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Kristen Bell on Living with Depression and Anxiety | Body Stories | SELF
Our May cover star Kristen Bell shares her ongoing journey with self-care and acceptance. She also talks about speaking openly and honestly with her children, struggling with anxiety, and talking about depression in her family with her mom. “At 40, I don't believe anything should be taboo.”
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Kristen Bell on Living with Depression and Anxiety | Body Stories | SELF
– I have to know how my brain works in order to catch it
from doing bad things. ‘Cause the brain is really tricky and it will tell you
things that aren't true. And so knowing that, I would remember a negative experience more than I'd remember a positive, I would really make it my mission to go, “Okay, but the positive experiences with that person were equal.” I'm gonna choose to let
that negative experience go. [soft music] It's hard into words, honestly, and it feels different at different times. When my anxiety is high, it feels like an absolute
inability to make decisions. Like, I would rather not do something than decide what to do. And it's almost paralyzing which is odd 'cause it seems like it's simple. Do you wanna go on a walk or sit on the couch and watch TV? And I'm like, I can't figure that out. I don't have the brain power. It feels like decision fatigue. And then depression is different. My version of it feels very restricted. Like, if you're trying to
put on like a latex glove that's way too small for your hand. Also, it sort of coincides
with this feeling of not being excited about anything, which again, on a day when
you feel great or even normal you can get excited about things. Like you're like, “Oh,
I'm gonna have pizza today or I'm gonna see a friend today.” All of the fun things about life. And when I'm having depression, it's like none of those things are exciting or seem worth it. So there's this real disconnect
because I know logically that should be a feeling
that induces some happiness, but it's like, my depression will not let me recognize those feelings. At 40, I don't like believe anything should be taboo anymore. Like I talked to my kids about sex and yes, they're very young but they wanted to know how they got here, and we talked about it, and they were grossed
out and left the room, and that's fine. But I think that anything that's taboo and hard to talk about should be some of the first priorities you should be talking about with the support systems in your life. I wish that I had known as
a person in the public eye to talk about it publicly
at an earlier date. I had been acting and
doing publicity for a while and I was at the last stretch of two movies of a press tour. And I had done all these interviews and I was lying in bed
about to do Sam Jones, which is a long form interview. Like it's like a 45 minute
to an hour sit down. So, you better be prepared to talk. And I said to my husband, “God I have nothing to talk about. I feel exhausted. Like I've said every story about my life.” And he said, “Why don't you
talk about your struggle with anxiety and depression?” And it like was a huge light bulb. I was like, “I've never done that.” I was experiencing the same
thing that everyone was which is like, “Well, just
don't talk about that.” And then I just felt so
inauthentic and irresponsible to have been presenting this
like bubbly happy person, which is someone that I
cultivate and I nurture and I try really hard to exist as, and I just wasn't being
honest with the people, like the girls who may look up to me. And so I was like, “Okay, I'm
just gonna talk about it.” And so I don't even think that Sam knew but during that interview, I was like, actually, for a period
of my life and periods and often and sometimes
just on a random Wednesday, I feel this way. And then we started to get more in depth and I found myself really happy
to be admitting all of it. And the response I got from that interview was like astounding to me. Like so many people saying,
“I've felt that way too. Thank you for saying it out loud. You gave me the courage
to say it out loud.” Which I did practically nothing other than do what I should do which is be honest and authentic. It was a huge turning point in my life. I just felt a huge
sense of responsibility. And so I kept talking about
it and I talk about it a lot. And here we are. I started noticing like a
feeling of being disconnected when I was probably 18 or 19. I moved out of Detroit and to New York when I just turned 18 I was like two weeks into being 18. And I was so excited. It was all I wanted to do. I was going to NYU, I was studying musical theater, I was living in this beautiful like melting pot cultural city and seeing Broadway shows each night. It was wonderful. I just felt like if I
wrote my life down on paper I had so many opportunities,
so much privilege so much access to happiness, and yet my feelings were not that. As an 18 year old, living
on her own in New York City, I should be like, “Yes.” Like it should be so
exciting, but it wasn't. I felt like I was sort of followed by this weird dark cloud that just didn't allow me to see all the happiness around me. And I was lucky that I felt in my bones that that wasn't how I should… I hate to use the word should, but should be feeling or how
I could be feeling, I guess. And I was lucky enough
that my mom had sat me down and had a conversation with me and she said, “Hey, just a quick heads up. I experienced these feelings sometimes, your grandmother experienced
these feelings sometimes.” She's a nurse and so she recognized that there could be a hereditary component to a serotonin imbalance. And she said, “If you start
to feel any of these things just know there are a variety of ways that you can reach out to
people or try to fix it. And you don't sort of
have to live like that.” It's such a hard thing to about like, I don't like that there's
any sort of stigma to it, but I get it. It's a weird thing to talk about 'cause it's not an
affliction that you can see. It's like a hard thing
to, I guess diagnose and also acknowledge and a lot of families or support systems or anyone in your life, they don't know how to talk about it. Especially if they aren't
themselves feeling it. I think I had an upper hand because my mom had explained it to me in a very medical way early on. And I was like, “Oh, okay.” Sort of armed me with the information about what could happen
and maybe it never will, but if it did there's access to help. I knew that there were all of these ways, like talking to a friend, finding a therapist, talking to a psychiatrist
or a psychologist, and just knowing that
changed everything for me. Even if you're not experiencing
any mental health issues, I would hope that you
would walk through life being open and ready to be a
shoulder if someone needs you. Because the reality is,
we're not all born the same. Some of us are born
with a ton of confidence and then some are born really timid. And I just feel like maybe this is just my
maternal instincts talking, but I just don't want anyone to feel like they don't have a support system. So if we collectively as a society, like self care, this whole idea should also include
caring about each other. It has to obviously be on the person to identify the feeling
and say, “I need help.” But then I think it has to
be on the people around them that love them to say, “Okay, let me see if I can support you. Even if that's just checking
in one once in a while.”
