Anxiety disorders and depression are the most common mental illnesses in the world today. Here is a list of celebrities who have suffered from these illnesses and are now trying to break the stigma attached to mental illness.
Mental illness knows no boundaries, it affects everyone regardless of their age, sex, status or education level. After Zayn Malik cancelled his concert at the Capital Summertime Ball this year due to anxiety, more and more people are speaking up about their own issues. Anxiety disorders and depression are the most common mental health issues faced by the world today but yet, people feel ashamed to talk about it.
Nearly 5% of India's population, which translates to over 50 million people live with a mental illness. However, only a small fraction of that number actually goes out to seek help. The negative stigma attached to mental illness prevents people from admitting to it. They fear that they will be viewed as being weak, incapable and 'crazy.' This is the wrong image of mental health that a lot of people, including some famous celebrities are trying to break.
Take a look at 8 celebrities who have suffered from mental health problems and chosen to speak about them openly. Although people cannot be forced into treatment, raising awareness and starting a positive and encouraging conversation around the topic might give them the confidence they need to get help.
Deepika Padukone
Successful Bollywood actress, Deepika Padukone opened up about her struggle with mental health in a self baring article on Hindustan Times last year. Padukone was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and clinical depression during the time she was shooting for Happy New Year. At first, she dismissed it as stress but seeked help after encouragement from her mother. “There were days when I would feel okay, but at times, within a day, there was a roller-coaster of feelings. Finally, I accepted my condition. The counselling helped, but only to an extent. Then, I took medication, and today I am much better," wrote Deepika.
Her struggle with mental health has inspired her to help others going through similar problems and she has started an initiative called “The Live Love Laugh Foundation” which supports people suffering from depression and anxiety. The website has contacts of therapists, inspiring quotes, medical explanations of the disorders and further reading to understand more about the conditions.
Oprah Winfrey
The American talk show host and producer, Oprah Winfrey is a strong advocate for promoting conversation about mental health because the issue is so personal to her. She recently confessed to being sexually abused in her childhood by a close family member which led her to become pregnant but lose her baby at the age of 14. Her anxiety disorder was rooted in this rough patch till she seeked professional help. Today, she's moved on from her past but certain anxieties still haunt her. She admits to occasionally suffering from anxiety attacks and nervous breakdowns."In recent years I've come face-to-face with mental illness, as several people close to me were hospitalized with severe suicidal depression and manic and schizophrenic thoughts," she tells People.com. Winfrey says that it is a real shame that we don't about mental health openly because it creates a stigma around it which is unhealthy and dangerous.
Chris Evans
Captain America may be one of the strongest super heroes out there but the man who plays the character gets nervous just like us. In a candid interview with the Rolling Stone magazine, Chris Evans admitted to suffering from social anxiety since childhood. He says that it is the big events like red carpet premieres and award shows that trigger his anxiety attacks. Evans deals with his anxiety by hanging out with his friends from Boston and spending time with family. He says that talking about himself makes him insecure and anxious and that's why he usually shies away from interviews. In a speech he gave at the George Washington University graduation, he spoke about how the University must provide help to students with mental illnesses. He called on the community to support conversations about mental health so it wouldn't lead to extreme measures like suicide.
Anushka Sharma
Sultan actress, Anushka Sharma has been vocal about her anxiety on Twitter, receiving immense praise and support from her fans.
"I have anxiety. And I'm treating my anxiety. I'm on medication for my anxiety. Why am I saying this? Because it’s a completely normal thing. It's a biological problem. In my family there have been cases of depression. More and more people should talk openly about it. There is nothing shameful about it or something to hide. If you had a constant stomach pain, wouldn’t you go to the doctor? It’s that simple. I want to make this my mission, to take any shame out of this, to educate people about this," she told Scoop Whoop.
Not only is she not ashamed to talk about her condition but inspires people to break the stigma and do the same. She stresses on the fact that mental illnesses should be taken as seriously as physical illnesses and expels the idea that there is anything shameful about suffering from a mental illness.
Adele
The 28-year-old singer and songwriter, Adele suffers from stage fright. ‘I have anxiety attacks, constant panicking on stage, my heart feels like it's going to explode because I never feel like I'm going to deliver, ever,' she told Q magazine. It might seem odd for someone who chose a career which required her to constantly be on stage but she says she has become better at dealing with it. In an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine, she said that big venues like those she had performed at in Amsterdam and Berlin overwhelm her completely and make her so anxious that she gets physically sick. Therefore, she prefers to perform in low-key, intimate areas rather huge stadiums. Adele has openly spoken up about her struggles in several interviews and magazines and inspires other people to do the same. Zayn Malik, who recently cancelled his show due to anxiety also reached out to Adele for help.
Emma Stone
The Spider-Man actress, Emma Stone, has been dealing with anxiety since she was a child. She started having her first panic attacks at the age of 8, as reported by Gloria Goodwin from the website, Beyond anxiety and depression. She found her cure in comedy when she joined theatre and learnt how to deal with her panic attacks and anxious thoughts. Stone says that although she better understands on how to control her anxieties now, she still faces the struggles she did then. She is a great example and a role model to all the people who deal with this issue because she is open about seeking help for it.
Lena Dunham
The Girls actress, Lena Dunham is a strong voice about several issues including the conversation surrounding mental health. Having suffered from severe anxiety herself, Dunham understands the struggles of people going through the illness and urges them to do something about it. Dunham has said that exercise helps her deal with her anxiety and asks people to find something of their own that personally helps them deal with their disorder.
She is constantly posting about mental health related topics on her social media as a way of encouraging conversation around it.
John Green
The Fault in Our Stars author is no stranger to mental health issues and has spoken up about his struggle with anxiety and depression openly. He encourages people to seek help before it is too late by saying, "There is hope, even if getting good treatment is difficult, especially in a health-care system that too often fails to acknowledge the seriousness of mental illness. People get better every day," he said in article on Time.com
Green is a serious advocate for speaking up about mental health and is trying to break the stigma attached to it.
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