Mental disorders are more common in the United States than you might think. Statistics show that more than 26% of Americans 18 years or older have some sort of diagnosable mental disorder. Quite interestingly, you can also find a long list of celebrities with mental disorders. Some celebrities are relatively more private about their mental illnesses, but others take this as an opportunity to come forward and help others who are dealing with the same. Let's discover more about those celebrities who have put up a fight against different mental illnesses.
Celebrities with Mental Disorders
Britney Spears
She became a pop princess soon after starting her singing career, but then things started falling apart. She became violent, shaved her head, and struggled with several addictions. She was rumored to have ADHS and bipolar disorder. Then, she realized things had gone too far and started working with healthcare specialists to overcome her mental problems. Finally, she succeeded.
Drew Carey
He is an American actor, animator, sports executive, comedian, and game show host, but admitted in his autobiography that he suffered from depression and even tried to commit suicide on more than one occasion. He has always been open about his depression but has now managed to overcome his insecurities.
Catherine Zeta Jones
She was quite private about her mental illness until recently when she finally admitted she suffered from bipolar II disorder, which had affected her life and career in many ways. She also admitted that it became serious after her husband being diagnosed with cancer. She received treatment for bipolar disorder in 2011 and started talking about her struggles with the illness openly after her recovery. She also supports the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Mel Gibson
He is another famous actor on the list of celebrities with mental disorders. He has struggled with bipolar I disorder, a condition in which you experience episodes of extreme depression and mania. He also had serious problems with alcohol in his life. He later apologized for all he had done and sought professional help to overcome his mental problems. He now also supports people fighting with bipolar disorder, and donated $16,000 dollars to Kids Horizon Appeal which supports children with cancer, HIV, and other chronic illnesses.
Brooke Shields
Model and actress Brooke Shields was diagnosed with postpartum depression in 2003 and was quite open about her condition to help other moms understand and deal with the horrors of this condition. She became ill after delivering her first child and could not enjoy motherhood at all. She now supports mothers who have experienced the same and those who are fighting with AIDs.
Carrie Fisher
Carrie fisher is yet another name in the list of celebs who has suffered from bipolar I disorder. She was not aware of her illness and thought it was all part of Hollywood life. Later, she sought medical help after she had a psychotic break in 1997. She has her illness treated and also decided to raise awareness about it. She has also written a book titled Postcards from the Edge highlighting her experience when she was in drug rehab. She supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization for children with multiple sclerosis, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions.
Emma Thompson
One important name on the list of celebrities with mental disorders is Emma Thompson who struggled hard to deal with depression. The illness led to her separation with her first husband. Her second husband helped her a lot to overcome the illness. She now admits that she could hear voices in her head and it was impossible to ignore them. The nightmare is over for her now and she lives happily with her second husband Greg Wise.
Paula Deen
Celebrity chef Paula Deen has been fighting with panic attacks for so many years. She also battled agoraphobia for 20 years. She became agoraphobic after her parents died and her marriage broke. Finally, she decided to make a move and started a home-based catering company. Today, she is one of the best-loved cooks in the world.
Elton John
Most people are aware of the fact that Sir Elton John battled drug abuse, but it is still a surprise for many that he suffered from bulimia as well. He admitted later that he refused to accept his mental illness for more than 15 years, but he decided to check into rehab for bulimia and cocaine addiction in 1990. His treatment was successful and he managed to move on in life.
Kurt Cobain
Who does not know Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain? He was a talented young man, but could not find a way to cope with drug addiction, fame, and mental illness, and committed suicide at the age of 27. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, ADHD, and major depression. He refused to take medications and bipolar disorder finally made him take his own life.
Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is arguable the most decorated Olympia of all time but he is also on the list of celebrities with mental disorders because he has been suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since early childhood. He actually started competitive swimming to overcome his disorder. Over the years, he has learned a lot about his illness and also supports many organizations, including BID 2 BEAT AIDS that supports people with HIV/AIDS.
Halle Berry
Known for her amazing acting talent, wits, and exotic looks, no one could say she would be so depressed to attempt suicide. She had some serious low self-esteem issues, especially after her breakup with baseball player David Justice. That was the time when she attempted suicide by gassing herself in her car. She said she stopped only after thinking what her mother would do after her death.
Jim Carrey
He is a great comedic actor but even he had struggled with depression in his life. The news of him being clinically depressed became public when spoke about it in 2009. He sought treatment and no longer takes any antidepressant medication. He is also a supporter of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which supports children with brain cancer, lymphoblastic leukemia, and pediatric HIV/AIDS.
Sheryl Crow
The face of this charming pop-rock singer is always sparkling with happiness, but even she has her share of bad luck in the past. In 2003, she experienced serious depression that affected her for six months. She does not mind talking about it and explains how exhausting it was to go through that phase. Now clean, she is definitely the epitome of a successful woman.
Demi Lovato
This Disney Channel star was admitted to a mental health facility in 2010 because she had some serious mental disorders, including bulimia and bipolar disorder. She received treatment for her condition and recovered completely. She talked about how she felt when she was emotionally down. She later admitted that she experienced first symptoms of eating disorders at the age of 8. She now supports many organizations including City of Hope, which has its focus on research and prevention for diabetes, cancer, HIV, and other life-threatening diseases.
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