#Kristen #Bell #Living #Depression #Anxiety #Body #Stories
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My anxiety meds, that I started later in life, cured a depression I didn't know I had. After the cure I told my doctor that I know who I am for the first time, and she said that was a common reaction to treating depression. I had had what felt like a demon in my abdomen for my whole life that was a source of the anxiety and depression. The meds made that demon go away.
Psychedelic's definitely have potential to deal with mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, I would like to try them again but it's just so hard to source out here.
It sorta kinda seems like you're on top of this.
I came here seeking answers I just wish I could get a hug because I am so overwhelmed
Hey, have you or anyone ?Here is dealt with enxyty and pre menopause can u do a video of it? Please help
…The richest and most privileged people on earth cry 🤔🥱. Wow.
Thanks for fixing it ❤❤😮
Meditation and exercise have really helped my depression.
“So much access to happiness, and yet my feelings were not that.”
Amplifying struggles through female co-rumination turns supposed emotional support into collective victimization.
she looks angelike
Sucks because she is literally the quintessential “has it all” person. I completely understand that depression is due to many non environmental factors like neurotransmitter quantities and inflammation
But, myself as someone who like her husband has dealt with addiction.. people don’t realize that what makes recovery so hard is that your neurotransmitters get burnt out and take years (if ever) to recover. I want to hop off the medication I take to help with recovery but then I know how long my brain will take to recover and if I’ll ever not be insanely depressed. Because I look to someone like Kristen Bell who not only appears to have everything but has also a brain and neurotransmitters that hasn’t been damaged or worn out by drug or alcohol abuse and wonder if there is any hope at all.
She really didn't want to live this long.
Probably one of the most powerful pieces I've watched on depression and anxiety.
I’m glad I have my family to support me with my mental health but sad because they also suffer.
I have just uploaded my first video of my Journey out of anxiety and depression. Its possible. You are not alene.
Anxiety has been a challenging journey, but the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms has been transformative, with other psychedelics like DMT and LSD are also playing a key role in my healing and personal growth.
MEDS Forever???
I really wish depression and anxiety were normalized more in Italy cause I don't really feel like I have a support system, talking about my experience
This was spot on. I wish there were open discussions on YouTube about depression where people could just talk to each other. Doesn’t even have to be with a professional but instead we’re surrounded with YouTube discussions on horribly depressing subjects instead.
She’s an actress.
i just wonder what the world looks like to someone who’s always happy can someone explain?
I love you Kristen ❤
Thank you for talking about this Kristen
Just came across this. How I feel every day perfectly described. Something I haven’t been able to explain.
1:51 lmfao
It is important to talk.
Occasional f u s
🫂❤️
Thank you for sharing this ❤
I love you. Thank goodness for your openness and honesty in sharing what I also struggle with 24/7.
You’re so beautiful, thank you for being you.
Listening to your story help me. Stay strong and stay beautiful.
I woke up one day thinking I was made of glass and it was better to stay in bed because If I got up I would fall, break into pieces and nobody would be able to fix me again. I'm healing now.
She beautiful milf 😂
your eyes are really wonderful .
She explains it sooooo well!
0:28 sorry, what 😂 lost me already
What a helpful share, am in the grips of depression at the moment, I hope it passes soon 🙏
we can only hope to be as wise as her parents as her parents were