"I had really bad postpartum depression after I had my son, and it frightened me," she said. But I definitely don't struggle the way I used to. ", On choosing the wording for his campaign "Always Keep Fighting": "Even if there are a thousand small fights, even if every other minute you're thinking about suicide, or depression, or addiction, or if you have mental illness, I want people to hit it head on and take action. It was about being the 2-year-old who wasnt safe, that this really represented that Im not lovable, that Im not deserving, and thats not about him. As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we rounded up 26 celebrities who've been open and candid about dealing with depression, anxiety, and other issues surrounding mental health. ", "I hate meds," she told Esquire, looking back on how medication made her feel. Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has discussed having "low-gradedepression" during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgence of the fight for racial justice. And you start acting erratic, as TMZ would put it. If you are struggling with anxiety, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional. On anxiety: "Sometimes I panic to the point where I don't know what I'm thinking or doing. She has covered a wide range of topics, including health, education, race, consumerism, food, and public policy, throughout her career. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. 10 Celebrities Who Have Opened Up About Depression Michelle Obama, Ben Affleck, and Demi Lovato have discussed their mental health By Nadra Nittle Updated on February 06, 2021 Fact checked by Cara Lustik She said shes especially grateful to have found a Black woman therapist who is culturally competent and understands her life experiences. Some friends were shocked, but others said that Wilson, who was 38 then, had "battled his share of demons, which have included drug addiction," reportedPeople. Because you have to be able to cope with it. Then I Went Back on Them. Former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed in August 2020 that she was suffering from low-grade depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions, and political divisions in the United States. For me, my brother, God bless him, has been an enormous support.. There was a lot of guilt and a lot of shame. "I didn't talk to anyone about it. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for FIJI Water, Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, she took medication to treat her clinical depression, an interview on Off Camera with Sam Jones, experiencing anxiety and depression with extreme mood swings. Silverman first began experiencing depression punctuated by "terrifying" panic attacks when she was 13. Ben Affleck opens up about taking antidepressants since he was 26 In a final advice column in The Guardian, Fisher was asked how to how to find peace while suffering from bipolar disorder. As you get older, I think it decreases some, but I'm just innately kind of a sad person, he recently told Elle magazine. Porizkova eventually stopped the medication, fighting withdrawal symptoms with exercise and willpower. But one thing I do know is thatfor mejust merely being open about it helps. I have an ability to persevere that I didn't have before. and 'fess up to it. Depression. There's nothing worse than being fake happy. ", "I, for a long time, have been passionate about people dealing with mental illness and struggling with depression, or addiction, or having suicidal thoughts and, strangely enough, it's almost like the life I live, as well," Padalecki told Variety. She said she started taking a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor at an early age. 19 Celebrities With Depression - WebMD Where you feel like it's never going to change." Getty Images (2); AP Photo; Canva Anxiety disorders affect an estimated 301 million people. His mother and maternal grandfather suffered from the disease, to the point of both sadly having committed suicide. I was constantly anxious. She blamed herself for the pregnancy loss because she drank shortly before and smoked shortly after finding out she was expecting. Starring in and executive-producing the 1999 film "Girl, Interrupted" for actor Winona Ryder. CNN. ", "I have a chemical imbalance that, in its most extreme state, will lead me to a mental hospital," Carrie Fisher revealed to Diane Sawyer. When "Mad Men" actor Jon Hamm was just 20, he experienced chronic depression following his father's death. But for some reason, when someone needs a serotonin inhibitor, they're immediately crazy or something. ", "I openly admit to having battled depression and anxiety and I think a lot of people do. "I get really nervous and find it stressful to always engage and give you the best answers I can.". "I would have died without it," Judd toldMarie Clairein April 2011. However, her depression and panic returned in her early 20s. "I used to think I was a drug addict, pure and simple just someone who could not stop taking drugs willfully. You'd wake up in the morning feeling you didn't want to get out of bed, you felt misunderstood, and just very, very low in yourself. I take like two baths a day, is that weird? ", Dunham has been open about her experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder, not only in real life, but also through her character, Hannah Horvath, on the TV show, "Girls. Davidsonsaid that a strong support system, career, and friends help him manage his mental illness. Its all just programming yourself to trick your brain. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Cruise has never suffered from postpartum depression," she wrote, explaining she was prescribed the antidepressant Paxil to treat feelings of hopelessness and suicidality after the birth of her first child. If you are carrying a weight that you can't shake off, you are not alone. In an essay for the website Motto, Bell says, "Theres nothing weak about struggling with mental illness." Gore took medication for some time. Celebrities who suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental - IMDb Read our, https://www.health.com/condition/depression/conditions-linked-to-depression, 11 Types of Depression: What You Should Know, 15 Celebrities With Anxiety Who Have Spoken Out, Famous People With Irritable Bowel Syndrome, These Are The Best Online Psychiatry Providers That Take Insurance. About one in every 10 Americans takes an antidepressant to treat various mental health disorders. I was wrong. For example, she said she began to hallucinate that she was repeatedly stabbing herself. The film is about a young woman's two-week experience in a psychiatric ward. I just wanted to dematerialize and have someone sweep me away. "I gotta feed myself with something better. SSRIs increase serotonin levels by preventing it from being reabsorbed before it can take effect. I know how important good mental health care can be because I personally benefited from it, she wrote in a USA Today op-ed. Facing enormous pressure to appear perfect, public figures once kept their struggles with mental health private, but this tendency has changed dramatically in the 21st century. And to be proud that they're winning their fight, period.". Celebrities Who've Taken Antidepressants, Mental Health - Insider According toPeople, her postpartum depression "hit hard" after the birth of William. Back in 1999, while Al Gore was vice president, the second lady shared her struggles with sorrow. The 39-year-old actor has revealed that when she was in her 20s, she entered a rehab center for help with depression. 