Mental Health & Media Portrayals: Spinning Out

Introduction

Spinning Out is a Netflix show that explores mental illness as much as figure skating. It portrays how mental illness can often have a huge impact on one’s athleticism and relationships. The series tells us the story of skaters Kat Baker, her younger sister Serena and their mother, former skater, Carol. Both Kat and Carol suffer from Bipolar Disorder, and the series does its best to portray this illness with compassion and nuance. There are many things that this show nails to paint a clear picture of what it's like to both have, and live with, Bipolar Disorder.

As the daughter on the show, Kat, attempts to achieve the dreams she once had for herself, she grapples with a disorder that threatens to destroy all that she has. As for her mother, Carol, her character hits the ground running, and not in a good way. Making it clear early on how both manic episodes and chemical instability can affect every aspect of one's life; including motherhood. Furthermore, it shows the fear of stigma that individuals with mental illness experience as they try to navigate their disorder in secret. It also shows the emotional consequences of living with a parent with Bipolar Disorder through the storyline of Kat’s sister, who struggles to have a normal adolescence.

While the name of the show is a literal reference to ice skating “spins”, it also symbolizes the loss of control experienced by bipolar individuals when they are going through a manic episodes and how the lies they tell to hide their disorder disrupt their lives and relationships.

So now lets look at some things that the show, “Spinning Out”, gets right about mental illnesses-

Psychosis as a part of Bipolar Disorder

Both Carol and Kat experience Psychosis as part of their Bipolar Disorder, and the show draws clear lines between the buildup and the mania. Psychosis is a mental disorder in which thoughts and emotions are so impaired that one loses contact with their external reality.

Carol's mania is clearly marked by her gradual sense of losing her grip on reality, combined with anger and repetitive motions. We see this clearly when she forces Serena, her youngest daughter, to complete an unrealistic set of pushups, to the point where she actually injures her wrist. Moreover, it is also evident when she begins cleaning the floors midway through the season, claiming Kat 'won't come home' if the house is dirty. As for Kat, her Psychosis begins spiralling with increased hyperactivity, frenzied and nonsensical dialogue, and ends with drug use, a party full of violent strangers, misdirected anger, and a completely spacial mental state.

Psychomotor Agitation

Psychomotor Agitation is a feeling of anxious restlessness that causes a person to make movements without meaning to. It not only affects people with Bipolar Disorder, but is also associated with other conditions that affect mental health or neurological functions. This is clearly showcased, when we see Kat biting her arms, more than once, which seemingly calms down. Moreover, Kat is seen throwing a rage during a manic episode and subsequently chanting in the bathtub during her comedown.

In addition to this, Carol picks at her fingers to the point where they bleed, and this happens at the height of her manic episode. She is also seen scrubbing the kitchen floor with a toothbrush.

In summary, we can conclude that these are all a result of the disorder and are warning signs. Thus, the show does an excellent job of proving how debilitating the disorder can be on all levels, not just as far as moods go.

Lithium as a Treatment and its effects

Bipolar disorder is considered one of the most severe mental disorders, and Lithium has been a go-to treatment for over 60 years. Lithium helps to treat symptoms while also preventing acute manic episodes but, as we saw in the show Lithium does not cure or rid a person of their bipolar symptoms completely.

With that being said, it's often wildly effective when used correctly. However, when a person takes themselves off Lithium, the results can be catastrophic as their chemical imbalances will fluctuate and throw them right back into an up-and-down cycle.

Repetitive speech and Clang Associations

Rambling speech, as well as random words strung together, are both implicative of a manic episode, often called 'motor mouth'. When this happens, it can be tough or even altogether impossible to disrupt someone's thoughts or speech patterns. Studies have found that clang association is particularly common among people in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. People experiencing mania often speak in a rushed way; the speed of their speech matches the rapid thoughts surging through their mind.

This is precisely depicted in the show, when Kat experiences the same, though in a more cryptic way, as she keeps repeating one sentence over and over again while she rocks herself post mania.

It highlights the struggle of living with a mentally ill parent

The complex relationship between Kat, her mother Carol and her sister Serena is a very common dynamic in families that struggle with mental illness.

We see the extreme highs of Carol’s disorder in moments like when she camps outside and allows her children to toast marshmallows and we also see the extreme lows; when she kicks Kat out of the house and disposes of all her trophies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Spinning Out” gives a poignant and honest glimpse into the not-so-perfect lives of female figure skaters and the families, coaches and friends who support them and also gives us an insight into the lives of the ones who are affected with mental illness and delivers a powerful modern portrayal of Bipolar Disorder.

The show's team reportedly consulted with doctors and psychiatric groups in order showcase Bipolar Disorder as accurately, and to their credit, there are no outward inaccuracies. In fact, the show depicts Bipolar Disorder precisely to a great extent — in particular the self-harm, mania, depression and difficulty regulating medication. However, it is important to now that the show does take a few liberties in order to make it a success and entertaining for the viewers due to which sometimes certain aspects of the show do seem a bit exaggerated or inaccurate.

One such instance occurs in the show when Kat is seen driving to her house as she is committed to manage her illness in a much better and healthier way. Nevertheless, at the same breath it shows her self-medicating with alcohol. While occasionally drinking after a tough day can be harmless for a balanced person, someone with Bipolar Disorder will always need to be wary of using it to self-medicate. Both Kat and Carol are often seen indulging in alcohol and little attention is drawn to how quickly this can spiral. Besides some minor inaccuracies the show does its best to display an accurate and precise portrayal into the lives of the ones struggling with Bipolar Disorder.

As stated ideally, Samantha Stratton, the content creator of the show, “Mental disorders can be crippling, and they can be huge mountains to climb, but they also give you a certain perspective on the world that is valuable and shows vulnerability and strength, I hope that I’ve been able to depict Bipolar Disorder in a way that acknowledges not only how serious and difficult it can be to live with, but also that you can live with it successfully, and I think that’s really important.”

✏️: @khwaish_mohindru

🎨: @tarini_puri