Throughout Season 8 of The Real Housewives of Potomac, the cameras followed Mia Thornton and Gordon Thornton as they attempted to salvage their deteriorating marriage.
By the end of the season, we learned that they pulled the plug on the relationship and were heading for divorce. In a tense moment in the finale, the estranged couple clashed over their increasingly complicated dynamic. But it was the Season 8 reunion trailer that had people talking, as Gordon promised to give an important update about his life and relationship. So, what did Gordon reveal in Part 3 of the RHOP reunion?
Gordon’s emotional revelation
Bravely, Gordon revealed he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, type 1, otherwise known as bipolar I disorder. Bipolar I is characterized by big mood swings, shifting between manic episodes and depressive lows. For Gordon, the dynamic emotions caused a ripple effect in every aspect of his life. In an emotional moment at the reunion, he explained his perspective on the illness.
“Bipolar, in and of itself, causes your mind to really work opposite,” Gordon explained. “Your mind tricks you into saying ‘You are normal, everyone else is slow.’”
For context, Gordon is currently 71 years old. He received his bipolar diagnosis just two years ago. Now, he’s able to look back on his life with a newfound clarity, and he said he could see how the illness may have impacted him throughout his entire life.
“I can remember episodes over the course of my life,” Gordon recalled. “My manic got worse over the years as I gained more control, more power, more money.”
How Gordon found a path forward
Gordon admitted that more recently, his illness became so difficult to manage that he had to check himself into a hospital. Throughout the entire ordeal, Mia was there to support him. It didn’t matter that they were going through their issues.
“Things got so bad and so low for me that I went to the hospital and checked myself in. The next morning, guess who was there? Mia,” Gordon shared.
He continued, “She showed up the next morning, made sure that I had everything I needed. Left and went to get me a change of clothes. My place was seven, eight hours away. She came to see me, I believe every day but one while I was there.”
The entire time Gordon was talking, Mia couldn’t hold back her tears. She said she would always be available to help Gordon. They’re still divorcing, but regardless, Mia said she would always be there for him. That’s real love.
Although Mia volunteered an endless amount of support, Gordon insisted that he was in control of his illness. He said he’s medicated, and now that he’s aware of what he’s facing, he’s able to live with a stronger sense of mindfulness. Sometimes, a diagnosis is all you need.
“You have to go the rest of the way yourself,” Gordon explained. “So the first thing you got to do is understand the behaviors that are the beginning of going into a manic episode.”
Season 8 of The Real Housewives of Potomac is streaming on Peacock.
