07/28/2025
Her words are a reminder that vulnerability is not weakness. Talking about mental health, asking for help, and naming what you’re feeling is a powerful and brave act.
In 2016, actress Kristen Bell shared her struggles with depression in a piece for Time Magazine. In it, she wrote: “When you try to keep things hidden, they fester and ultimately end up revealing themselves in a far more destructive way than if you approach them with honesty.”
She continued: “For me, depression is not sadness. It’s not having a bad day and needing a hug. It gave me a complete and utter sense of isolation and loneliness. Its debilitation was all-consuming, and it shut down my mental circuit board. I felt worthless, like I had nothing to offer, like I was a failure.”
She added: “It’s a knee-jerk reaction to judge people when they’re vulnerable. But there’s nothing weak about struggling with mental illness. You’re just having a harder time living in your brain than other people.”
