In the last couple of years, with several celebrities opening about about their struggles of dealing with depression and anxiety and NGOs trying to normalise discussion around such topics, things seem to be changing for the better.
Depression doesn't discriminate. And it is a fact that some know, some don't and others choose to ignore. However, there's no denying the fact that we live in a society where people still aren't 'aware', 'enlightened' about mental illnesses as much and the stigma around it forces those suffering from depression or anxiety, to not speak about their struggles and keep it to themselves.
But, in the last couple of years, with several celebrities opening about about their struggles of dealing with depression and anxiety and NGOs trying to normalise discussion around such topics, things seem to be changing for the better.
Here's a list of 5 celebrities who spoke about their struggle with depression, anxiety and how they managed to overcome it.
Take a look.
1. Dwayne Johnson
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In a 2014 interview to Hollywood Reporter, actor Dwayne Johnson while speaking about his bouts of depression said, "I didn't know what it was. I didn't know why I didn't want to do anything. I had never experienced anything like that." Here, he was speaking about the time when injuries disrupted his once-promising football career. Johnson played defensive tackle for the University of Miami.
In 2018, while speaking with The Daily Express, Johson spoke about how his mother tried to commit suicide when he was just 15 and said, "Struggle and pain are real. I was devastated and depressed. I reached a point where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly.”
While speaking about the painful moments of his life, Johnson also mentioned how he had watched his parents struggle to afford bare necessities as they were evicted from their apartment. Later, he tweeted the indispensable lesson he learned through those hardships.
“We all go thru the sludge/sh-- and depression never discriminates,” he wrote. “Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up.”
Got tons of responses to this. Thank you. We all go thru the sludge/shit and depression never discriminates. Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up. Especially us dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 2, 2018
https://t.co/ADHjYtGe3k
2. Deepika Padukone
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In 2015, in an HT exclusive, actress Deepika Padukone first spoke about her struggle with anxiety and depression at a time when she was establishing herself as one of the most sought after heroines in B-town and how she managed to later overcome it despite all odds. In the interview, she spoke about how counselling and medication helped her get through the tough times and 'Happy New Year' shoot.
"In early 2014, while I was being appreciated for my work, one morning, I woke up feeling different. A day earlier, I had fainted due to exhaustion; it was all downhill from there. I felt a strange emptiness in my stomach," said Deepika in the interview.
She continued, "Every morning, it was a struggle to wake up, and shoot for Happy New Year’s climax. Finally, I had a word with Anna aunty. She flew to Mumbai from Bengaluru, and I talked my heart out to her. She concluded that I was suffering from anxiety and depression."
"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," Deepika said.
3. Chris Evans
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In 2016, in an interview with Rolling Stone, actor Chris Evans, known for portraying Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, revealed that he suffers from social anxiety. “A red carpet lasts, what, 30 minutes tops? But that to me is like 30 minutes of walking on hot coals.” Evans said. “It’s not like a junket – junkets you sit in a room and they bring ’em in. I can do that all day and not have a meltdown. But the premiere – that’s overwhelming. It’s the volume of it: You’re in the center of this thing. You can fight a whole army if they line up one at a time. But if they surround you, you’re f***ed.”
Later, he also revealed that meditation, Buddhism and by reading the works of Oprah-approved spiritualist Eckhart Tolle, he's 'gotten better'.
4. Karan Johar
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In an interview with NDTv in 2016, filmmaker-producer Karan Johar opened up about the years of clinical depression he went through.
While speaking about how he got to know about his clinical depression, Karan Johar said, “I have read people speaking openly about their depression. There was a phase in my life when I was really depressed. When I went through that phase, I thought I am getting a cardiac arrest. I felt it in the middle of a meeting two and half years ago, after which I left the meeting in between saying I have something urgent to do and rushed to the doctor. He then said I am having an anxiety attack. I went to a psychologist post that. Then I realised that I had some internal issues to deal with, which got built up to such point that it resulted in anxiety.”
Karan also spoke about undertaking anti-anxiety medication for a year and a half.
He said, "I went through a series of anti-anxiety medication for it. A year and a half post that, when I stopped it, I realised that I am in a much better place."
5. Emma Stone
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In 2017, during an appearance in 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert', Emma Stone has spoken about how she was a very anxious child and suffered from a 'lot of panic attacks'. However, she also revealed that she benefited in a big way from therapy which she began taking at the age of 7.
In one of her interviews, Stone also credited acting and improv for helping her deal with anxiety.
