Celebrities are people, too, and like everyone else, they are susceptible to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Despite their wealth and fame, these celebrities struggled with the same demons that torment us ordinary folk. There’s no shame in that!
From Amy Winehouse’s death from alcohol poisoning to Mindy Kaling’s struggles with anxiety, you might be surprised by how many celebrities have dealt with mental health issues.
In this article, we will look at how celebrities deal with mental health issues and how they can continue to thrive under such intense pressures.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is about a lot more than what happens to you every day. It’s about coping well with stress, having good relationships, taking care of your body.
Sometimes, though, it’s hard to know if you have a mental health problem. Everyone feels sad or anxious at times—when life gets tough, that’s normal.
But sometimes, these feelings can be constant or intense enough to get in the way of living life like you want to.
Depression, stress or anxiety that seem to be getting in your way of living life, are signs of mental health problems. Don’t worry—it’s nothing to be ashamed of. But if left untreated, these feelings can get worse.
Why is Mental Health Struggles Common among Celebrities?
Unfortunately, high-pressure careers like celebrities can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and other mental health struggles. Pressure to succeed, money issues and media attention are common causes of mental health problems among celebrities.
It is true that not all actors struggle with mental health issues. Some actors go into acting precisely because they want to express how they feel through creative work.
But, pressures within Hollywood mean more celebrities do face these issues than people in other lines of work.
For many celebs, dealing with mental health issues is a challenge in their job. And while some stars succeed in overcoming these challenges, others find it too difficult to cope.
The Benefits of Celebrities Opening up their struggles
The dangers of hiding mental health issues are well documented. According to a research, gay and bisexual men who remain closeted have higher rates of risky sexual behavior than men who feel comfortable being out.
Celebrities like Lady Gaga, Anthony Bourdain, Demi Lovato, Pete Wentz, Jared Leto, Evan Rachel Wood, Dennis Rodman and Megan Fox have come forward about their struggles with addiction or mental illness.
Dwayne Johnson, “The Rock,” has openly discussed his mental health struggles. He has freely discussed his sadness and his mother’s attempted suicide.
Johnson emphasizes that illnesses such as depression do not discriminate. However, the issue is especially difficult for men since they may be too afraid, sensitive, or ashamed to talk about it.
Taylor Swift has honestly discussed her mental health issues. Swift’s openness about her issues gives her followers hope and conveys that they are not alone. She demonstrates to millions of naïve fans that it is acceptable to discuss and seek treatment for mental illness.
When discussing his behavioral health issues, actor Ben Affleck had similar concerns. According to Affleck, people may try to conceal their pain with food, alcohol, sex, or gambling.
However, self-medication is ineffective, and the agony persists. These decisions might make a person’s life worse to make matters worse. It becomes a circle that is difficult to break.
The act of opening up about these problems can also encourage others to do so. In 2010 WENN Digital surveyed over 2,000 Americans online, asking them how likely they were to talk to loved ones if they had an issue with addiction or depression.
Self-Care Can Do A Lot of Good
With mental health so visible in today’s culture, it’s no surprise that many people know someone—or a lot of someone—with an experience of living with a mental illness. However, as common as these illnesses are, it can still be challenging to figure out what to do when worried about someone close to you.
Often, we don’t even know how to address those concerns; there is a stigma surrounding mental health conditions and talking about them can feel strange or uncomfortable. When those around us are suffering, it may seem like we need magic powers or superhuman strength to help them—but we don’t!
Self-care is vital to maintaining our mental health. Just as we would care for our physical well-being by practicing healthy habits, we can be just as conscious of our mental health with small acts of self-care that make us feel better. We learn that it’s okay to prioritize our needs over others’ by taking time for ourselves.
With all of today’s pressures to be perfect, it’s hard to balance things out and take some time just for us. It is necessary to maintain a healthy self.
We must look after ourselves physically and mentally by nurturing both body and mind with rest, healthy food choices, exercising (even if just a walk), meditation, or whatever makes us feel good.
Get Help from a Professional
Celebrities deal with public scrutiny more than your average person, making dealing with mental health issues extremely difficult. Depression is already isolating, but living in a fishbowl that can be tough to escape might make you feel even more alone.
While they probably don’t need it as much as regular people do, celebrities may benefit from reaching out to a professional therapist who deals with high-profile clients.
Celebrities may also want to connect with other big names that are willing to talk about their own experience dealing with mental health issues to know they aren’t alone.
Realizing that other famous people have similar problems could relieve them from feeling like their situation is unique or weird.
A group therapy session can work wonders for some people, while being trapped inside by themselves might be more comforting for others. Whatever method helps them cope is what matters.