Famous People With Depression or Dysthymia:
Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. It can affect people differently depending on their gender, age, cultural background, and personality traits.
Signs and Symptoms
If you have been experiencing some of the following symptoms most of the day, for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression. These symptoms include:
- appetite and/or weight changes;
- a persistent state of anxiety or sadness;
- thoughts of death or suicide;
- feelings of pessimism or hopelessness;
- digestive problems without a clear physical cause;
- irritability;
- headaches;
- feelings of guilt;
- difficulty sleeping;
- loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies;
- difficulty concentrating or making decisions;
- decreased energy;
- feeling restless;
- talking more slowly.
Types
Major Depression
It is a severe form of depression where a sufferer loses his ability to find pleasure in activities once considered enjoyable.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
It is a period of major depression that most often happens during the winter months – when you get less and less sunlight.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
This severe form of PMS can trigger sadness, anxiety, depression, or irritability, in the week before a woman’s period.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
If you have depression that lasts for 2 years or longer, it is called a persistent depressive disorder.
Postpartum Depression (PPD)
The birth of a baby brings enormous joy, however, it can sometimes lead to postpartum depression, a form of depression that affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 8 men.
Bipolar Disorder
It is a mood disorder characterized by periods of abnormally elevated mood known as mania.
Here Is A List Of 35 Famous People With Depression or Dysthymia
#1 Gwyneth Paltrow
She is an American actress who is best known for her film portrayals of complex and intelligent characters.
After her father died in 2002, Gwyneth Paltrow dealt with clinical depression.
#2 Halle Berry
She is an American actress and former fashion model. For her performance in Monster’s Ball in 2001, Halle Berry won an Academy Award for best actress and became the first African-American woman to win the honor.
Halle Berry acknowledges that her divorce from then-husband David Justice sent her into a deep depression.
#3 Katy Perry
Kate Perry is an American award-winning recording artist, philanthropist, and actress from Santa Barbara.
She has spoken candidly about her struggles with depression and alcohol and even admitted that she has thought about suicide.
#4 Beyoncé
She is a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist who’s acclaimed for her thrilling videos, vocals, and live shows.
Beyoncé was so depressed when her former Destiny’s Child bandmates Latavia Roberson and Letoya Luckett quit the group, she spent days in her bedroom refusing to eat.
#5 Owen Wilson
He is an American producer, actor, and screenwriter. His film ”The Royal Tenenbaums” is his best-known work that made him famous in Hollywood.
Nevertheless, one thing many people didn’t know is that Owen had a history of substance abuse problems and depression.
#6 Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, and producer.
He said during an episode of Oprah’s Master Class – “I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.”
#7 Demi Lovato
She is a popular contemporary actress and singer of American descent known for her albums ”Here We Go Again” and ”Don’t Forget.”
In 2011, Demi Lovato was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She describes her mental health as a “work in progress” with the support of her treatment team.
#8 Drew Carey
He is an American actor, sports executive, comedian, and game show host.
”I was depressed for a long time,” Drew Carey revealed. Actually, both at 18 and in his early 20s, he attempted to take his own life by swallowing pills.
#9 Kendrick Lamar
He became one of hip-hop’s most influential new rappers with singles like ”Poetic Justice.”
Kendrick Lamar also used his music to speak about his personal struggles with suicidal thoughts and depression.
#10 Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd is an American actress and political activist.
At Audrey Gruss’ annual Hope for Depression luncheon Wednesday, she spoke about her struggle with depression and recovery from the disease.
#11 Anne Hathaway
She is an American singer and one of the world’s highest-paid actresses. Anne Hathaway has received multiple awards, including a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a British Academy Film Award.
Anne suffered from anxiety and depression in her teens, however, she worked through her troubles without taking medication.
#12 Chrissy Teigen
She is an American model who made her debut in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2010.
In 2016, Chrissy revealed she had developed postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter, Luna.
#13 Jon Hamm
He is an American actor best known for playing advertising executive Don Draper for Mad Men, an AMC television drama series.
In an interview with the InStyle, the actor told the magazine how therapy has helped him through a number of mental health issues, including alcohol addiction, depression, and grief.
#14 Georgia O’Keeffe
She was a 20th-century American painter best known for her canvases depicting skyscrapers, flowers, southeastern landscapes, and animal skulls.
According to biographers Hunter Drohojowska-Philp and Roxana Robinson, Georgia O’Keeffe suffered significant periods of depression during her life.
#15 Roseanne Barr
She is an American comedian, actress, writer, and television producer.
Roseanne has said she had gone through “wild bouts of depression” and was medicated for it.
#16 Catherine Zeta-Jones
She is a Welsh-born actress who demonstrated her versatility in a wide range of films, most notably the musical Chicago.
In 2011, Catherine Zeta-Jones revealed that she has bipolar II disorder, that causes severe depression.
