Celebrities Who Struggle With Mental Health Like You & I

"Every single one of us have mental health, and every single one of us have got stuff going on that we either need to talk about, or need help with, or that we have some form of compassion and empathy for other people that are going through something similar"

that was quoted by none other than the now former royal Prince Harry for world mental health day podcast he was recently interviewed for this past week leading up to this very special day.

Today is World Mental Health Day, in fact this past week was Mental Health Awareness Week; it is a topic very close and personal to me and to some of my dear friends. It is very important to break the stigma when it comes to mental health.

Like the rest of the body we take care of, our mental health should also be a top and number 1 priority; It is more important than your job, because if our mental health is affected, the rest of our body is affected and we can't function properly for it. It affects us physically and emotionally. Literally!

However breaking the stigma is not the main topic I will be discussing. In fact I want to write something very interesting for my readers and for myself that I hope can bring encouragement of knowing we are not alone.

I want to discuss fun facts about celebrities that have been open about their mental health and what it is they struggle with, starting with.

Princess Diana

Did you know Princess Diana struggled with a rare mental health called post-natal depression which no one ever talks about, which they should in my opinion. She would wake up in the morning feeling she didn't want to get out of bed, she felt misunderstood, (I think we can all relate for those of us struggling with mental health in general) and just very low in herself.

She has also mentioned how she felt like no one was listening to her and she started feeling pain inside herself that she would try and hurt herself on the outside but she was also aware its the wrong kind of help and that people see it as crying wolf or attention seeking, (ha! the exact same thing happened to me and still does from time to time.)

But of course the people think because she's in the media all the time that she got enough attention. She didn't like herself! she was ashamed because she couldn't cope with the pressures, so what happened? Princess Diana also ended up having an eating disorder because of it. (see what I mean how the mental health affects your body physically?)

Which also lead to me to the next celebrity on our list her son

Prince Harry

first of all let me just say how proud I am of him for speaking up and who is just as passionate as I am on the topic when it comes to mental health, we need more of this.

Prince Harry have spoken up about his struggles with mental health, and revealed he needed counseling after the death of his mother Princess Diana. Can you imagine losing your mother whom you've loved at the age of 12?

Harry has stated "I've spent most of my life saying 'I'm fine,' after losing my mum at the age of 12 and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years has had a quite serious effect on not my personal life but also my work as well....I have probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions." that screams depression all over and no, depression does not mean just sadness, it's literally what he just described as shutting down all emotions and becoming numb.

That's why he was known as the "wild prince." But what no one gave a thought was that he was completely wounded and hurting inside, which is why some of us, like him would start using substance abuse. I know I have, and I am still trying to fight it.

He is now opening up and is now supportive and sensitive of what his wife have also struggled with her mental health which leads me to the next celebrity

Meghan Markle

Meghan have spoke on how she was the most trolled person in the entire world of last year 2019 male or female. she said "Now eight months of that I wasn't even visible. I was on maternity leave or with a baby. But what was able to just be manufactured and churned out. It's almost unsurvivable." she also added after that "That's so big you can't even think about what that feels like because I don't care if you're 15 or 25 if people are saying things about you that aren't true what that does to your mental and emotional health is so damaging."

can you imagine the anxiety she had to deal with because of the media?

What I love the most about what she said on the topic with her husband is this "I think from my standpoint, and part of the work that we do from our own personal experience, being able to talk to people and understand that even though our experience is unique to us - and obviously can seem very different to what people experience on the day-to-day - it's still a human experience and that's universal."

Well said. Harry you have truly found your equal. Mental health IS universal.

The next celebrity on our list is

Jared Padalecki

He have opened up in an interview about his depression "I, for a long time, have been passionate about people dealing with mental illness and struggling with depression, or addiction, or having suicidal thoughts and, strangely enough, it's almost like the life I live as well," he then later goes on how at the age of 25 he had his own TV show, he had dogs that he loved and tons of friends and adoration from fans and he was happy with his work.

