Kerry and Me

[YourCallIsImportant]

Anyone watching?

Her poor, poor children.

I know she suffers from bipolar disorder, so behaviour seems unpredictable and random at times. And as for Mark Croft, what a wanker he is, shouting at her little baby boy.

She seems to be sorting herself out so hopefully for all their sakes things have improved since this was filmed.

Just seen another thread about this...

My blood ran cold.

~Awful... i cannot watch it any more.

Horribly sad.

Poor children

Awful that she got rid of their nanny so soon after the split too, and then just left the baby with the film maker.

Car crash telly. Poor children. Her eldest seemed so sensible, bless her, just continuing to get herself ready for school while Kerry was making a prat of herself in the background. Kerry seemed like a nice girl when she was in the jungle. I have to say there's nothing left in Kerry now that is engaging or attractive. Such a shame.
.

Those poor kids, all the turmoil and changes they've been through, they can't know whether they're coming or going

If Kerry's behaviour was attributable to some other condition, say autism for example, would people think she was selfish or a 'prat'? Or vulnerable and needing support?

MitchyInge - I agree wholeheartedly

I felt so desperately sorry for Heidi, when Croft shouted at her to look for her shoes and she came plodding sadly down the stairs and sat there looking so miserable, then the next shot she was putting her wellies on!

Kerry has access to much help, Mitchy. She has been in and out of rehabs and clinics.

She continues to use and drink to excess which she knows is not good for people who have bipolar disorder.

As a result, her children are subject to abuse.

So there isn't a comparison to having autism.

This is a person who will not stop using.

Her kids should be removed.

This kids are vulnerable and need support.

If this was a 'normal' family the surely Socail services would have been called in by now.

The substance abuse is part of the illness - the whole chaotic package. If it was just a matter of electing to behave appropriately and make healthy choices it wouldn't be such a severe and debilitating condition.

'If it was just a matter of electing to behave appropriately and make healthy choices it wouldn't be such a severe and debilitating condition.'

On some level, it is a matter of electing to behave. I say this as a mentally ill person who used to be alcohol dependent.

You have to be willing to help yourself as much as possible in such situations - seeing your psychiatrist, taking your meds, keeping going to support groups and counselling after getting out of rehab as necessary.

You have to manage your illness the same way you would diabetes, hypertension, etc.

She is not learning impaired, she is mentally ill.

And if you can't then you need sectioned and you really have no business having custody of kids.

There is never an excuse for a child to have to remain in an abusive home with drug use and alcoholism, IMO.

I don't get where her need for support and help trumps her childrens' right to not be abused and subject to her substance abuse.

I really don't.

I think it's more likely that Kerry has borderline personality disorder, her Mum too. Often misdiagnosed as bi-polar. Her interpersonal problems and relationship style as well as her mood swings are very chractersitic of this. I don't think she has bi-polar in the purest snese.

I've always tried to be sympathetic towards her not least because of her horrific childhood but I felt pretty shocked at her hard faced attitude towards her kids last night. The poor eldest gril lookad as though she was trying so hard to hold everything together. it's just horrible what's happening to them, where the w**ker of a Dad anyway??? Sunning himself in Australia no doubt.

I wasn't aware there were allegations of child abuse, nor of any suggestion that her rights were more important than her children's.

It just seems to be unique to mood disorders, that behaviour directly rising from the condition is angrily labelled characterological or morally weak. You just don't see this with other conditions, I can't imagine a discussion on mumsnet about someone with Tourette's being a prat or a terrible person because they used a profanity in public.

Big shiny gold stars for everyone with sufficient insight into their own bipolar to consistently take medication that makes them overweight and lethargic, the most any treatment will do is lessen the severity of the symptoms. Nothing makes it go away, those behaviours some find repugnant will still occur with or without medication.

I think she has bpd traits too, how could she not have an attachment disorder after that childhood?

i felt v sorry for her kids. its a shame for them all. im suprised the older girls dad hasnt got full custody to be honest.

'Big shiny gold stars for everyone with sufficient insight into their own bipolar to consistently take medication that makes them overweight and lethargic, the most any treatment will do is lessen the severity of the symptoms. Nothing makes it go away, those behaviours some find repugnant will still occur with or without medication.'

Where's my star then? I don't have bipolar disorder, I have clinical depression. My meds cause all kinds of side effects.

I take them because of my kids.

I've got another good friend who takes her and goes to gruelling appointments with her counsellor because of her kids.

It doesn't make it go away, but that's no reason to just give up and let your kids deal with the fallout.

And quite personally, I find it insulting, the assumption that all mentally ill people are entirely incapable of having 'sufficient insight' into their own condition to look after themselves.

Let's just bung us all up then!

Oh, and I never once said she was morally weak.

She's had access to far more 'help and support' than most.

I thught the documentary was utterly awful.

The presenter/narrator did quite a hatchet job on Kerry katona.
I strongly suspect that the film was heavily edited to show all the very worst bits.
That clip of her first husband and Delta used when she was in the car and quite obviously upset was such a cheap shot.

If my life were filmed on a daily basis and I then pissed off that person filming me so that they edited the film to show the worst bits of my home life i'm fairly sure I would be lambasted on here too.

She (and mark Croft) were filmed whilst going through a breakdown of their marriage and difficulties with her ongoing illness,I'm certain there are days when the kids are shouted at and it's crap for all concerned.
But I don't think she or mark croft are abusing their children.
Both are nobbers and use the press to play out their lives but even so, I don't think there is abuse there.

Unfortunately lack of insight (or anosognosia) is a feature of many psychotic illnesses. It's a serious problem. If your mood swung up as savagely as it has down you'd be surprised at how happily you can trash your whole life in a matter of weeks - and the medication won't always stop a mood swing, it might just give you longer between episodes or make the episode a little milder.

I totally agree with you Expat.

I think KK has had an enormous degree of synpathy and help with her disorder, which she has turned her back on. Yes, she is bipolar, yes she had a crap childhood, but at some point she has GOT to be responsible for her actions. She has acted shabbily for years and it is all woe is me.

I am not princess perfect, but I have battled what seems like crippling depression for bloody years, and lately it is getting to the point that I can barely look at myself in the mirror, i so loathe myself and wish i could just give up. But I am trying to make sure i stay on track for DP and DD - meaning I don't drink any more (never used to drink a lot, but now even a glass of wine makes me morbid) and force myself to be positive, go to counselling (which I loathe) and take hideous antidepressants which make me feel pissed.

KK has put two fingers up to any help and is carrying on in a self obsessed life which is damaging her children.

I don't think she is putting two fingers up to help is she?

She has regular counselling and takes meds.

I'm not a fan of hers but I hate bad editing.