13 Famous People With Anxiety Disorders - Calm Clinic Its not a weak move to say, I need help. , The pop star, whose hits include "Paparazzi andPoker Face, says shes dealt with both depression and anxiety her whole life. Such a disclosure reduces stigma about taking prescription drugs to treat mental illness and reveals that it might be necessary to try different kinds and dosages of medication to see results. Henson acknowledged that she has been praised for being a young single mother who graduated from college and eked out a Hollywood career. Shetold ABC News and WebMD contributor Robin Roberts that she began to feel what she called completely debilitating and life-threatening depression in 2010. "Looking back, it makes sense. People. Below are some public figures who have spoken openly about taking antidepressants and other medications for mental health conditions. ", "I started therapy, which I still do today. Antidepressant Medications And Athletic Performance Wilson "bounced back" from his suicide attempt, reportedPeople. In 2011, actor Catherine Zeta-Jones, then 41, revealed that she has bipolar II disorder, which causes severe depression. After he sought treatment and started talking about his feelings, he said life became easy. Now he understands that its OK to not be OK., The actress, known for voicing the character of Anna in the movie Frozen, says shes had depression since she was in college. "I think they saved my life and they've probably saved my mother's life but I don't agree with them. ", To Glamour in 2015: "I say that publicly because I think it's really important to take the stigma away from mental health. Oh yeah. ", "And I have no shame in that because my mom had said if you start to feel this way, talk to your doctor, talk to a psychologist and see how you want to help yourself. The musician has said that he blames himself for his mothers demise because the pressures of life in Los Angeles, where she moved to manage his career, likely led her to seek out the procedures that led to her death. Ariana Grande Shows Rare Look at Casual Style in London We Tested Brightside Health's Online Therapy Services: Is It Worth It? He recently starred in the TV drama Secrets and Lies. "The first time I had a panic attack I was sitting in my friend's house, and I thought the house was burning down. ", Since the age of 7, singer Demi Lovato has dealt with suicidal thoughts and depression. It just happens and it's just inside of you and that's not something you should be ashamed of. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. It's so easy to abuse them.". 30 Celebrities Who Have Opened Up About Depression, Anxiety, and - ELLE Henson told Self magazine in 2019 that her anxiety symptoms include heart palpitations, sweating, nervousness, rumination, and feelings of helplessness. Moreover, she described her depression as a condition that can be hard to climb up out of.. I also know athletes who feel like they suffer on SSRIs, both in terms of performance and mood. 22 Celebrities Who Have Spoken Out About Their Depression It is better to be proactive. In an interview with Billboard magazine, she said she thinks its important for people to talk about their mental health. I'm so terrified of it.". In a social media post, the singer described how he began to believe the non-stop praise he received from the public, which led him to develop a sense of entitlement. Keeping my behavior a secret was painful and isolating. I love the buzz. "I found out I do suffer from mental health issues, and, honestly, that was such a relief," she previously told the Wall Street Journal. Ever. Fisher became an outspoken leader in the fight to educate and destigmatize mental health disorders. The comedian opened up about her experience with depression and panic attacks in an essay for Glamour in 2015. He also got help for the condition from therapy and medication. It's not normal to think that nothing's affected you.' Bieber admitted that he turned to drugs to cope, and his behavior became increasingly erratic. And I'm one of those human beings [] where I'm like, I'll handle it later. Thats all just about me.. Depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the United States. ", Tennis player Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 2021 French Open due to anxiety about doing press after the event. Hemmis shared that her depression caused crying fits, eating binges, and insomnia early on in the show's run. That includes international champions. I just have to do this now. Peterson won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics but had fought depression and gambling. It is currently estimated that 1 in 10 people in the United States rely on antidepressants. Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. As host of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" from 2004 to 2009, Paige Hemmis was bubbly, compassionate, and always smiling for the camera. However, Moore also cites her childhood trauma as the source of her pain. This comedians upbeat public image hid a long fight with mental illness. After taking those meds for three months, she decided to speak up about how they made her feel and get a new prescription. "I felt like a zombie," Paltrow toldGood Housekeepingin February 2011. From the PEOPLE archive: A life cut short inside Heath Ledger's life and tragic death. People. She felt isolated and insecure. Therapy helped me realize that maybe it's okay for me to communicate my feelings. I don't know. . When Teigen was diagnosed with PPD and anxiety after months of physical and emotional pain, she felt "so exhausted but happy to know that we could finally get on the path of getting better," she wrote in the essay. I rarely drink coffee, he told 60 Minutes. When model and actor Paulina Porizkova left ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in 2007, her feelings of rejection led to anxiety attacks. My life changed. Recovering from her miscarriage and her substance abuse addiction made her feel like she'd "lived through a war," and her depression deepened when her marriage fell apart.