Amanda Bynes Sends Powerful Statement to Fans

We've all been worried about Amanda Bynes. She seemed like one of those former child actresses that was going to go the distance until she started her downward spiral and since then she has been hospitalized for mental evaluation, went from there to a rehabilitation facility, and most recently has been doing well enough to post pictures of herself happy and smiling two days after her birthday. Her ups and downs over the course of her recovery led to a lot of speculation about what she was suffering from, but Bynes had her attorney step forward to come clean about one thing: Amanda Bynes is not schizophrenic.

"She has remained silent because she believed it was best to keep her mental health diagnosis private," said Tamar Arminak. "However, she asked me to dispel certain rumors. For the record, Amanda does not have schizophrenia, nor has she ever been diagnosed with it."

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were the two mental conditions that Bynes was reported to be suffering from after her hospital stay. And while the bipolar disorder was not specifically knocked down as a potential cause, Arminak went on to say that they were "still working through the causes of her past bizarre behavior."

In the meantime, Bynes is continuing to do well at school, with her friends, and with her family. She's not currently on medication and it's been almost a year since she's had any marijuana. She's healing, she's happy, and for her to authorize her lawyer to speak out against her alleged diagnosis for schizophrenia is all the proof we need to stop adding it to every article attached to her name. Her parents, with whom Bynes is currently staying, are trying to give her "as much autonomy as possible."

Bynes has chosen to share something personal with us, something she admits should be better kept private, and in return we need to stop being complicit in the public spectacle of her recovery. Amanda Bynes does not have schizophrenia. Her health is her own business and all we can do is hope that she continues to get better.