It caught our eye that two famous starlets were making headlines this week because of anxiety, and we thought it was worth once again sharing here that mental health issues can affect anyone at any level of outward success. Money, fame, career opportunities, and other conventional markers of having “made it” are not only incapable of preventing mental health issues from taking hold, they’re sometimes reactions to mental health issues and sometimes triggers of them. Selena Gomez has announced that she’ll be taking time off to deal with anxiety, panic attacks and depression, and Britney shared that anxiety was one of the things she’d battled beyond her famous breakdown. Here are excerpts from the stories about these beautiful, brave women. We hope that if you are struggling with anxiety, depression or any other mental health issues, you will seek help. If you’re in the greater Cleveland area, we are here.
Selena Gomez, quoted by USA Today:
“As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways. I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges…
“I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off…
“Thank you to all my fans for your support. You know how special you are to me, but I need to face this head on to ensure I am doing everything possible to be my best. I know I am not alone and by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues.”
Britney Spears, as reported by Billboard:
But not all that glitters is actually gold. Despite her performance at Sunday’s ceremony, behind closed doors the “I’m a Slave 4 U” singer has battled with anxiety. Spears detailed the affects of the disorder in an interview with Marie Claire UK saying, “If a hair was out of place, I’d be so anxious. I would get very anxious about so many things.”
Anxiety can take a serious toll on the mental health of a person, especially celebrities whose lives are open books and are subject to public scrutiny. Many celebrities turn to different outlets to overcome such a stifling disorder. After her infamous breakdown back in 2007, Britney started to overcome her disorder by shying away from the limelight to re-group and focus on motherhood. Her sons have played a major part in her growth.