Ashley Judd Shares She Threw a Birthday Party for Her 12-Year-Old Self

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Ashley Judd is healing her inner child.

Instead of a traditional birthday party when she turned 58 in April, the actress from Heat celebrated by playfully embracing her younger years – and found the experience surprisingly therapeutic.

Ashley shared on Instagram that turning 58 felt like reconnecting with her childhood self, and realizing what she needed as a kid – things like love, support, and feeling safe. She asked her followers if they’ve ever thought about giving their inner child an experience they missed out on when they were young.

Ashley thought about what she needed as a young teenager and realized she can now provide herself with “love and humor” to address those past feelings.

The former student remembers sixth grade with Mrs. Minor fondly, especially learning about geology and dinosaurs. She recalls being able to tell the difference between stalactites and stalagmites, and spending six weeks learning to square dance in gym class.

For Ashley’s twelfth birthday, she and her friends—a fun-loving group who enjoy being silly and letting go of time—celebrated with a square dance, among other activities.

Ashley described their special day as finally filling a long-held void, made possible by a playful spirit. They celebrated with laughter, carefree fun, and even square dancing. They also took a fun trivia quiz about the Scopes Monkey Trial – going beyond what their teacher, Mrs. Minor, had covered in 1979 – and enjoyed a delicious cake that any twelve-year-old would love.

Ashley also set up a jar where guests could secretly share their most embarrassing moments from sixth grade. As she explained, reading these confessions allowed people to connect with each other – realizing they weren’t alone in feeling awkward or scared as pre-teens. It was a fun way to normalize those feelings and reduce shame!

Ashley shared photos and videos from her joyful celebration, including a picture of her with a flower-decorated chocolate cake, a video of a lively singalong with musicians, a page of positive affirmations, and a fun clip of square dancing.

Ashley has used late birthday parties before as a way to make peace with things from her past.

Honestly, she’s just amazing. For her 57th birthday, she didn’t just celebrate being 57, she actually embraced her inner child – like, she acted like she was nine years old again! And last summer? She threw a full-on dance party, but not for now her, for the teenager she used to be. It’s the cutest, most authentic thing ever, and I’m completely obsessed!

In a June 2025 post, Ashley described her inner teenager as a powerful force driving her energy, sense of justice, honesty, and freedom of expression. She also connected it to her physical vitality and strong curiosity.

She explained that it’s now a daily habit for her to nurture and support the younger version of herself – her ‘Inner Teen’ – as it heals. She actively works to free this younger self from the burdens and responsibilities that were unfairly placed upon her during adolescence.

For more stars who have gotten candid about their healing and mental health journeys, read on.

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He stated he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and will even consider medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, were a major reason he decided to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son. He worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health, fearing a breakdown he might not recover from. Because of this, he proactively started therapy and began addressing his mental well-being.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, explaining that he experienced what he called “body dysmorphia” as a young actor.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn revealed they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, he gained weight and then entered a phase where he actively sought to improve his appearance. He felt that being seen as more attractive would lead to greater success and make him feel more valuable, especially as he was emerging from a period of depression and loneliness.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He explained that it helped him overcome his disappointment and the challenges he was facing, allowing him to return to things with a sense of personal growth.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying, “Some might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” On the The Funny Thing Is podcast, she admitted that food was always her biggest crutch and that she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to her diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar and alcohol, and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

I’m an actress who struggles with eating and how I see my body, and that’s something I’m working on. I’m also focused on improving my overall health by eating a healthy diet.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She admitted on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She explained that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about safeguarding her well-being, like blocking out negativity online, and she frequently offers guidance to others who are struggling.

You know, people often ask me for my best advice when it comes to mental wellbeing, and honestly, it always comes back to patience. That’s what really worked for me. I was kind to myself, and when I was struggling, I didn’t push too hard. I just waited things out, and you know what? Time really does help things fade. It’s about giving yourself the space to heal.

As people adjusted to social distancing to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the singer of “Firework” opened up about the significant stress these kinds of situations can cause.

On Twitter, Katy expressed feeling overwhelmed, questioning whether dealing with the virus or the resulting sadness was harder. She explained that her car has become a refuge, saying it’s often the only place she feels safe since there aren’t many other options for getting away from things.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

She remembered that after her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall shared that she experiences both good and very anxious days, making her well-being inconsistent. This is why she was drawn to the movement – she wants people to know they’re not alone in their struggles.

The actor who played Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to understand this, but it’s important to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame associated with getting mental health support when he discussed his own therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his experiences made him realize many other people have similar struggles, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.”

The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking therapy, having openly discussed her own experiences with depression. She’s shared that talking to a therapist is essential for her well-being, telling Variety, “That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a type of PTSD treatment using MDMA and psilocybin after struggling with an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she was finally touring without feeling nervous. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This experience helped her understand how much she thrives on – and even needs – that intense, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental well-being and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control because it felt like a break from societal expectations of what it meant to be a woman. It might sound unusual, but she felt liberated and like she could explore new possibilities without those constraints. She believed this newfound freedom allowed her to grow and change.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, stating that it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer of “What He Didn’t Do” has spoken about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Oh my god, I was listening to the latest Dumb Blonde podcast with Bunnie Xo, and Carly just… opened up. She said if you’d asked me three years ago when her anxiety started, I would’ve said it was during her divorce, right in the middle of Covid. But then she dropped this bomb – she’s actually been battling crippling OCD since she was a little kid! It just… it explains so much, you know? I’m obsessed with her, and hearing her talk about this was so brave.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. It wasn’t something that started recently – I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive tendencies since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly discussed her mental health strategies for years, sharing them at public speaking events and on social media platforms like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, that could involve things like medication, balancing negative thoughts with ten positives, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has bravely shared her experiences with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken struggle for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became increasingly comfortable for her to talk about her experience. Her hope was to show others that anyone can go through something similar, and to help those who are struggling feel less ashamed and isolated.

While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “darkness” during that period.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn how to find joy within herself. ‘It took a long time,’ she said, ‘but now I’m able to be happy on my own.’

Okay, so Ariana gets it, you guys! Someone was jokingly asking who her therapist is on Twitter, and her reply? Pure gold. She said it was funny, but then she added that therapy has literally saved her life SO many times. Like, seriously, she’s so real and open about it, and it makes me love her even more. It’s amazing that she’s using her platform to encourage people to get help if they need it. It just…means everything, honestly.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. She explained that I didn’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has publicly shared her experiences with addiction, recovery, and mental health, and often incorporates these personal struggles into her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with inevitable setbacks. She previously shared on Instagram, “To anyone who’s struggling, remember that life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health, both through her work – like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria – and in her personal life.

Zendaya revealed in 2013, through her old app, that she experienced anxiety after a difficult appearance on Ellen, where her microphone malfunctioned. She’s since found healthy ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that it’s important to take a break when things become overwhelming.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly discussed her struggles with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme highs and lows that could be debilitating for weeks.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

She shared that she’d kept her struggles with mental health private for a long time, and also openly discussed them at times. Speaking at the 2018 Global Changemakers Award, she explained that she believes keeping things hidden actually makes it harder to heal.

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2026-05-13 16:48