Celebrities Archives - Inneractions IOP

You’d think that celebrities would be the last people dealing with anxiety issues. Adored by millions, wealthy beyond compare…It should be a stress-free life, right? Wrong. Tackling issues like depression, shame and panic attacks are just as common in their world as they are in ours. Which is why we’re glad that NBA superstar Kevin Love has come forward to humanize this very real disorder.

Love shot to fame as a hoopster for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Always smiling on the court and during interviews, it came as a surprise to many fans when he penned a moving essay about his struggles. Love’s new motto is “open communication,” emphasizing that that these are feeling that they should not keep to themselves.

Of course, it took Love several decades to come to that conclusion. He admitted keeping his feelings hidden from family and friends for over 29 years. Then the struggles became too heavy and Love found solace through therapy and professional support.

“Mental health isn’t just an athlete thing. It’s an everyone thing,” he wrote. “No matter what our circumstances, we’re all carrying around things that hurt — and they can hurt us if we keep them buried inside. Not talking about our inner lives robs us of really getting to know ourselves and robs us of the chance to reach out to others in need. So if you’re reading this and you’re having a hard time, no matter how big or small it seems to you, I want to remind you that you’re not weird or different for sharing what you’re going through. Just the opposite. It could be the most important thing you do. It was for me.“

Not surprisingly, since that essay was released Love has received thousands of emails and messages of support. He has since gone on the talk show circuit (most recently appearing on The TODAY Show), speaking out about how common these feelings truly are.

The Huffington Post also covered the story, illustrating that 18 percent of the American population lives with an anxiety disorder. In truth, anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the country.

We encourage all of our readers who are experiencing these feelings to reach out and seek help. It will feel like a tremendous weight lifted off your shoulders.

To watch more of Kevin’s inspirational story, click below…

There is no denying that last week was devastating for fans of celebrity pop culture. Fashion icon Kate Spade and culinary icon Anthony Bourdain both took their own lives within a matter of days from each other. Not surprisingly, that has brought the topic of suicide back to the forefront…and rightfully so. Though it’s not highly publicized, 123 people kill themselves every day in this country. When looked upon with a broader lens, that equates the 10th leading cause of death among Americans (and tragically, the second highest killer among teens). Obviously it’s a topic worth discussing. But why does it take celebrity tragedies to make us want to re-examine it?

“Celebrity deaths like these really highlight the fact that suicide affects everyone, rich and poor, famous, not famous, young old,” said Dr. Cathrine Frank, Henry Ford Health System’s chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services. “It affects a wide range of people. It’s a major public health problem and it is really no different than cancer or other illnesses that we know affect a wide range of people.”

Even worse, high profile deaths like these often lead to copycats across the country. In Utah, for example, suicide prevention programs have seen a drastic jump in the number of calls to their hotlines following the news of Spade and Bourdain. And, according to stats from USA Today affiliate The Detroit Free Press, these numbers are on the rise nationally too.

Their chart below (which uses data from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control) illustrates a steady increase in U.S. suicides since 2006.

Several prominent politicians have spoken out as well, following the high profile news. New York Senator Chuck Schumer made the press rounds late last week, calling for more federal funding for suicide prevention programs. Arthur Evans Jr., head of the American Psychological Association, also spoke to news outlets, saying that the public needs to be educated about the symptoms of depression and must work to reduce stigmas.

“If we have lots of treatments and people don’t access them because they are ashamed or they don’t know how to get them, those treatments won’t matter,” Evans explained to The Detroit Free Press. “For family members, friends, those in people’s lives, it’s important that they recognize when a family member, friend or colleague is having problems and that they help them get connected to resources.”

Of course, our stance at inneractions, is exactly the same, as we have spent years helping people overcome depression and suicidal thoughts. Step one involves identifying the warning signs and making sure that you or a loved one isn’t overcome with feelings of hopelessness or despair. If there is any question whatsoever about this, please reach out and get in touch with someone who can help.