30 Quotes About Depression From Celebrities Who Have Been There
You are never alone.
Did you know that prolonged, unmanaged depression is the leading cause of suicide? Stop and think about it for a second. There are so many people who suffer from depression in the world, so seeing that in its unmanaged state, depression is the leading cause of suicide.
The World Health Organization has reported that more than 800,000 people commit suicide each year. That places it at one suicide every 40 seconds. Every 40 seconds. Think about that.
The possibility of being affected by depression as a woman is twice as much as men. There is postpartum depression, which many women suffer from after they give birth. Women who experience postpartum depression is a full-blown depressive episode.
Depression does not come in one shape and form. You could suffer from a seasonal affective disorder which happens in the winter months when there is not as much sunlight. This could include the symptoms of social withdrawal, weight gain and sleeping all the time.
People with Bipolar disorder, which is categorized as a manic-depressive illness, are all too familiar with depression too. They are likely to experience very low moods and major depression.
But being depressed is nothing to be ashamed of. You don't ever have to hide it. It's important for those around you to understand what you are going through, and whether or not you need some type of help. Sometimes people do not want any help or opinions but you can always just be there as support.
Just remember above all else, you are not alone. There are people out there — even famous celebrities — who are going through the same or similar things as you are. There are people to talk to and therapists who can help.
Take a look below at some of the most impactful quotes celebrities have said about mental health, depression and anxiety. It may help you feel less alone in your struggle.
1. About disliking yourself.
"I disliked myself so intensely. It was just a mindset. I didn't know how to love myself. I didn't know how to love anybody." — Anne Hathaway
2. About what it feels like to be depressed.
"I didn't eat. I stayed in my room. I was in a really bad place in life, going through that lonely period: 'Who am I? Who are friends? My life changed.'" — Beyonce
3. Why talking about depression is so important.
"It's my mission to share this with the world and to let them know that there is life on the other side of those dark times that seem so hopeless and helpless. I want to show the world that there is life — surprising, wonderful and unexpected life after diagnosis." — Demi Lovato
4. About not being ashamed.
"It was realizing that I shouldn't be ashamed of feeling these things, and that I wasn't alone — learning that everyone goes through similar things... That being vulnerable is actually a strength not a weakness, and showing your emotion and being honest about it is good." — Cara Delevigne
5. About your family being there to pick you up.
"I went through a time where I was really depressed. Like, I locked myself in my room and my dad had to break my door down. It was a lot to do with, like, I had really bad skin, and I felt really bullied because of that. But I never was depressed because of the way someone else made me feel, I just was depressed." — Miley Cyrus
6. Postpartum depression is a very real issue.
"Postpartum does not discriminate. I couldn't control it. And that's part of the reason it took me so long to speak up: I felt selfish, icky, and weird saying aloud that I'm struggling." — Chrissy Teigen
7. Depression can happen to anyone, at any age.
"I was 25 years old. I had my own TV show. I was happy with my 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 struggle with depression sometimes." — Jared Padalecki
8. What would you tell your children about depression and anxiety?
"What I would tell kids going through anxiety, which I have and can relate to, is that you're so normal. Everyone experiences a version of anxiety or worry in their lives, and maybe we go through it in a different or more intense way for longer periods of time, but there's nothing wrong with you. To be a sensitive person that cares a lot, that takes things in in a deep way is actually part of what makes you amazing... I wouldn't trade it for the world, even when there are really hard times. Don't ever feel like you're a weirdo for it because we're all weirdos." — Emma Stone
9. About being broken.
"I think it's safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life, whether I liked it or not. And I had to stop. Because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside. And I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down... I'm not trying to get validation nor do I need it anymore. All I can say from the bottom of my heart is I am so grateful. If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken." — Selena Gomez
10. About knowing what's important.
"You are the one thing in this world, above all other things, that you must never give up on. When I was in middle school, I was struggling with severe anxiety and depression and the help and support I received from my family and a therapist saved my life. Asking for help is the first step. You are more precious to this world than you'll ever know." — Lili Reinhart
