While there have been concerted efforts in the past few years to bring awareness to mental illness and end stigmas surrounding mental disorders, there is still much work to be done. The topics of depression and eating disorders were talked about in our grade school health classes, but sometimes it takes high profile celebrities to really bring to light the realities of mental illness.
These celebrities are just a handful of those who have gone public about their mental health struggles, with the intention of ensuring their fans don’t feel alone in their personal battles.
1) Brooke Shields
After struggling to get pregnant and then experiencing a difficult birth, Brooke Shields finally held her beautiful baby girl in her arms. However, soon after the birth in 2003 — which involved an emergency C-section due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck, and Shields’ uterus herniating during surgery — she entered a bought with postpartum depression. During this time she felt ashamed, helpless, secretive, and despairing.
After struggling to get pregnant and then experiencing a difficult birth, Brooke Shields finally held her beautiful baby girl in her arms. However, soon after the birth in 2003 — which involved an emergency C-section due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck, and Shields’ uterus herniating during surgery — she entered a bought with postpartum depression. During this time she felt ashamed, helpless, secretive, and despairing.
Shields described feeling disconnected from her daughter, which led to her experiencing feelings of self-harm. After receiving therapy and taking medication, Shields eventually recovered. She is quoted saying she feels thankful she got the help she needed.
Postpartum depression affects one in 10 new mothers within the first sixth months after giving birth.
2) Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder at nine years old after a teacher told his mother he couldn’t focus in class. His mother, a middle school teacher herself, played a big role in ensuring her son still succeeded in school despite his difficulty concentrating.
Michael Phelps was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder at nine years old after a teacher told his mother he couldn’t focus in class. His mother, a middle school teacher herself, played a big role in ensuring her son still succeeded in school despite his difficulty concentrating.
Although she used many different strategies to help him learn how to deal with having ADHD, she attributes much to his involvement in swimming. He asked to stop taking his medication in grade six, which turned out fine because his various swimming commitments gave him so much structure.
3) John Green
Author John Green has taken to social media in the past few years to communicate his experience with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. He says over the years he has developed healthy strategies for handling his mental illnesses, through taking medication, exercising, meditating, and therapy.
Author John Green has taken to social media in the past few years to communicate his experience with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. He says over the years he has developed healthy strategies for handling his mental illnesses, through taking medication, exercising, meditating, and therapy.
4) Jared Padalecki
In the last year, Jared Padalecki has opened up about his long-term experience with depression. His focus lately has been raising awareness around the mental illness in an effort to help fans who also suffer from depression, addiction or suicidal thoughts.
In the last year, Jared Padalecki has opened up about his long-term experience with depression. His focus lately has been raising awareness around the mental illness in an effort to help fans who also suffer from depression, addiction or suicidal thoughts.
In interviews he describes being 25-years-old and having breakdowns as a result of his depression, but being confused as to why he was feeling that way considering all of the blessings in his life.
The mantra he has coined for his awareness campaign is “always keep fighting.”
5) David Beckham
In several interviews, David Beckham has talked about the need for order he has in his life, from making sure objects are lined up correctly to making sure objects are kept in pairs. These are just a few of the “rules” he has, including straightening furniture, wearing new soccer cleats to every game, and buying a specific number of Super Noodles when he goes to the supermarket.
In several interviews, David Beckham has talked about the need for order he has in his life, from making sure objects are lined up correctly to making sure objects are kept in pairs. These are just a few of the “rules” he has, including straightening furniture, wearing new soccer cleats to every game, and buying a specific number of Super Noodles when he goes to the supermarket.
The condition is often seen as being a case of “perfectionism,” but in reality it goes much deeper than that.
6) Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm experienced depression when he was 20 after his father died. He described his symptoms being the classic ones attributed to having depression. For example, he wouldn’t want to get out of bed and had little motivation to do anything at all.
Jon Hamm experienced depression when he was 20 after his father died. He described his symptoms being the classic ones attributed to having depression. For example, he wouldn’t want to get out of bed and had little motivation to do anything at all.
At 44 he admitted to having checked into a facility to help him recover from alcoholism. However, this was really the extent of him opening up about the situation. Mostly he wanted it to be kept as a family matter.
7) Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has been quoted saying she didn’t think she would live to 21 due to her party lifestyle. She would self-medicate with alcohol, cocaine, and OxyContin.
Demi Lovato has been quoted saying she didn’t think she would live to 21 due to her party lifestyle. She would self-medicate with alcohol, cocaine, and OxyContin.
After punching a backup dancer on tour, she checked into rehab for three months. It was here that she was diagnosed with bulimia and bipolar disorder. However, she said once she made strides with her eating disorder, her struggles with addiction worsened.
Eventually she checked into another rehab center, this time for drugs and alcohol addiction. She now speaks openly about her struggles in an effort to help her fans who are struggling with similar body image issues or self harm.
8) Jim Carrey
It’s always a surprise to hear that someone as funny as Jim Carrey struggles with depression. However, he says he has had the mental illness for a large portion of his life. After going to see a doctor about it he was prescribed Prozac and now is able to better cope with the illness.
It’s always a surprise to hear that someone as funny as Jim Carrey struggles with depression. However, he says he has had the mental illness for a large portion of his life. After going to see a doctor about it he was prescribed Prozac and now is able to better cope with the illness.
We have to remember that behind every funny-man is a past. For Carrey, it was a past where his mother was very sick. His flailing comedic antics were birthed because he wanted to make her feel better.
courtesy of thedailyeight.com
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