LOS ANGELES, June 1 (UPI) — Kristin Bell has detailed her battle with depression in a new candid essay.
“I didn’t speak publicly about my struggles with mental health for the first 15 years of my career,” the “Frozen” star wrote Tuesday in Time’s Motto.
“But now I’m at a point where I don’t believe anything should be taboo. So here I am, talking to you about what I’ve experienced.”
“Here’s the thing: For me, depression is not sadness. It’s not having a bad day and needing a hug. It gave me a complete and utter sense of isolation and loneliness. Its debilitation was all-consuming, and it shut down my mental circuit board,” she said before expressing how depression can affect even successful individuals such as herself.
“I felt worthless, like I had nothing to offer, like I was a failure. Now, after seeking help, I can see that those thoughts, of course, couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s important for me to be candid about this so people in a similar situation can realize that they are not worthless, and that they do have something to offer. We all do. Anyone can be affected, despite their level of success.”
In the essay, Bell also details how her mother helped her though a dark period, and encourages others to talk openly about their depression in hopes of fighting it and getting rid of the stigma attached to mental illness.
“Talking about how you’re feeling is the first step to helping yourself. Depression is a problem that actually has so many solutions. Let’s work together to find those solutions for each other and cast some light on a dark situation,” she concluded.
Recently, Bell was open about her experience with chronic anxiety and depression, admitting to taking medication for years.
“I, you know, got on a prescription when I was really young to help with my anxiety and depression, and I still take it today. And I have no shame in that,” she said.
The actress will next be seen alongside Mila Kunis and Kathryn Hahn as a group of mothers living life to the fullest in the upcoming comedy “Bad Moms,” due in theaters July 29.
