Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, Kendall Jenner, and Adele: Why Even the Richest & Most Famous Have Discussed Mental Health Issues
They are the world’s most famous faces who seem to have it all – good looks, fame, and fortune. Their life’s perceived perfection is one of the reasons why their story about celebrity mental health always comes as a surprise. How can people who have it all still feel lonely inside?
The reason is because mental health issues affect all of us. And that’s the reason why more and more celebrities are speaking up – they want to let you know that mental health is not based on our status in life, how many followers and likes we have on Instagram, and what we look like.
Stars like Emma Stone, Selena Gomez, Chrissy Teigen, Kendall Jenner, Lili Reinhart, Zayn Malik, and even J.K. Rowling have all expressed their feelings and why they chose to speak up. Their courage to talk about their issues have sparked a conversation that was previously taboo to speak about. And it is from their stories that we learn more about celebrity mental health and why it’s okay to be honest about what you are feeling and to talk to someone about it.
Mental Health is not dependent on external circumstances.
In an essay she penned for Glamour Magazine, Chrissy Teigen shared her initial hesitation in discussing her postpartum depression, “I just didn’t think that it would happen to me, I have a great life. I have all the help I could need. John, my mother, a nanny. But postpartum does not discriminate. I couldn’t control it. And that is part of the reason it took me so long to speak up: I felt selfish, icky, and weird saying aloud that I’m struggling. Sometimes I still do.”
Chrissy who is known as a supermodel and the wife of music star John Legend was first apprehensive to share her struggles. Many of us can relate to this because we sometimes feel guilty for what we feel because we think everything is perfect on the outside. We have good grades, we have loving parents, and we have great friends. Or maybe you have been the family’s anchor for so long that something like this would disrupt the system you have grown accustomed to. These two factors can sometimes make us feel guilty for speaking up about what we truly feel. But just like Chrissy, change comes when we are brave enough to seek for help.
You are not alone.
There are some days when we feel like the world is against us, when it’s so dark and we do not understand why it’s happening. When these days come, it’s important to remember that even though we feel alone, we never truly are. This is especially true even when you are arguing with your parents and you feel like they do not understand.
This is what got mega superstar, Dwayne Johnson through his own battle with depression, “One of the most important things you could realize is that you are not alone. You are not the first to go through it, you are not going to be the last to go through it.”
Seek a trusted friend, mentor, or parent. Talk to them, let them know how you feel. This would help you towards healing.
Do not be ashamed to ask for help.
Riverdale star Lili Reinhart suffered from anxiety at the beginning of her career. The anxiety became too much that she couldn’t function well enough to go to work, so she took a deep breath, called her mom, and told her she needed help. This changed Lili’s life resulting in landing a role in one of the country’s top-rated shows.
Speaking about their own personal stories to the public may not be easy but to do so means ultimately helping another person and letting them know that they are not alone in their struggles. The campaign to shed light on celebrity mental health issues in a public arena will help in encouraging others to be honest and open about their own stories.