11 Celebrities Who Battled Depression And Won The Game

Depression is more common than you think! And it is definitely treatable and curable. Depression affects you entirely – how you feel, what you think, and even the way you react in different situations. Depression does not have any specific symptoms. It can vary from drastic mood swings and feelings of being lost to loss in appetite and sleeping disorders. Sounds familiar? If yes, trust us, you are NOT alone!

While we understand the fact that depression is everybody’s own massive battle, we thought we’d bring you some rays of hope. After all it’s sunshine that brightens the day! So, here are 11 celebrities who battled depression and mind you, conquered it as well. We hope you find some inspiring lessons from their lives. Let’s get through this depression ocean together, shall we?

Jim Carrey

From being Ace Ventura and Bruce Nolan to being Me and Myself, Jim Carrey has pulled off all of the hilarious characters with utmost grace. And it wouldn’t be wrong to say nobody could’ve done it better. However, life wasn’t a bed of roses for him. After the failure of two marriages, he sought the help of a psychiatrist. But Jim realised he couldn’t be on medication forever and had to do deal with it by himself; get out of depression. Here’s what he had to say, “You need to get out of bed every day and say that life is good. That’s what I did, although at times it was very difficult for me.” And we couldn’t agree more. He also acknowledges that diet and supplements were a key factor for improving his mental health and of course, his psychiatric help and medication too helped him cope with the depression.

Angelina Jolie

Most of us identify the ravishing beauty Angelina Jolie as an epitome of grace and poise. But very few know that she too has been on a depression trip. Angelina’s failed marriage with Brad Pitt, her mom’s demise, her breast and ovary surgeries, kids – everything narrowed down to depression. But the fighter that she is, Angelina was more than determined to cope with it. She says, “I felt I was going into a very dark place, and I wasn’t capable of getting up in the morning, so I signed up for something that would force me to be active.” She chose challenges and overcame them. Bold move to get back on track and we all know how she’s been succeeding time and after now; be it as a great actress or an awesome mum!

Deepika Padukone

This dreamy girl can bring a twinkle in anybody’s eyes. Beautiful and bold, Deepika’s door too was knocked by depression. You might think that Deepika has everything in life, awards, appreciation and everything going so good in life. Well, that’s the thing about depression. It can happen to anybody and it takes your will and own courage to get through it. And that’s what she did. She cried alone for a long time but this was before she told her mom about what she was going through. With the help of the support that she got from her family and friends, Deepika has thankfully gotten over her depression. Recently, she came out into the light and admitted how her experience through depression was so bad. But this brave warrior took a step forward. Forward to tell people what happened and how she won over her depression. She now also runs a centre for mental health that helps people deal with their life traumas better.

Anne Hathaway

From being Princess Mia in the Princess Diaries to being the sensual Catwoman in Batman, Anne Hathaway has done a variety of roles. Nobody knew until she confessed in an interview with a popular magazine that she suffered from depression and anxiety for a very long time before her big break! Teenage is a time when we all go through a lot of anxious, stressful and depressing phase. And Anne to had her share of downs. But here’s what Anne had to say about her past self, “I am sorry she was hurting for so long. It’s all so negatively narcissistic to be so consumed with self.” And that’s what is commendable about Anne. The fact that she got out of it herself with all her might to be a better, happier person that she is today! She believes in herself and is going to keep it that way. After all if the devil wore Prada then Anne just wore it better! So bye bye depression. Hello happy princess!

Matthew Perry

Who would’ve thought this sarcastically satirical FRIENDS character would be hit by something so saddening! But it’s true. Matthew was very severely addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol. All this mostly during the time his show was succeeding. He was great at making his audience burst out with laughter while he was trying hard to cope with his own misery. He spent almost a decade around the rehab trying to get better and his road to recovery was not without hurdles. With the help of an addiction expert and a lot of support he managed to beat depression and win over it. Matthew has not successfully caught back with life. His journey towards recovery was slow but Matthew was bent on getting back. He came. He fought. He won. And he has been happy ever since.

