Mental health can be a tricky beast, especially in the glow of the Hollywood spotlight. Standards in the entertainment industry enforce a need to embody perfection, a desire to hide all the chinks in one's armor. But celebrities are humans, and they struggle too. Recently, a handful of stars have broken this long-standing Tinseltown barrier and opened up about the issues they face behind closed doors. Kristen Bell opened up about anxiety and depression, and Colton Haynes revealed the panic behind his sexuality. Even Zac Efron touched on the serious downsides of being famous. When you really boil it down, the willingness of celebrities to get real has the power to breed more comfort, inspiration, and love in the rest of us.
"For those of you who are suffering with intense anxiety . . . ur not alone. It's been a constant struggle for me since 5th grade. It's a battle. Anxiety had put me in the hospital a countless amount of times. Whether it be fainting, hyperventilating, or seizures . . . I've been through it. Just know ur not alone & it affects more ppl than you would ever know. We can overcome this. We can fight thru it & will. I've quite jobs because of anxiety, flaked on social events, family gatherings, birthdays, important movie/work tests. Its a serious problem. Be there for those who struggle with anxiety & realize its a serious disorder. Its not a case of "being dramatic" . . . its a life long struggle. Love those suffering. Anxiety has caused me to be extremely agoraphobic & livin in constant fear of leavin my house at times. Ur not alone."
"I'm scared of audiences. I get sh*tty scared. One show in Amsterdam, I was so nervous I escaped out the fire exit. I've thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile-vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don't like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot."
"I went from being the class clown to not being able to see life in that casual way anymore. I couldn't deal with being with my friends, I didn't go to school for months, and I started having panic attacks. People use 'panic attack' very casually out here in Los Angeles, but I don't think most of them really know what it is. Every breath is labored. You are dying. You are going to die. It's terrifying. And then when the attack is over, the depression is still there."
"There was a moment when my morning routine was, like, Get up and Google yourself. But that stopped, dramatically and instantly, probably three years ago. I realized that viewing yourself through other people's pictures is not living your own life. I wasn't really being myself. A lot of my hobbies had gone out the window. I couldn't skateboard or surf for fear of being followed. Crossing the line of fear is what leads to greatness."
"Between ages 15 and 20, it was really intense. I was constantly anxious. I was kind of a control freak. If I didn't know how something was going to turn out, I would make myself ill, or just be locked up or inhibited in a way that was really debilitating."