“I’m taking medication for this”: Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Medical Diagnosis May be Slowly Breaking the Martial Arts Legend

Jean-Claude Van Damme is a man of many talents. Apart from being a world-renowned martial artist, he is also a legend when it comes to minting out several highly acclaimed action movies. The Belgium-born Van Damme landed in Los Angeles with big dreams, but the reality was far different from what he had expected.

He initially struggled to get roles and landed some small bits here and there. But 1988’s Bloodsport changed everything for the actor.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport | Credits: The Cannon Group

He got the much-needed recognition after this movie, and now several decades later, he’s considered one of the most iconic actors of his generation. However, behind this glitz and glamour, the actor has been really struggling medically and is currently dealing with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.

Jean-Claude Van Damme and His Ongoing Medical Challenges

After his 1988 hit Bloodsport, Jean-Claude Van Damme was riding high on the success. This movie also pushed the actor to better roles and projects. But in 2011, he disclosed his alarming medical condition would completely change his life as well as his career trajectory.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Welcome to the Jungle | Credits: Universal Pictures

During an interview with the British show Behind Closed Doors, he stated for the first time that he was dealing with bipolar disorder. Further, he also added that he had been dealing with mood swings since childhood and was also taking medication for the same.

The disorder also took a very huge toll on him, and he added that he felt broken during that entire phase. On the same subject, he also added:

In an Instagram video shared by a user, the actor can be clearly seen in an angry demeanor. But after a while, he comes out and hugs his girlfriend in a calmer way.

This overlaps with what rapid-cycling bipolar disorder actually is. In this, an individual can have four episodes of mania, hypomania, or depression within a single year. In this, the mood of the person changes quickly, often without stability in between. They can go from a high manic or hypomanic phase to a depressive one within a matter of hours.

While the post shared that the actor has overcome this disorder with medication, in reality, bipolar disorder has no cure and lasts lifelong. However, individuals having the disorder can use a variety of mood stabilizers to manage the condition. The actor has also added that after the diagnosis he completely changed his lifestyle habits, which is essential to improve the symptoms of the disorder.

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s controversial love life

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s love life has been full of ups and downs. The famous martial artist has been married five times, and each relationship has had its own challenges. His first marriage was to Maria Rodriguez in 1980 but ended in divorce just four years later. After this, he married Cynthia Derderian, but this union also didn’t last long either, as his Hollywood career started to grow.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Darkness of Man (2024) | Credits: Saban Films

In 1987, he married Gladys Portugues, a former bodybuilder and actress. They had two children, Kris and Bianca. However, rumors of cheating caused their marriage to fall apart in 1992. This was a tough time for Van Damme, as he dealt with both a broken marriage and negative media attention.

In 1994, he married Darcy LaPier and in the same year, he also had an affair with Kylie Minogue. This revelation surprised LaPier also, who only found out about the affair through the media and felt betrayed, especially since she was pregnant with their son at the time.

Despite these troubles, Van Damme remarried Portugues in 1999. However, his romantic life remained complicated. He is currently in a long-term relationship with Ukrainian model Alena Kaverina and is still legally married to Gladys Portugues.