David Harbour, Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, Opens Up About Psychotherapy
David Harbour, best known as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, has opened up about his mental health journey, revealing that he recently began intense psychotherapy.
The actor, who lives with bipolar disorder, has been in therapy since becoming sober in 1999. However, he explained that switching to a more intensive form of psychotherapy has made a significant difference.
“Only recently have I started intense psychotherapy, and it has made a world of difference in my treatment,” Harbour told Future of Personal Health.
At 50, Harbour emphasized that combining psychotherapy with responsible medication is key to remission. He noted that since starting psychoanalysis with a trusted therapist, he has not experienced a manic episode.
“Medication alone is only half the battle. There is no cure‑all formula — only hard individual work,” Harbour added.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), psychotherapy refers to a range of treatments designed to help individuals identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
Actor David Harbour, best known as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 26, just two years after becoming sober. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings, ranging from manic highs to depressive lows.
“There is a fundamental narcissism at the bottom of it all that makes me think I am the center of all things, for good or for ill. My manic episodes are, of course, a manifestation of my own particular psychopathy,” Harbour explained, noting that each episode was linked to specific fixations at the time.
Beyond his mental health journey, Harbour’s personal life has also made headlines. In 2024, he split from singer Lily Allen after four years of marriage. Allen addressed their relationship struggles in her music album West End Girl, released last year.
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