s house, whatever, and I’m glad I got hold of it when I did and got to the hospital and my daughter and certain other people forced me to go and get sectioned and that was one of the best things that could’ve happened to me.”
Urging other people with similar problems to seek help, he said: “I was aware (that I was doing strange things) but when you’re a man you try and be macho. I was trying to fight it and not admit to it.
“But I finally went in there and it was one of the best things I could do.”
He said he thought he would have the condition for the rest of his life.
“A lot of people suffer it worse than others, you can’t look for sympathy, you’ve got to pull yourself together and get on with what you’ve gotta do. There are a lot of other people a lot worse off.”
He added: “If you’ve got a toothache you go to the dentist, if you’ve got a headache you got and get a tablet, but if your brain’s not right they have good people at the NHS to help you fix it and talk to and counselling to calm you down and to focus you. I’m not Mother Teresa’s son but I’m just trying to emphasise that to you.”
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