‘RHOP’ Star Mia Thornton’s Estranged Husband Gordon Reveals He Has Bipolar I

‘RHOP’ Star Mia Thornton’s Estranged Husband Gordon Reveals He Has Bipolar I

Real Housewives of Potomac star Gordon Thornton has announced he’s been diagnosed with Bipolar I. He made the revelation during the third and final part of the Bravo reality show’s season 8 reunion that aired on Sunday (April 14).

He explained,

”The difference between Bipolar and Bipolar I is the degree of manic that you have.”

Mia Thornton, 31, then began to cry as her cast mates Wendy Osefo and Candiace Dillard Bassett comforted her.

Gordon Thornton, 71, continued,

“If there was a Bipolar II, or III or IV, quite frankly I would have those.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, bipolar is a

“chronic mood disorder that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels and behavior. Manic and hypomanic episodes are the main sign of the condition, and most people with bipolar disorder also have depressive episodes.”

Gordon Thornton said on Sunday night’s RHOP that the condition,

“Causes your mind to really work opposite. Your mind tricks you into saying, ‘You’re normal, everyone else is slow.”

Gordon noted that he was diagnosed about 2 1/2 years ago. However, he said he now realizes he has been battling it since his early 20s.

“My manic got worse over the years, as I gained more control, more power, more money.”

He added that while medication is available, he doesn’t believe it should be the only thing used to treat the disease, stating that it’s important for him to know the early stages of a manic episode.

Gordon said that he cannot tell when he’s having an episode, however, he stated that before their separation Mia Thornton could identify an episode and tell him, but he wouldn’t listen.

Mia Thornton and Gordon, who share two children, split in June. However, she filed for separation in September. The following month, Gordon had a shocking interview, alleging he had let her sleep with other men after he realized he wouldn’t be “able to satisfy her needs.”

He added at the time,

“Yet she still chooses to sneak around, chooses to lie, chooses to continually change her story about what’s going on and why she’s leaving me.”

Mia later said that interview was her “breaking point” and the moment she decided to end their 11-year marriage and file for divorce.

The couple’s marital woes were a key storyline for Mia this season. In the season finale, the exes addressed their separation in a raw scene that also confirmed Mia had begun seeing a former flame again. She said in part 1 of the reunion that their divorce is not finalized.

During the reunion, Gordon saluted Mia, for being “absolutely wonderful.” He said they’ve forgiven each other, and he believes if he would’ve “gotten control of this manic behavior sooner, Mia wouldn’t have left me.”

“I don’t think she left me because she wanted to be someplace else. She left me because she couldn’t take this anymore.”

Gordon also began to cry before he shared he once checked into a hospital and Mia came to take care of him, visiting him nearly every day.

Mia said she will always be there to take care of Gordon.

[VIA: 1, 2]