“Katie Couric Admits to Suffering from Eating Disorder”
“Nicole Kidman Reveals Depression Over Split from Tom Cruise”
“Bruce Springsteen, Suicidal and Depressed in the 1980s”
“Stacy London’s Eating Disorders: She Opens Up”
“How Royce White Will Overcome Anxiety to Succeed in the NBA”
“LeAnn Rimes Seeks Treatment for Anxiety”
“Duran Duran’s John Taylor: Recovery ‘Never Stops’”
“Lady Gaga Reveals Lifelong Struggle with Eating Disorder”
These are real stories plucked from the headlines, all within the past few months. It seems as if every week another celebrity releases a memoir, checks into treatment, or agrees to an interview wherein they detail the hardships that have plagued their life, even at the height of fame. And while the scrutinizing eye of the press may pass on to other events rather quickly, we feel such stories deserve more than just a few lines on a computer screen or a quick read in the grocery store aisle.
For those living in the public eye, everything from fashion choices to inconsequential lunch dates has the potential to become tabloid fodder. Most of the time, the public could do without knowing who wrote a song about whom or what so-and-so said on a late night talk show. But when headlines like the ones listed above appear, as grievous as they may be, we can’t help but be grateful—grateful that even the successful, talented, and admired can be honest about their struggles in a society which often encourages people to keep imperfections out of sight; grateful that such courage may inspire others to open up and take action; grateful that hope, help, and support can be extended, even to those who already seem to “have it all.”
The truth is, in the United States alone, 10 million females and 1 million males have an eating disorder, 18 million suffer from depression, suicide rates are the highest they’ve been in 15 years, and only 10 percent of those with drug or alcohol addictions get help. It should come as no surprise that these widespread problems are no respecter of persons. They can affect anyone, anywhere, from red carpets to high school hallways.
For every musician hoping for a day where they don’t have to wake up feeling numb, there is also a student who is ready to confront his depression. When we root for the award-winning actor who seeks treatment, we are also thinking of the father who no longer wants his addiction to rule him and his family. As the star known for her slender frame and magazine-cover beauty finds the strength to name her eating disorder, a young woman realizes her unhealthy habits are only fueled by secrecy. You don’t have to have a fan base to find a support system, and telling one person about your fears and dreams can be as impactful as telling the world.
Sure, sometimes publicized celebrity confessions accompany a project someone is trying to sell. And we’re also aware that an individual’s journey toward recovery isn’t complete just because it makes headlines. But TWLOHA is driven by the fact that issues like depression, anxiety, self-injury, eating disorders, addiction, and suicide aren’t often talked about when they should be. When a famous personality brings light to them in between the movie reviews and the political round-ups, we can’t help but say, “Yes. You are not alone. Famed or unnamed, overexposed or overlooked, we stand with you.”
—Alyce