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\nGucci Mane revealed in his new book,\u00a0Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he has schizophrenia and bipolar disorderIn a recent interview, the rapper and his wife, Keyshia Ka’oir, opened up about managing his mental health conditions over the yearsHe shared the turning point in his journey where he finally took accountability for his struggles and received the help he needed<\/p>\n
Gucci Mane<\/a> and wife Keyshia Ka’oir<\/a> are opening up about how they manage his mental health struggles.\n<\/p>\n Earlier this month, the Atlanta rapper, 45, released his third book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man<\/a>, where he revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He reflects on his life, career and past legal troubles while giving context to the mental health challenges he was facing at the time.\n<\/p>\n On Monday, Oct. 20, the couple \u2014 who got married in 2017 \u2014 had a joint interview on The Breakfast Club<\/a>, where they discussed managing his episodes and the warning signs he\u2019d show.\n<\/p>\n “I have a system,” Ka’oir, 40, said. “I take his apps off his phone. First thing I do, I delete Instagram. I delete everything. Even if I gotta change his password, I\u2019m changing it because I don\u2019t need the public to know he\u2019s having an episode.”\n<\/p>\n “I control that. You\u2019re not going on Instagram, you\u2019re not going on Twitter, it\u2019s deleted. I control everything at home,” she continued. “Now, before the episodes come, I catch it. That\u2019s why he hasn\u2019t had another one. How you catch it is he doesn\u2019t speak to you, he wants to be left alone, he don\u2019t eat, he does not sleep. Text messages, there\u2019s a period after each word.”\n<\/p>\n Gucci explained that he wouldn\u2019t even know he was behaving that way, pointing out that his episodes would feel like he\u2019s in a “psychosis” or a “warped world.” He said he\u2019d hear voices in his mind and think people were against him.\n<\/p>\n Ka’oir said she would have to go into \u201cmother mode\u201d and make sure that her husband was getting the proper care he needed during his episodes. She admitted that it\u2019s a \u201cscary moment,\u201d but she knew she needed to be by his side.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really, really bad. It\u2019s really sad because you\u2019re seeing someone you don\u2019t know,\u201d she shared, pointing out that he would say things that were \u201cso mean and disrespectful\u201d during his episodes, but she\u2019d have to remind herself that \u201cI\u2019m not talking to Gucci.\u201d<\/p>\n Gucci Mane and wife Keyshia Ka’oir in Atlanta in October 2024.<\/p>\n Prince Williams\/WireImage<\/p>\n Schizophrenia<\/a>, which impacts 2.4 million adults in the United States, is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally, according to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>. It is associated with hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impair daily functioning and can be disabling.\n<\/p>\n Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive illness of the brain that causes extreme changes in mood and energy levels, according to the National Institute of Mental Health<\/a>. There are four basic types of the disorder, which are characterized by periods of elation and hyperactivity known as manic episodes, which are then followed by depressive stages where the patient experiences feelings of sadness and depression.\n<\/p>\n Patients will often experience intense emotions as well as disruption to sleep patterns and their ability to think clearly<\/a>. These periods can last for an extended time \u2014 days or even weeks \u2014 with no clear way of predicting when one period will end and another will begin. This can cause patients to have difficulty at work, school or maintaining their relationships.\n<\/p>\n Gucci, whose real name is Radric Davis, explained during the interview that he had an episode in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed him to be transparent about his mental health and finally seek help.\n<\/p>\n \u201cAfter that, I was like, man, I got to really just hold myself accountable and take care of my health. I don\u2019t ever want to have an episode again. If I have to see a therapist, if I have to take medicine\u2026 I kinda threw the towel in, like, do what I need to do to get better.”\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n