We’re on a bit of a celebrity kick this week – with things like The Oscars and The Grammys having just been shown, it’s nice to remember that even celebrities deal with real issues like mental health problems. If you’re struggling with mental health issues, remember – you are not alone.
Mel Gibson: The actor, despite winning Oscars and making headlines, has battled bipolar disorder, explaining his onset pranks and late night partying during his life. He mostly experienced the “highs” of the disorder, but they came with dangerously low lows as well. His intense mania, coupled with depression, made for some difficulties in his life.
Brooke Shields: This celebrity wrote a book about her experience with postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter back in 2003. Postpartum depression is something that lasts longer than the rather normal “baby blues” that many new mothers experience. Postpartum depression leaves new mothers feeling intense feelings of anxiety, worthlessness, and restlessness.
John Nash: John Nash was known to be an economic and math genius, with the film “A Beautiful Mind” portraying his amazing story. But many people didn’t realize he suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia, struggling with being able to tell what is real and what is not. His social responses and ability to think logically were also diminished, and his bouts of paranoia were difficult to manage. Despite the severity of his disorder, Nash actually claimed he didn’t mind his schizophrenia – he learned to live with it and continue his life work.
Carrie Fisher: This actress played Princess Leia in the Star Wars trilogy, but she actually struggled with substance abuse and bipolar disorder all her life. She experiences severe shifts in mood and energy, seriously affecting her ability to deal with daily life activities. But she is not ashamed of her mental illness and will proudly discuss it with anyone.
Emma Thompson: British actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson deals with the ever-common mental health issue of depression. She claims her career saves her from dropping into her lowest of lows, for without it she would continually feel sad and hopeless, pointing to days where she simply could not get out of bed.
Herschel Walker: Walker is a Heisman winning running back from the NFL who has addressed the public about his issues and struggles with dissociative identity disorder (DID). He is actually influenced by two or more different personalities (identities) and even wrote a book about his experiences to help others understand his truth.
Michael Phelps: Phelps, while being an Olympic gold medalist and accomplished swimmer since a very young age, has also struggled with ADHD. He was diagnosed at age 9 after having issues with concentrating in school, and his mother said a combination of medication and swimming really helped with the management of his disorder.
Paula Deen: This famous chef known for her Southern charm and affinity for butter in her dishes actually struggled with panic attacks and agoraphobia, which is when people fear places that may lead to panic attacks, like places that may be difficult to leave. She started having panic attacks after her father’s death, and the attacks persisted for nearly 20 years. She couldn’t leave the house without a brown paper bag to control her breathing in case an attack approached, a terrifying existence because she never knew when the attacks would sneak up on her or not.
Elton John: The famous musician and star dealt with substance abuse and bulimia throughout his life. Bulimia refers to an eating disorder where people binge (uncontrollably eat large amounts of food) and then purge the food via vomiting or using laxatives to stop them from gaining weight from their binges.
Sinead O’Connor: You may remember O’Connor from many of her controversial stints in the nineties. She realized later in life that her need to be controversial and intense stemmed from bipolar disorder – which also contributed to feelings of extreme sadness and suicidal thoughts throughout her twenties.
Kurt Cobain: In 1994, the famous alternative rocker joined what people call the “27 club” – the group of singers and musicians who passed away at the age of 27 – along with big names like Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin. Cobain delt with substance abuse issues, depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder – all while dealing with the constant intensity of a quick and bold rise to fame.
Remember, when times are getting you down, that anyone can suffer from mental health issues – you, me, your friends, your family members, celebrities, musicians, doctors, lawyers, waiters – mental health issues know no demographic, skin color, age, gender, or lifestyle. It can afflict anyone – but always remember that you are not alone. If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health issue, seek help and know that you don’t have to fight alone.
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