Depression is a seriously crippling condition, because it warps every aspect of your life. When you are constantly psychologically tired and unhappy, it also translates into physical tiredness which stops in their tracks all the efforts you might have otherwise made on a daily basis.

And the biggest problem is that it is a self-feeding problem. Because you are depressed, you get all the negative consequences, which in turn make you even more depressed and so forth. Which is why getting out of depression can be very difficult, requiring at least the support of family and friends, if not professional help.

Still, it is possible to get out of it and back to a happy, productive life. As the following 6 celebrities that suffered from depression demonstrate. And consider that in their case, they didn’t even have the privacy and peace the rest of us do, as the eyes of the world are constantly upon them.

1. Angelina Jolie

Angelina got severely depressed in 2007 when her mother died. And she later shared that in that period she couldn’t focus on anything else except negative thoughts. Fortunately (and as a positive personal example to others) she found the solution herself, by deciding to accept the role in “Wanted”, which included a lot of stunts and ergo, lots of physical activity, which is one sure way to battle depression.

2. Gwyneth Paltrow

An example of how depression can sometimes manifest itself unexpectedly, Gwyneth Paltrow’s episode came after the birth of her son, Moses, in 2006. And the way this post-partum form of depression affected her was that she couldn’t access her emotions at all, being practically numb like “a zombie”, in her own words.

3. Kylie Minogue

Other times, depression can be a personally traumatic experience, as was Kylie’s case when she succumbed to it after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. Taking time-off from work because of the needed surgery and chemotherapy only made things worse as it kept her mind free to obsess on the false perception that she will not be “normal” after her surgery anymore. Of course, she finally realized this was not so and got herself back together by creating a “new normal”, emerging stronger.

4. Catherine Zeta Jones

An image of class, strength and stability (including her long-term relationship with Michael Douglas), Catherine Zeta Jones placed herself in hospital care in 2011 for bipolar disorder (a mental affliction in which one oscillates between two states one being depression and the other mania). Key words being placed herself in the care of professionals. It appears stress was the cause as is also confirmed by some scientific opinions.

5. Russell Brand

Despite being a successful “funny man” (read stand-up comedian), actor and activist now, Brand’s early years were marked by over-eating, abusing alcohol, taking drugs and even cutting himself, as he tried to cope with an absent father figure and his own sense of inadequacy and isolation. He was diagnosed with manic depression. But he managed to turn his thoughts to humor, focus on that, ignore those who tried to bring him down and succeeded in turning his life completely around.

6. Jim Carrey

Another successful comedian and a legend of the genre, no one would expect Jim Carrey to be anything else but the raw energy recipient we see him as in most of his movies. But he was severely depressed after his second divorce (which emphasized the first as well), because depression can also be a need for someone else, not necessarily some internal lack or the death of a loved one.

As a consequence, he was put on Prozac (powerful psychiatric drug), which he took for “a long time”, as he says. But he realized that that is a crutch and he can’t keep relying on it forever, so he found the courage to part ways with it. Jim describes a healthy diet, supplements and being active as the key helpers he’s had to get back to a fulfilling existence when he stopped relying on Prozac.

Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

We sometimes find ourselves blaming our loved ones for being crazy at certain times in their lives. But the hardest thing is to look within ourselves objectively and find our own diagnosis. We are all a little crazy, that’s for sure. But how crazy and in what way? Mental disorders do not discriminate by age, race or ethnicity, and they often strike when a person is in the prime of his or her life. This post is meant to walk you through 7 of the most common mental disorders, that run from mild to severe and, like in any other medical condition, many factors can trigger illness.

7. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is one of the most prevalent health issues in the world, yet it is still under-reported, under-treated and under-diagnosed. GAD acts as a gateway to other anxiety disorders, including phobias and panic disorders. Most cases of GAD, though, aren’t severe enough to interfere with everyday life, but it does give its sufferers a hard time.

6. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

This one actually hides behind the GAD disorder mentioned above, but it has very specific manifestations. So recurring thoughts are called obsessions, and the rituals that are performed to try to prevent or get rid of them are called compulsions. For instance, a person obsessed with germs or dirt may wash his hands constantly. Feelings of doubt can make another person check on things repeatedly. Others may touch or count things or see repeated images that disturb them.

OCD affects about 3.3 million adult Americans, and occurs equally in men and women.

5. Bipolar Disorder

Also known as manic-depression, Bipolar disorder is a condition in which a person has periods of depression and periods of being extremely happy or being cross or irritable. In addition to these mood swings, the person also has extreme changes in activity and energy levels. Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. It usually starts between ages 15 and 25.

4. Schizophrenia

Contrary to what a lot of people believe, not all people with schizophrenia hear voices in their heads. Some of them can’t tell the difference between what is real and not real, think clearly, or have normal emotional responses. Auditory hallucinations are very common in schizophrenic people, but they are more likely to hear voices coming from some object outside of their body than inside their mind.

3. Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. It is also called a spectrum disorder for a reason: autistics range from people who are unable to communicate in any way with others, all the way to people who live ordinary, productive lives and just seem a bit eccentric to the rest of us.

2. Eating disorders

Eating disorders are a group of serious conditions in which you’re so preoccupied with food and weight that you can often focus on little else. The main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (eating too little, close to nothing), bulimia nervosa (eating too much and then taking laxatives or purging) and binge-eating disorder (not being able to stop eating). While the first two usually affect women, the latter is more common in men, according to studies.

1. Depression

Most people feel depressed at some point in their lives. Feelings of discouragement, frustration and even despair are normal reactions to loss or disappointment and may last for days before gradually disappearing. For some, however, depression is at the root of continuing lows. Depression is a serious, debilitating illness that intensely affects how an individual feels, thinks, and behaves. It can last for years and without treatment, can cause permanent disability. Depression is the most common mental disorder in the United States, and should be treated accordingly.

6 Celebrities That Suffered From Depression