'Blonde bombshell' Marilyn Monroe suffered from THIS mental illness

Marilyn Monroe remains to be one of the most prolific actors and renowned faces of the 1950s and early 1960s. An enigmatic figure, whose life, death and legacy continues to be of great interest and intrigue to many, she became one of the world’s most popular sex symbols and went on to early millions of fans.

But while Monroe lived a grand life, it was full of challenges, health issues and mental health struggles.

From an early age, the diva suffered from dyslexia and from a stutter. Not only did it affect her school life, but it also went on to haunt during her adulthood and work.

In a book titled 'Marilyn: The Passion and the Paradox', author Lois Banner wrote: "Throughout her life, she suffered from terrible nightmares that contributed to her constant insomnia. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was often out of touch with reality. And that's not to mention the fact that she constantly suffered from terrible pain during her period."

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Furthermore, the book highlighted that the actress had a skin rash and hives, and eventually developed chronic colitis, which caused abdominal pain and nausea.

"She was haunted by problems from childhood - a mother in a psychiatric hospital, a father she never knew, wandering between foster families and an orphanage. And then there were various medications that she took to cope with Hollywood pressure: to calm down or gain strength,” the author added.

All of these factors are said to have added to the actor's woes, leading to a tragic end...

(Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

In her 2016 book, 'Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History's Great Personalities', science journalist Claudia Kalb speculated that Monroe suffered from borderline personality disorder.

"What is clear is that Monroe suffered from severe mental distress," she wrote.

“Her symptoms included a feeling of emptiness, a split or confused identity, extreme emotional volatility, unstable relationships, and an impulsivity that drove her to drug addiction and suicide - all textbook characteristics of a condition called borderline personality disorder," Kalb explains.

The Mayo Clinic defines borderline personality disorder (BPD) as a mental health disorder that impacts the way you think and feel about yourself and others, causing problems functioning in everyday life.

This could include self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions and behavior, and a pattern of unstable relationships, sharing the health body.

People with borderline personality disorder suffer from an intense fear of abandonment and have trouble regulating their emotions, especially when it comes to anger. They're usually very impatient and impulsive and can show dangerous behaviour.

Mood swings can last from a few hours to a few days, which can include intense happiness, irritability, shame or anxiety, says the Mayo Clinic.

While medical professionals have not yet identified a specific cause for BPD, the UK's National Health Services suggests that it could have an association with genetic and environmental factors.

A study found that if 1 identical twin had BPD, there was a 2-in-3 chance that the other identical twin would also have BPD, reports the healthy body.

Furthermore, people who have been a victim of emotional, physical or sexual abuse, those who have been exposed to long-term fear or distress as a child or have been neglected by 1 or both parents, can have a greater likelihood of developing the mental condition.

After confessing that she was struggling with some mental health difficulties, Monroe was admitted in Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in New York, where reportedly, she was kept in a padded cell, where doctors said that she was a “very sick girl.”

Monroe, after coming out of the Clinic, wrote in a letter, “I said to them ‘If you are going to treat me like a nut I’ll act like a nut.’

“He told me I was a very, very sick girl and had been a very, very sick girl for many years.

“It had a very bad effect — they asked me after putting me in a ‘cell’ (I mean cement blocks and all) for very disturbed depressed patients except I felt I was in some kind of prison for a crime I hadn’t committed," she adds.

Unfortunately, Monroe struggled with mental health until the end. However, unlike those times, there are various treatments available in today's time.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many existing treatment options available for people suffering from borderline personality disorder.

From psychotherapy, which includes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), schema-focused therapy, mentalization-based therapy (MBT) and transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) among others, to medications, your doctor may recommend a wide range of treatments, keeping your safety in consideration.

In certain cases, hospitalization may also be recommended to help you keep distance from self-injury and harm.