(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Catherine Zeta-Jones decided to be open about her bipolar II disorder to encourage other sufferers to get help.

The actress is recently spent five days at the Silver Hill psychiatric hospital in Connecticut to receive treatment for the condition, which is characterised by long periods of depression and bursts of mania.

Her decision to get help came after a tough year for the 41-year-old star, during which her husband Michael Douglas was treated for stage four throat cancer and his son Cameron sent to jail on drug charges.

Catherine has now discussed her reasons for discussing her illness, explaining she wants people to stop thinking mental problems are embarrassing or something to hide.

This is a disorder that affects millions of people and I am one of them, she told People magazine. If my revelation of having bipolar II has encouraged one person to seek help, then it is worth it. There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help.

Catherine and Michael have two kids together, Dylan, ten, and eight-year-old Carys. While Michael was battling cancer Catherine began to struggle in private, and eventually decided it would be best to speak to professionals about her problems.

She is due to begin shooting Playing the Field in Louisiana alongside Gerard Butler soon, and wanted to ensure she was ready for such a commitment.

The simple things would just seem overwhelming, like going out to dinner, a friend explained. There was just a little piece of her chipped away. It was hard to watch because I knew how hard she was trying. (C) Cover Media