Kristen Bell Depression: Actress Opens Up About Her Past Struggles
Kristen Bell’s depression will not defeat her. On Tuesday, Bell wrote a piece for Motto, where she discussed her struggles with mental illness at length.
Since the age of 18, the actress has had an ongoing battle with anxiety and depression. Luckily, Bell’s mother was very receptive to her daughter’s emotions and encouraged her to seek help.
“If there ever comes a time where you feel like a dark cloud is following you, you can get help. You can talk to me, talk to a therapist, talk to doctor. I want you to know that there are options.”
Kristen Bell’s depression manifested itself throughout college despite her support system. Bell, who was attending New York University at the time, had what seemed to be a picture-perfect life. She had a group of friends, she was paying her bills on time, but most importantly, she was ambitious. Still, something wasn’t feeling right for Kristen Bell. The actress felt as if “there was something intangible dragging [her] down.” Luckily, Bell had remembered her mother’s words of wisdom and knew she could seek help “without shame.” Unfortunately, a dark cloud consumed the actress and put her in a state of degradation for a period of time.
Kristen Bell’s view on depression isn’t simply sadness or the “needing a hug” after an awful day. Her disorder was all-consuming and made her feel both isolated and lonely. Bell felt as if her “mental circuit board” had been shut down. Worst of all, the actress felt as if she “had nothing to offer” and believed she “was a failure.”
Over time, as Kristen Bell sought help against her mental illness, she has learned she is not worthless and has a lot to give to the world. In writing her piece for Motto, the actress hopes to bring light to a dark subject.
Kristen Bell reveals struggle with depression started at university and hopes she can… https://t.co/YlEv3n8yTo pic.twitter.com/LnPsuJsRTU
— Cristóbal Delatorre (@CristoFeliz1) June 1, 2016
Kristen Bell’s depression has only made her stronger. Although she waited 15 years into her career to share her struggles, she finally decided that now was the time to open up.
“Now I’m at a point where I don’t believe anything should be taboo.”
Once Bell outlined her personal battle with depression in her essay, she delved into her thoughts on the stigma surrounding mental illness. The actress explained that she cannot make sense of why people are so ashamed to create a larger dialogue regarding their mental struggles.
Kristen Bell’s depression has become a catalyst for her mental health advocacy. In regards to her famous stature, the Frozen star genuinely believes that “anyone can be affected” with depression “despite their level of success or their place on the food chain.” Bell also pointed to the statistic that 20 percent of American adults deal with some kind of mental illness. From there, she drew the conclusion and said that if such a vast percentage of people are dealing with depression and anxiety, why isn’t their more of a national dialogue regarding it?
Bell then argued that mental health checks should be as routine as going to a dentist for an appointment or a doctor for sniffles. While the actress can understand that going to therapy can be daunting and accompanied with stigma, she’s “over” these fears. Kristen Bell then explained how her experience in therapy generally goes.
“You know what happens when I visit my doctor regarding my mental health? He listens. He doesn’t downplay my feelings or immediately hand me a pill or tell me what to do. He talks to me about my options. Because when it comes to your brain, there are a lot of different ways to help yourself.”
Do you agree with Kristen Bell’s thoughts on therapy? Share your opinions in the comments below!
[Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Annenberg Foundation]