"but I couldn't figure out what it was; it doesn't always make sense is my point. It's not just people who can't find a job, or can't fit in in society that struggles with depression sometimes." and he is so correct, you can have the best life and you can still have this mental illness called depression.

Another celebrity who also deals with depression is

Dwayne Johnson The Rock

Yes he has opened up about his struggle with depression in a YouTube video saying how we are not the first to go through it and we are not going to be the last to go through it. He also talks about how oftentimes it happens and that we feel like we are alone and it feels like it's only you going through it and your in this what he describes as a bubble.

"I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and say, 'Hey, it's gonna be OK. It'll be OK.' So I wish I knew that." you heard it from Dwayne. It's gonna be OK you guys.

Next on our list

Michelle Williams

From being in Destinys Child to now a a christian gospel singer Michelle has finally opened up about struggling with depression even when she was in Destinys Child and her best friend is Beyonce, you think she is living her best life yet depression got her and she didn't even understand it herself. She finally got the help she needed and is now raising awareness not just to the public but also to the christian community and she is thriving.

next on our list is former boy band member from One Direction

Zayn Malik

Zayn struggles with Anxiety (what do you know, I do to!) Zayne wrote in his book that was published by Time. He talks about being in the industry and the aspect of this job he had to deal with, he explains the frustration of how some people found reasons to doubt it. He also talks about his love for performing and how he don't want to do any other job.

"That's why my anxiety is so upsetting and difficult to explain. It's this thing that swells up and blocks out your rational thought processes. Even when you know you want to do something, know that it will be good for you, that you'll enjoy it when you're doing it, the anxiety is telling you a different story. It's a constant battle within yourself."

Zayn how I empathize with you so much with this one.

you know another celebrity who deals with anxiety? Lili Reinhart and Kristen Stewart.

But do you know a celebrity who deals with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression?

Selena Gomez

Now she has been very open about having lupus and the side effects it has which can present their own challenges when having anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. Selena had to deal with some of her dark demons poor girl, I really feel for her truly.

she once stated in People magazine "I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off ... I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues."

Did you know Halle Berry and Nicki Minaj both contemplated suicide? (I'm not the only one who is suicidal) yes they both wanted to commit suicide by telling themselves "Maybe I should take my life."

Demi Lovato

We all know Demi is a huge supporter when it comes to mental health, she struggles with

Bi-Polar Disorder but we also know she had her fair share of facing some dark demons of her own. she dealt with depression and have almost taken her life more than once, she had substance abuse and struggles with her body image.

Demi tries to stay strong but sometimes being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness but a sign of bravery and it shows how strong you really are wether you realize it or not.

"It's something that's extremely common, one in five adults has a mental illness, so basically everyone is essentially connected to this problem and this epidemic. The problem with mental illness is people don't look at it as a physical illness. When you think about it, the brain is actually the most complex organ in your body. We need to treat it like a physical illness and take it seriously."

couldn't have said it any better myself Demi, Stay Strong.

John Lennon

one of the worlds greatest song writers struggled all his life with mental health and just imagine people were not talking about it in his time and era, mental health was still consider a "Taboo" topic and no one spoke of it.

He not only struggled with depression and anxiety but he has also struggled with Borderline Personality Disorder this man needed help which is probably why he became the world greatest songwriter.

From William Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe to Vincent Van Gogh so many great artist even now have all struggled with mental illness but through that came out great works by them. Wether we struggle with Manic, PTSD, or D.I.D. You and I still have something great in us to offer the world.

I share this with you because for anyone who don't know about mental health, it does not care what your gender, race, age, or status in life it effects everyone the same, even the Royals struggle with, don't believe me, watch the Netflix show The Crown, mental illness runs in their family, and yes it can also be genetics to. Thanks mom and dad.

Despite all of this, what you and I struggle with. Let this encourage us that we are not alone even when we feel like it so many times, we have celebrities using their platforms to speak on our behalf and the whole world is listening.

If this doesn't help then hear me when I say this to you. You Matter for a reason, and you belong in this universe.