7 Celebrities who confessed to having psychological problems

Recognizing that we have a problem is not an easy task, especially when the problem is not very visible. When we look at the stars of the showbiz, we often think that they are completely perfect people and without any problems. But red carpet photos are not a mirror of reality.

Celebrities are as human as any of us and many have serious mental health issues. Some found the strength to talk about them, especially to show the world that they too are human and to help people who suffer from the same problems and are afraid to ask for help.

Check out some stories about famous personalities who suffered from psychological problems and managed to face them.

Not long ago Mariah Carey told the magazine people who hid for 17 years that she suffers from bipolar disorder, mainly because she was afraid the truth would negatively affect her career. In 2001, she was hospitalized for a nervous breakdown and exhaustion, and was eventually diagnosed with the condition. This means alternating between periods of high energy and a great state of mind with depressive periods, in which the feeling of powerlessness and unwillingness to do anything reigns.

“I was ashamed of my diagnosis and didn’t want to be treated, so I convinced myself that my disease didn’t exist,” she said. Mariah lived for many years in fear, fearing that someone would discover her secret. The last 2 years, according to the singer, were the most difficult of her life. After that, she decided to tell everything and start treatment.

In addition to Mariah, bipolar disorder also affects Stephen Fry, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mel Gibson and Sinead O’Connor.

The famous writer and one of the richest women in the world confessed that after the divorce from her first husband she ran out of money, fell into depression and seriously considered committing suicide. The saviors were her young daughter and a doctor. Rowling describes depression as a state where you don’t believe in the possibility of happiness, as a ‘dead’ feeling where there is no hope.

“I am never ashamed to talk about my depression. I went through very difficult times and I am proud to have overcome them”, says the writer.

Beyoncé, Prince Harry, Hugh Laurie, Cara Delevingne, Jim Carrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Dwayne Johnson have also spoken publicly about their struggle with depression.

Entering a hotel room, the famous ex-football player can’t relax until all things are in their rightful place. For example, magazines should be stacked evenly. Beckham has what experts call Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a condition where a person struggles to eliminate some obsessive thoughts through ‘rituals’, certain repetitive actions.

“Everything must be aligned and have a pair,” he says. All the things in his house are perfectly organized, even the food in the fridge. OCD is a problem that prevents people from living peacefully. Beckham wishes more men would seek help from specialists, as they rarely recognize the problem.

Other celebrities have also been diagnosed with OCD, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Lena Dunham, Megan Fox, Jessica Alba and Cameron Diaz.

the star of La La Land suffers from panic attacks since the age of 7. These are strong, inexplicable attacks that come along with chills, nausea, sweating, and stupor. On Stephen Colbert’s television show, the actress admitted that she was a very restless child and attended a psychotherapist. The treatment helped her deal with the panic. Today, Emma is working with the Child Mind Institute, an organization that helps children fight mental disorders.

Dakota Johnson, Zayn Malik and Sarah Silverman also know what it’s like to have panic attacks.

Ryan Reynolds grew up with a very strict father and has suffered from anxiety since childhood. It is a general and inexplicable anxiety, which is accompanied by nervousness, tremors, palpitations and nausea. The crises reached their peak after the recording of Deadpool, a film that Ryan also helped produce. There was a lot at stake, and he was terrified of letting fans down and that the film would be a box office failure. Ryan could barely sleep. When he could, he was seated.

“This went on for so long that I thought I was going crazy. I could no longer tell if it was day or night,” said the actor. In the end, this caused him to have a nervous breakdown until, finally, the problem was diagnosed. His wife Blake Lively and the doctors were instrumental in getting him to overcome the news.

Other celebrities who suffer from the same problem: Kate Moss, Kim Basinger and Johnny Depp.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder that is characterized by an inability to concentrate, difficulty perceiving information, and impulsivity. Michael Phelps, the most famous swimmer in history and winner of many Olympic medals, was diagnosed at the age of 9. He was a lot of work for the teachers and one of them even said that the future champion would never succeed. Phelps had to take special drugs for a few years, until he was able to live well without them. Swimming and his mother, Debbie, were fundamental for him to be able to face this problem.

Jim Carrey, Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake, Liv Tyler and Will Smith all suffer from the same problem.

Singer Demi Lovato began to suffer from bulimia after breaking up with her boyfriend, with whom she was for 6 years. Bulimia is an eating disorder that causes a person to exaggerate in food intake and then provoke vomiting, or to use other resources, such as taking laxatives, going without food for a long period or exercising excessively, to prevent weight gain. Demi managed to overcome the problem and made a documentary to show how this difficult problem can be overcome. Today she continues to recover but maintains a healthy lifestyle.

Elton John, Nicole Scherzinger and Jane Fonda also had bulimia. Mary-Kate Olsen, Nicole Richie and Zayn Malik all had anorexia, another eating disorder.

All these celebrities shared details of their problems and how they managed to fight to solve them. These stories show that people, whether famous or not, need not be ashamed of their problems. In addition, they give hope to those who are struggling to overcome them.