Embattled Creed frontman Scott Stapp has spoken out after his well-publicised bizarre behaviour and outbursts last year, claiming he had suffered a psychotic break and has now been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
“I’m lucky to be alive,” he told People. “I had a psychotic break that was brought on by alcohol and drug abuse,” he says. “I was hallucinating. I drove around the United States for a month, following an angel that I saw on the hood of my car.”
“In my delusional thinking, I thought my family was involved in ISIS, and that millions of dollars had been taken from me to support terrorism,” he continues. “All of it was nonsense. I was out of my mind.”
Stapp’s strange behaviour began back in November last year, when he released a video on Facebook in which he alleged he was broke, homeless and “under some kind of pretty vicious attack”. That video came just days after Stapp’s wife Jaclyn filed for divorce from the Creed singer, claiming she had received a series of disturbing texts from Stapp while he was on an alleged drug binge.
It was also reported that Stapp was claiming to be a trained CIA agent, tasked with the assassination of President Obama. Stapp told People he eventually sought help, beginning an intensive program in a dual diagnostic facility, where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
He says he is continuing his intensive therapy, takes medication, works through a 12-step program, and meets with a sponsor.
“It was hard to process,” he says. “There’s a stigma associated with it. But Jaclyn kept telling me, ‘Embrace it. We love you.’ It became a big sign of relief, because finally, we had an answer.”
“Nothing is more important than my sobriety.”
If you need help or are suffering from mental health you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au and Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au.
