Inside the Elisa Lam Case: What Her Story Reveals About Bipolar Disorder
Updated: November 9, 2025
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Key Facts: Elisa Lam And Bipolar Disorder
Elisa Lam’s death at the Cecil Hotel in 2013 drew global attention. There were also a lot of conspiracy theories about what happened to her. It was even the subject of a Netflix documentary.
Her behavior before her death is consistent with bipolar disorder symptoms, including disorganized thinking, paranoia, and psychosis. In spite of this, people continue to question what really happened.
Her story highlights how misunderstood bipolar disorder really is. It highlights the importance of understanding.
Elisa Lam was a 21-year-old Canadian student who had traveled to Los Angeles in February 2013. She had stayed at The Cecil Hotel in Skid Row. Elisa was seen behaving erratically before being found dead in a water tank atop the hotel. Elisa exhibited erratic behavior consistent with bipolar disorder before her death.
Following her death, internet sleuths came up with all kinds of reasons for her death when there was a perfectly plausible explanation. Elisa had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder some years earlier. She had even blogged about it. She had also been hospitalized for bipolar disorder in the past. At the time of her death, she had been inconsistent with her medications. Investigators ruled that Elisa had died in part due to bipolar disorder.
What Happened?
After she died, investigators looked at Lam’s final moments. Several days before she disappeared, Elisa had attended a taping of Conan O'Brien’s late night television show. However, she had been escorted off the property because she was acting erratically.
When Elisa first arrived at the hotel, she had been sharing a room with several other females. She kept leaving strange notes in their beds telling them to “Get Out.” They were concerned about her behavior and asked that she be moved to another room. The hotel moved her to a private room as a result.
On the day she disappears, Elisa is seen acting strangely in a hotel elevator. She appeared to be hiding from someone and was erratically pressing the elevator buttons. She also displayed psychomotor agitation, which is a common symptom of bipolar disorder.
When the video footage was released to the public, it ignited a frenzy. Some people believed that she came across a nefarious paranormal entity. Others believed that she was trying to hide from someone in the elevator.
The medical examiner ruled her death as an accidental drowning in the autopsy report. Bipolar disorder was listed as a significant factor in her death. However, this hasn’t stopped the endless speculation about how she died. Many people continue to insist that she was murdered.
Why the Public Struggled to Believe the Truth
There is a Netflix documentary about Elisa Lam’s death, “Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel.” Investigators say that Elisa’s behavior was entirely consistent with her diagnosis. Her behavior in the elevator is consistent with bipolar psychosis symptoms. Even so, people still don’t understand how she died. People find it hard to believe that bipolar disorder symptoms could cause her to climb into a water tank above the hotel. This explanation seems unsatisfying. Therefore, people continue to come up with alternative explanations, like that she was murdered or was on illegal drugs. However, there were not any illicit drugs in her system when she died, nor were there signs of forced entry into her room. The public’s perception just shows how poorly society understands bipolar disorder.
Harmful Stereotypes About Bipolar Disorder
There are many harmful stereotypes about bipolar disorder. These stereotypes are what make Elisa’s death explanation so hard to believe. People believe that bipolar disorder is just mood swings, which isn’t true. The reality is that symptoms like paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations can occur with bipolar disorder, and they can be very serious. These symptoms can cause someone to act erratically and unintentionally hurt themselves, just as Elisa did on the days before she went missing.
What We Can Learn from Elisa’s Story
When we see loved ones with bipolar disorder experiencing hallucinations or delusions, it’s important to get them help. Here’s how to help. Start by talking to them. Encourage them to seek bipolar disorder treatment as soon as possible.
If your loved one refuses treatment and is so severely ill that they are a danger to themselves or others, you may have to take matters into your own hands and get them emergency treatment. This could mean calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If it’s an immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a mental health crisis team if available in your area.
Not ready for an ER visit but need support soon? You can explore evidence-based online therapy for guidance and support from licensed professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about this case? Drop it in the comments below and I’ll answer!
What actually happened to Elisa Lam?
The coroner’s report listed her death as an accidental drowning. Bipolar disorder was listed as a significant contributing factor. Experts believe that untreated bipolar symptoms, such as psychosis or disorganized thinking, likely influenced her actions leading up to her death.
Why do people still believe conspiracy theories about Elisa Lam’s death?
There are still so many conspiracy theories regarding this case because people misunderstand bipolar disorder. Many people think it is a simple mood swing. This can make them look for another reason for her death, like foul play.
What did Elisa Lam do in the elevator?
In the elevator video (watch above), Elisapressed multiple buttons and appeared to hide in the corner. She also stretched out and gestured down the hall. Her movements inside the elevator suggest paranoia and confusion, which mental-health experts later explained were consistent with bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
References
Swann, A. C. (2007). Psychiatric emergencies in bipolar and related disorders. Psychiatric Times, 24(6). https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psychiatric-emergencies-bipolar-and-related-disorders
Waters, F., Chiu, V., Atkinson, A., & Blom, J. D. (July 2018). Severe sleep deprivation causes hallucinations and a gradual progression toward psychosis with increasing time awake. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, Article 303. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00303