#17 Lady Gaga
She is an American songwriter, singer, and actress who is best known for her provocative and unconventional work as well as visual experimentation.
In a 2016 interview with The Mirror, Lady Gaga said – “I openly admit to having battled depression and anxiety and I think a lot of people do. I think it’s better when we all say: ‘Cheers!’ And ‘fess up to it.”
#18 Cara Delevingne
She is a British supermodel and actress who’s starred in films like ”Suicide Squad”, ”Paper Moons,” and ”Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.”
But as Cara Delevingne’s star rose, she struggled with depression, she says. At 15, she hit “a massive wave of anxiety, depression, and self-hatred.”
#19 Brooke Shields
She is an American actress and model who is known for her early movie roles and TV series like Suddenly Susan.
Brooke Shields was one of the first celebrities to speak openly about her struggle with postpartum depression.
#20 William James
He was an American psychologist and philosopher, and the first educator to offer a psychology course in the US.
William James suffered periods of depression during which he contemplated suicide for months on end.
#21 Johnny Depp
He is an American producer, actor, and musician who won the Golden Globe Award and has been nominated for 3 Academy Awards.
Johnny Depp mentioned his battles with depression and anxiety in the past.
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#22 Naomi Judd
She is an American country music singer, songwriter, and activist. Naomi is also an actress known for Someone Like You… (2001), An Evergreen Christmas (2014), and Route 65 Nashville.
In her book – “River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope,” Naomi details her struggle with anxiety and depression, which almost convinced her to take her own life.
#23 Michael Phelps
He has set the record for winning the most medals, 28, of any Olympic athlete in history.
Interviewed by political strategist David Axelrod, Michael Phelps highlighted his battle against depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
#24 Robin Williams
He was an American actor and comedian who is credited with leading San Francisco’s comedy renaissance.
His suicide in 2014 shocked millions of fans worldwide, but Robin Williams had a long history of substance and alcohol abuse and depression.
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#25 Sarah Silverman
She is an American stand-up comedian, producer, actress, and writer. For her work on television, Sarah has won two Primetime Emmy Awards.
In an interview with the Glamour, Sarah Silverman said that she has struggled with depression. Plus, she takes small doses of Zoloft to maintain her mental health.
#26 Terry Bradshaw
He is a former American football quarterback who played professionally in the National Football League.
Terry Bradshaw was diagnosed with depression and has used a combination of therapy, positive thinking, and medications to overcome the condition.
#27 Ryan Phillippe
He is an American director, actor, and writer. Ryan Phillippe married Reese Witherspoon in June 1999, and they separated after 7 years of marriage in October 2007.
”I’ve found ways to cope”- Ryan discusses his struggle with long-term depression.
READ MORE: Famous People With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
#28 Kristen Bell
She is an American singer and actress who is known for her roles on TV’s Veronica Mars and in films such as Couples Retreat, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Get Him to the Greek.
In an interview on YouTube’s Off-Camera Show, she told Sam Jones that she takes medication for anxiety and depression.
#29 John Cleese
He is an English actor. John also co-wrote the hit BBC sitcom ”Fawlty Towers.”
John Cleese has revealed his battle with life-long depression.
#30 Winona Ryder
She is an American actress. Her television debut was The Simpsons in 1994.
After her high-profile relationship with actor Johnny Depp ended, she experienced anxiety attacks, started abusing alcohol, and spiraled into depression.
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#31 Princess Diana
She was a member of the British royal family as the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Diana was also the mother of Prince Harry and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
Princess Diana suffered from an eating disorder as well as postpartum depression.
#32 Wayne Brady
He is an American singer, actor, and comedian who was a regular on the comedy television series ”Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
In 2006, Wayne Brady’s depression began to send him on a downward spiral, so much so that it ended his marriage.
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#33 Abraham Lincoln
He was the 16th President of the United States. Some American historians consider him to be the finest president the country has ever had.
Abraham Lincoln suffered from severe and debilitating bouts of depression that were described by Carl Sandburg in his biographical analysis of his life.
#34 Bruce Springsteen
He is an American musician and singer-songwriter, known for his work with the E Street Band.
Bruce has written about his long battle with depression in his autobiography ”Born to Run.”
#35 Adele
She is a Grammy Award-winning artist whose soulful sound has made her an international success.
Adele told Vanity Fair – “I had really bad postpartum depression after I had my son, and it frightened me.”
Do you know any other celebrities with depression? Please let us know in the comments below.
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References http://www.jabfm.org/content/20/1/28.full https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/16/body-clock-disruption https://med.stanford.edu/williamslab/research/complete/family.html
I have a history of depression and I feel that I’ve had issues with anxiety. This is due to my environment (i.e., growing up around domestic violence, childhood traumas due to peers, and other things). I was diagnosed with dysthymia a few days before my seventeenth birthday.