21 Sep 2018
Everyone can be affected by Mental Health issues at any time in their life. Even the famous and rich can be struck down by depression or anxiety. Fortunately more and more famous people are speaking out about their Mental Health. Sharing their stories can help others speak about their own problems and seek out help. Below are some famous women who have spoken out about their problems.
Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham is an American actress, writer, producer, and director. She is best known as the creator, writer, and star of the HBO series Girls, for which she has received numerous Emmy Award nominations, and two Golden Globe Awards.
To those struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression: I know it’s mad annoying when people tell you to exercise, and it took me about 16 medicated years to listen. I’m glad I did. It ain’t about the ass, it’s about the brain.
Cara Jocelyn
Cara Jocelyn Delevingne is an English model and actress.
I suffer from depression and was a model during a particularly rough patch of self-hatred. I am so lucky for the work I get to do but I used to work to try and escape and just ended up completely exhausting myself. I am focusing on filming and trying to learn not to pick apart my every flaw.
Dame Anna Wintour
Dame Anna Wintour DBE is a British-American journalist and editor. She has been editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988, and has been artistic director for Condé Nast, Vogue’s publisher, since 2013
I think mental health is an area where people are embarrassed… They don’t want to talk about it because somehow they feel they’re a failure as a parent or, you know, they’re embarrassed for their child or they want to protect their child, lots of very good reasons, but mental health I feel is something that you have to talk about. That time from 15 to 16 to your mid- to late 20s – you look grown-up, people think you’re grown-up, but you’re still a kid.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After playing minor roles in the television series Doc and the film Big Fish in her childhood, she became a teen idol starring as the character Miley Stewart on the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana in 2006
People don’t know how to talk about being depressed – that it’s totally OK to feel sad. I went through a time when I was really depressed. I locked myself in my room and my dad had to break my door down. Every person can benefit from talking to somebody. I’m the most anti-medication person, but some people need medicine, and there was a time where I needed some too.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. She was initially a child model and gained critical acclaim at age 12 for her leading role in Louis Malle’s film Pretty Baby, in which she played a child prostitute in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century.
If you think you might be suffering from any kind of postpartum mood disorder, or are aware of some preexisting condition in your life that could lead to it, DO NOT WASTE TIME! Get help right away… Don’t be ashamed and don’t disregard what you are feeling. It is better to be proactive. Postpartum depression is extremely treatable, and there are many ways to cope with and get through it. It is important to get educated and talk about how you are feeling. It rarely passes alone or without causing damage… And remember: postpartum depression is beyond your control.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones, CBE is a Welsh actress. Born and raised in Swansea, Zeta-Jones aspired to be an actress from a young age. As a child, she played roles in the West End productions of the musicals Annie and Bugsy Malone.
I never wanted to be as open about it as I was. I have a British stiff-upper-lip mentality. I’m not the kind of person who likes to shout out my personal issues from the rooftops but, with my bipolar becoming public, I hope fellow sufferers will know it is completely controllable. I hope I can help remove any stigma attached to it, and that those who don’t have it under control will seek help with all that is available to treat it. If I’ve helped anybody by discussing bipolar or depression, that’s great.
JK Rowling
Joanne Rowling, CH, OBE, FRSL, FRCPE, writing under the pen names J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a British novelist, philanthropist, film producer, television producer and screenwriter, best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series.
I have never been remotely ashamed of having been depressed. Never. What’s to be ashamed of? I went through a really rough time and I am quite proud that I got out of that.
Adele
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE is an English singer and songwriter. After graduating from the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in 2006, Adele was given a recording contract by XL Recordings after a friend posted her demo on Myspace the same year.
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.
Mel C
Melanie Jayne Chisholm, professionally known as Melanie C, is an English singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, actress and television personality. She is one of the five members of the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Sporty Spice and with whom she sold over 85 million records worldwide
My thoughts [when she fell ill during her Spice Girls years] were ‘I’m losing it, I’m going mad, I can’t cope’, so when I got home I went to my GP and for the first time ever I said out loud what was going on with me, and he said ‘OK, well the first thing we need to address is your depression’, and this huge weight was lifted from my shoulders…..I felt so relieved because I just thought oh my God it’s got a name, it’s something, I can be helped, you know, it was such a relief to me.
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her unconventionality and provocative work as well as visual experimentation. Gaga began performing as a teenager, singing at open mic nights and acting in school plays.
As I grew older, I found a way to release myself from those darker thoughts through music. Music was my way of overcoming a lot of pain and anxiety. If you give yourself to your creativity and imagination, it can help you overcome almost anything and really enable you to feel free and powerful.
How to cope with depression.
Stay in touch
Don’t withdraw from life. Socialising can improve your mood. Keeping in touch with friends and family means you have someone to talk to when you feel low.
Be more active
Take up some form of exercise. There’s evidence that exercise can help lift your mood. If you haven’t exercised for a while, start gently by walking for 20 minutes every day.
Read about exercise for depression.
Face your fears
Don’t avoid the things you find difficult. When people feel low or anxious, they sometimes avoid talking to other people. Some people can lose their confidence about going out, driving or travelling.
If this starts to happen, facing up to these situations will help them become easier.
Reading Ten ways to fight your fears may help.
Don’t drink too much alcohol
For some people, alcohol can become a problem. You may drink more than usual as a way of coping with or hiding your emotions, or just to fill time. But alcohol won’t help you solve your problems and could also make you feel more depressed.
Try to eat a healthy diet
Some people don’t feel like eating when they’re depressed and are at risk of becoming underweight. Others find comfort in food and can put on excess weight.
Antidepressants can also affect your appetite.
If you’re concerned about weight loss, weight gain or how antidepressants are affecting your appetite, talk to your GP.
Have a routine
When people feel down, they can get into poor sleep patterns, staying up late and sleeping during the day. Try to get up at your normal time and stick to your routine as much as possible.
Not having a routine can affect your eating. Try to carry on cooking and eating regular meals.
Seeking help for depression
Get help if you’re still feeling down or depressed after a couple of weeks.
Treatments for depression include psychological therapies and antidepressants.
You can refer yourself for psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling on the NHS. You don’t need a referral from your GP.