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J.K. Rowling

Who doesn’t know JKR! Be it for her enthralling Harry Potter series or how she fought all through her life to be among the most successful writers. Joanne Kathleen Rowling or J.K Rowling was as young as 20 when she wrote her first book. But that was not all. At the same time she was dealing with a broken marriage, working her divorce and also taking care of her then just born baby girl. Look at her now! There’s a lot to take away from her life’s struggles. All these external challenges that life threw at her, depression was almost inevitable for her. She had fallen prey too and was battling terrible suicidal thoughts. Well, here’s the catch! She torched her negative emotions to help her weave the amazing characters in her books and the results are right in front of you! It’s nothing short of marvellous how this wonderful writer decided to take control of her life and then got over her darkest times.

Ileana D’Cruz

Ileana D’cruz, a stunningly beautiful actress that she is, depression didn’t spare her either. What was worse was, Ileana also suffered from something called Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) making things horrifyingly bad for her. In BDD you tend to hate a physical aspect of yourself so much that you literally get obsessed with hating it. She would sit in a corner and cry for hours she confessed. She said in an interview, “I think it’s important for everybody to get themselves checked – mental health is something that’s very important. Anxiety has been a big problem for me, but I think my biggest struggle has been depression. For me, my depression doesn’t revolve around my work, it revolves around me personally.” True that! When depression hits, it doesn’t hit a part of you. It hits you entirely. The lovely actress now believes in just being happy and healthy and has successfully won over her depression.

Lady Gaga

The very bold, ‘about everything’, Lady Gaga was not at all shy about her depression. She opened up in an interview about how she has been fighting depression and anxiety all her life.

To go through sexual assault and fight back is a grave challenge in itself. But after having sung some amazing numbers like ‘Poker Face’ and ‘Just Dance’, Lady Gaga shares with pride that she learned her sadness never destroyed what was great about her. Here’s what this very bold singer had to say, “You just have to go back to that greatness, find that one little light that’s left. I’m lucky I found one little glimmer stored away.” Now, she also works to empower and provide for those who are dealing with depression. From being on fire yourself to lighting the way for other, way to go Lady!

Ellen Degeneres

Ellen Degeneres is another person who hasn’t had it easy at all. She recalls how everything that she ever feared had happened to her. She lost her show and was attacked several times for being who she was. All this caused her to slip into the cradle of deep depression. But amidst all this chaos, the comedienne in her stayed alive. And of course with lot of hard work and perseverance she continued in the industry to be one of the best! Witty, smart, and somebody with a great sense of humor, Ellen now feels accepted and happy; and why not? The person who makes us laugh deserves to be happy too.

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Oprah Winfrey

After being sexually abused and getting pregnant at a very tender age, Oprah Winfrey had a troubled life; even at home. But now, powerful, wealthy, successful, and bold are what defines this businesswoman! Despite all the downs that life threw her in, Oprah Winfrey only got up to get better and stronger. How did she do this? Well, she used her anxiety and fears to push herself ahead in life. She never gave up and she never ever looked back. That’s how you do it girl! Go on irrespective of what happens. Take life the way it comes. Beat the sh*t out of depression and emerge as a better you.

Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan’s journey from ‘Qayamat se qayamat tak’ to ‘Dangal’ has been amazing. Producing, directing and acting in some of the most memorable movies, Aamir leaves his mark on all our hearts with his characters. But did you know that this actor/activist also had a rough patch of depression in his life? Aamir Khan and pretty much his whole crew from ‘Satyamev Jayate’ had to undergo therapy and medication for sometime. Aamir, as one of them, had also suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The entire journey of the chat show and how they unraveled the harsh truths of the society was quite agonizing for Aamir as a person. But look at him now! He stood and faced his fears only to get better with time. And then came Dangal. Who wants to take life head on? Aamir said, “Bring it on!”

See your favourite stars have won over the battle of depression! What’s keeping you so low then? It’s your turn now. Don’t shy away. Seek help if you need. Speak up! It’s always advised that you speak to someone you trust or seek medical assistance if you see it happening a little too much. Talk to your friends and family. Don’t invalidate your feelings. It never too late to start afresh. Keep yourself surrounded by positivities and you’ll see your life change for better. Last but not the least, eat well and start some kind of physical activity. Your hormones matter too. Keep your head held high and live life full size! It’s just one life that you’ve got, right? So make it matter. If you like this article then don’t forget to hit the like button and share it who need to feel a little better today. You might be helping so many just by sharing. Feel free to drop your comments in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: The content in this article is purely research based and the journey of these celebrities has been highlighted with the sole motive of inspiring people to win over depression.
Image Credits: Google Images