Is Mel Gibson Mentally Ill, Having a Meltdown or Did He Just Get Mad?

Forget Lebron James. What in the world is going on with Mel Gibson? I apparently didn't hear about his Friday taped tirade until this morning when I saw Dr. Nancy Snyderman on the "Today" show saying that he needs to seek psychiatric help. So investigating a little, I discovered that Mel indeed went off on his girlfriend in a bit of a frenzy.

Now, let me say right off the bat that I don't know if Mel Gibson has a mental illness or not, because I'm not qualified to make such a diagnosis, but if he does, then I know a few people who have been walking around my neck of the woods who definitely fall in that category, too. From what I read, it sounded like he just lost his temper.

According to the report I read at wcbstv.com, Mel had actually punched his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, before the taped rant. I'm sure this will be investigated, as well it should be. In my book, there's no excuse for anyone to get that upset, and if they cannot control themselves well enough to keep from hitting someone, they just need to leave the room or maybe just punch themselves. I'm just surprised anyone who has just been punched by someone would even stick around, much less start some type of recorder. She must be one tough lady.

I figure Mel may be suffering from a lot of those pressures that life throws you, especially at his age and in his business. A lot of men go through those crisis times as they grow older where they know their best years are behind them and they're not turning heads the way they did as young studs. And when you're used to being adored the world over, well, that's really got to be the pits. I mean, it's not like he can go the usual route men do and buy a red sports car and throw money around. He probably already has one.

I remember when Mel played "Mad Max" in the movie about the future. Getting mad paid off for him then. Unfortunately, it doesn't work so well when you're not in a movie.

To me, though, it is a little troubling that Mel Gibson was being diagnosed on the "Today" show without even being there. I suspect that even Mel thinks it would be a good idea for him to get some treatment for his lack of control, but it doesn't seem quite fair in a way. Even though I saw Mel Gibson as Mad Max, I would not presume to think I know the way his brain works, so I think it may be a little unfair for others to assume they know his mental state by his celebrity persona. After all, the man does have a family out there somewhere.

Shoot, when it comes right down to it, how many of us really know the people we're around daily? I know I've been surprised before, so I think I think my advice to Mel would be to lay low, take your public lashing and learn to control that temper. We'll get over it. Just ask Tiger.

Sources:

"Today" on NBC
wcbstv.com,