11. You're not alone.
"I found that with depression, one of the most important things you can realize is that you're not alone. You're not the first to go through it, you're not going to be the last to go through it." — Dwayne Johnson
12. About how anxiety and depression are intertwined.
"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." — Kristen Stewart
13. It's okay to not be okay.
"It is okay to have depression, it is okay to have anxiety and it is okay to have an adjustment disorder. We need to improve the conversation. We all have mental health in the same way we all have physical health." — Prince Harry
14. About hiding what's underneath.
"All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul and they will never notice how broken you really are." — Robin Williams
15. Panic and anxiety play a big role in depression.
"Sometimes I panic to the point where I don't know what I'm thinking or doing. I have a full anxiety attack ... I have them all the time anyway, but with auditioning it's bad. I'm so terrified of it." — Dakota Johnson
16. Understanding someone else's depression isn't always easy.
"I knew people who had suffered from anxiety and found it kind of hard to understand, but then when it hits you, you're like, 'Oh my God, what is this?'" — Shawn Mendes
17. Therapy helps.
"I was skeptical at first because I'd never had therapy, but not being able to leave the house [because of panic attacks] was so debilitating. And this was when my career was really taking off ... My surroundings would trigger a panic attack, so I couldn't go to the studio unless I was lying down in the car with a pillow over my face. I used to beat myself up about it ... I was doing a promo and thought, 'Oh god, it's coming back. It's coming back.' but it didn't. I think my body has become quite good at controlling anxiety." — Ellie Goulding
18. Mental health is vital to development.
"A child's mental health is just as important as their physical health and deserves the same quality of support. No one would feel embarrassed about seeking help for a child if they broke their arm." — Kate Middleton
19. About the things that can trigger anxiety and depression.
"I never, ever slept [during the filming of Deadpool]. Or I was sleeping at a perfect right angle — just sitting straight, constantly working at the same time. By the time we were in post-production, we'd been to Comic-Con, and people went crazy for it. The expectations were eating me alive. Blake helped me through that. I'm lucky to have her around just to keep me sane." — Ryan Reynolds
20. Acceptance is the first step to getting the help you need.
"Acceptance doesn't mean resignation. It means understanding that something is what it is and there's got to be a way through it." — Michael J. Fox
21. Letting things get the better of you.
"And it can feel, at times, if you let your anxiety get the better of you, like everybody's waiting for you to really mess up — and then you'll be done." — Taylor Swift
22. Talking about mental health is healthy.
"Mental health is not a dirty word — we all have mental health like we do physical health, good or ill." — Prince William
23. About what's really important.
"My brain and my heart are really important to me. I don't know why I wouldn't seek help to have those things be as healthy as my teeth. I go to the dentist. So why wouldn't I go to a shrink." — Kerry Washington
24. Medication is sometimes a solution that many people need to move forward.
" For a time, it [medication] would work well. Then it worked less and my pain was more. I would go through wild bouts of depression, horrible comedowns. I understand why kids kill themselves. I absolutely do. You feel terrible. You feel soul-less. I'd never do it to my child." — Channing Tatum
25. Insecurities can eat you away.
"Being an actress hasn't made me insecure. I was insecure long before I declared I was an actress." — Amy Adams
26. Happiness means something different to every person.
"I refuse to accept other people's ideas of happiness for me. As if there's a one size fits all standard for happiness." — Kanye West
26. Opening up is hard.
"Since that day [I opened up about my emotions], it's just been so much easier to live and so much easier to enjoy life." — Michael Phelps
27. Being aware of your mental state is good, but not always easy.
"I was born with a great awareness of my surroundings and other people ... Sometimes that awareness is good, and sometimes I wish I wasn't so sensitive." — Scarlett Johansson
28. Different people heal from sadness in different ways.
"Sometimes I get a little sad, and I feel like being alone. Then I talk to my cat about it, and he reminds me I'm James Franco. Then we dance." — James Franco
29. About being positive.
"I have a very positive attitude in life. My insecurity, fear and need to know about tomorrow has fortunately eased. What is going to happen will happen anyway. So why break my head over it?" — Katrina Kaif
30. Courage is hard to come by.
"If you have been brutally broken but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you're a badass with a heart of an angel." — Keanu Reeves
Emily Francos is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.