May has been christened Mental Health Awareness Month in America since 1949, encouraging people to speak out about depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia and more. But there’s never a bad time of the year to combat the stigma that, for far too long, has surrounded mental health — particularly for those with the platform to do it.
From Carrie Fisher and David Beckham to Halle Berry and Zayn Malik, we look back at some of the celebrities who have shared their own stories over the years:
Colton Haynes — on developing panic disorder agoraphobia
“Anxiety had put me in the hospital a countless amount of times. Whether it be fainting, hyperventilating, or seizures... I’ve [quit] jobs because of anxiety, flaked on social events, family gatherings, birthdays, important movie/work tests. It’s a serious problem. Be there for those who struggle with anxiety and realise it’s a serious disorder.”
Catherine Zeta-Jones — on being diagnosed with bipolar II (manic depression)
“Finding out that it was called something was the best thing that ever happened to me. The fact that there was a name for my emotions and that a professional could talk me through my symptoms was very liberating. There are amazing highs and very low lows. My goal is to be consistently in the middle. I’m in a very good place right now.”
Charlize Theron — on being kept awake at night
“I have OCD, which is not fun... I have to be incredibly tidy and organised or it messes with my mind and switches off on me. I have a problem with cabinets being messy and people just shoving things in and closing the door. I will lie in bed and not be able to sleep because I’ll say to myself: ‘I think I saw something in that cabinet that just shouldn’t be there.’”
Kid Cudi — on checking himself into rehab for suicidal urges
“My anxiety and depression have ruled my life for as long as I can remember and I never leave the house because of it. I can’t make new friends because of it. I don’t trust anyone because of it and I’m tired of being held back in my life. I deserve to have peace. I deserve to be happy and smiling. Why not me?”
Chance the Rapper — on learning to name his anxiety
“Anxiety is now something that I’m just getting exposed to, it’s a big conversation and idea that I’m getting introduced to now. For a long time that wasn’t a thing that we talked about, I don’t remember people talking about it... I’m starting to get a better understanding of that part of my life.”
Adele — on avoiding anxiety attacks
“I will not do festivals. The thought of an audience that big frightens the life out of me. I don’t think the music would work either. It’s all too slow. I’d hate to book a festival and have a [expletive] anxiety attack and then not go on stage.”
Roseanne Barr — on having multiple personality disorder
“I haven’t had any blackouts for quite a while. I used to have them minute by minute. I was always in conflict about conflicting parts, but I’ve learnt how to get them to listen to each other now. I’ve learnt how to get them to know they’re on the same team, that we occupy the same body, which we never knew before.”
Harry Styles — on learning to control his anxiety
“Back then, I had no idea how to channel and control my anxiety. One Direction have always been a band that gigs heavily, so over time I’ve been able to learn about nerves, to understand why and when they might hit and, best of all, how to control them.”
Halle Berry — on depression after her divorce
“I took my dogs, and I went in the garage and sat in the car. For two or three hours, I just cried and I cried. I thought ‘I can’t face it.’... Somewhere in my heart, I think I knew I didn’t really want to end my life. I just wanted to end the pain... I know it sounds cliche, but you have to find a way to hold on because time really does heal all wounds.”
David Beckham — on obsessing over perfection
“I’ve got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line or everything has to be in pairs. I’ll put my Pepsi cans in the fridge and if there’s one too many then I’ll put it in another cupboard somewhere. I’ll go into a hotel room and before I can relax, I have to move all the leaflets and all the books and put them in a drawer. Everything has to be perfect.”
Zayn Malik — on cancelling his solo performances
“Not even that could break me out of my anxiety. I was on total psychological lockdown. I would make a move to walk out of the house, to get into a car that would then drive me to Wembley [Stadium], but I could only manage a few paces before I hit an imaginary wall. It stopped me in my tracks and I would have to sit down again.”
Carrie Fisher — on living with bipolar and battling stigma
“One of the things that baffles me (and there are quite a few) is how there can be so much lingering stigma with regards to mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder... At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of. They should issue medals along with the steady stream of medication.”
Chris Evans — on anxiety and advice to his 12-year-old self
“I’d say: ‘Shhh’. It’s so funny how noisy my brain is. I think in most of our lives, the root of suffering is listening to that brain noise and actually identifying with it as if it’s who you are. That’s just the noise your brain makes. I’ve felt my best are the moments that I’ve been able to pull that plug and say, ‘Chris. Shhh. Shhh.’ It’s rising above it. All the time I’ve spent suffering as a result of brain noise — hours of my life wasted. So that’s what I’d say: ‘Shhh.’”
Chrissy Teigen — on suffering post-partum depression
“When I wasn’t in the studio, I never left the house. I mean, never. Not even a tiptoe outside... Most days were spent on the exact same spot on the couch and rarely would I muster up the energy to make it upstairs for bed. John would sleep on the couch with me, sometimes four nights in a row.”
Olivia Munn — on having the impulse control disorder trichotillomania
“I don’t bite my nails, but I rip my eyelashes. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s really annoying. Every time I run out of the house, I have to stop and pick up a whole set of fake eyelashes.”
Selena Gomez — on the side effects of chronic illness
“I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks, and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges... I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues.”
