Demi Lovato, Catherine Zeta Jones Make it Ok to Talk About Mental Health
I really take my hat off to several celebrities as of late who have come out and spoken about their struggles with bipolarism, and about mental health in general. It takes a lot of courage to come out with this, especially in the public eye.
Public figures and celebrities in show biz are subject to a great deal of scrutiny and pressure, and coming out and admitting to something that some may consider a “weakness” or flaw, is something that takes great bravery. Lately, two public figures on opposite ends of the age spectrum and entertainment industry, have come out and spoken of their treatment for something that is actually fairly common : bipolar disorder.
Demi Lovato, a young Disney star who has risen to metoric fame in the kids entertainment industry, just came out and stated she has struggled with bipolar disorder as well as an eating disorder. Catherine Zeta Jones, a high profile actress, has also come out and said she has been undergoing treatment for a bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disoder is typically marked by manic mood swings. Manic moods are marked by extreme highs and lows. Mental health is important, and too often talking about depression and low moods is considered taboo, because many people think they are opening themselves up to scrutiny and criticism.
The fact that these two high profile actresses have come out may really help others to seek treatment (whether natural alternative treatment of professional), or to seek help from their loved ones without the typical shame and stigma that goes with having a mental illness, or even a temporary struggle with depression or anxiety.
While there are herbal depression treatments that work very well on some, sometimes counseling is needed if a problem with depression is ongoing or too severe to be treated naturally. While I’m personally against prescription antidepressants, I believe they may be necessary for a small portion of the population who cannot respond to other less severe treatments.
Also keep in mind the power of therapy. Talking things through with a professional, in and of itself, can often help people cope with low points in their lives.