Reese Witherspoon is reflecting on a difficult chapter in her life.
Reese Witherspoon, known for her role in The Morning Show, recently opened up about her long-term battle with depression and anxiety. She shared that she experienced a particularly difficult period of these feelings after giving birth to her daughter, Ava Phillippe, who is now 26, with her former partner, Ryan Phillippe.
Reese shared with Harper’s Bazaar that the postpartum period was incredibly difficult. She described feeling both happy and deeply sad at the same time during the first six months, often crying, struggling to sleep, and feeling completely drained. She explained this was due to unexpected hormonal changes, both immediately after giving birth and again when she stopped breastfeeding six months later.
Reese, who later had son Deacon Phillippe (now 22) with Ryan and daughter Tennessee Toth (13) with her ex-husband Jim Toth, has spoken about how challenging it was becoming a mother at the young age of 23.
As she remembers it, ‘Everyone has an opinion.’ It was overwhelming being a new mother and constantly getting advice on everything – from childbirth and breastfeeding to how to care for her baby. It felt like too much to handle.
Even though she was going through a difficult time, Reese also felt grateful that she was able to find the help she needed.
She explained that she was fortunate enough to be able to see a doctor and mental health professional, but many others aren’t so lucky. A lot of people struggle with these issues privately and don’t get the help they need.
Reese says she learned to pay attention to her own well-being from her mother, Betty Reese, after seeing her grandmother, Dorothea Draper, deal with similar health issues. Although she’s experienced depression and anxiety since her teenage years, Reese believes these challenges have actually contributed to her accomplishments at work.
Reese believes her success was likely fueled by her anxiety. She explains that feeling intense pressure to be perfect at work drove her forward, though she now recognizes that striving for perfection is unrealistic and unsustainable. Essentially, she pushed herself incredibly hard, and it ultimately led to significant achievements.
As she put it, “I’m rewarded for my anxiety and perfectionism.”
As she’s getting older, the actress from Sweet Home Alabama says she’s learning to accept herself as she is.
She shared that she’s finally feeling comfortable with who she is and accepting herself as she is. She also expressed gratitude for all the good things that have happened in her life, including fulfilling work and the chance to collaborate with amazing people.
For more stars who have opened up about their mental health journeys, keep reading…
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, beyond wanting to help others, his children – Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, whom he shares with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir – motivated him to get help when he was struggling.
He explained that his wife was expecting their son. He worried about the impact of parenthood on his mental health, fearing a severe episode he might not recover from. That’s why he proactively began therapy and started addressing his issues.
As a longtime fan, I was really affected to hear the Gossip Girl star open up about his childhood. He talked about struggling with what he called “body dysmorphia,” and it was incredibly brave of him to share that part of his story. It really shed light on the pressures young actors face.
In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they deeply disliked 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 conventionally attractive could lead to greater success and make him feel more valued, especially after a period of depression and withdrawal.
Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.
He said that overcoming his disappointment and personal struggles enabled him to return to things with a renewed sense of self.
The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.
She described her struggles with food, stating on The Funny Thing Is podcast, “Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” She admitted that food was her primary coping mechanism, and 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 a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards better health and fitness.
Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE what she did! Back when she was 23, she completely overhauled her life. No sugar, nothing to drink, and she dove headfirst into yoga and all these amazing breathing and stretching exercises. Honestly, she said it was better than any medication you could give someone – like, a natural way to totally focus and feel amazing. I’ve been trying to follow her lead ever since, and I swear, it’s life-changing!
I’m an actress who struggles with eating and body image, and that’s something I’m actively working on. I’m also focusing on my overall health by nourishing my body with healthy foods.
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.
I’ve been so impressed watching this Grammy-winning artist! She’s really honest about how she takes care of herself – like, she just doesn’t engage with negativity online, which I admire. And she’s so generous with sharing what works for her, offering support to anyone who might be struggling. It’s really inspiring to see!
When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that patience is key. She emphasized being patient with yourself, resisting impulsive decisions, and allowing time to pass. She believes that difficult feelings will eventually lessen with time.
As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the singer of “Firework” opened up about the significant stress these kinds of situations can cause.
She tweeted that it’s hard to decide what’s more difficult – avoiding the virus or dealing with the sadness that comes with this new way of life. Katy explained that she often finds comfort in her car, saying it’s become her safe place since there aren’t many other options for getting away.
The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.
After her panic attacks began happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.
Kendall shared that she experiences a mix of good and anxious days, explaining this is why she wanted to get involved with the cause. Her goal is to help people feel less isolated and understood.
The actor known for playing 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 feelings of sadness – it doesn’t matter who you are. It took me a while to understand this, but the most important thing is to talk about what you’re going through. Men especially often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone in this.
Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many others go through similar things, saying, ‘Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.’
The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking professional help and has publicly discussed her experiences with depression. She’s shared that seeing 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 MDMA and psilocybin therapy—a treatment for PTSD—after struggling with both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.
She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any nervousness for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – like a shift in pressure – that she felt with the audience. This made her understand how much she thrives on – and even needs – that strong, 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, feeling like it had severed a connection to traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, she admitted, but she felt liberated and free from those constraints, and believed this newfound freedom allowed her to explore new possibilities.
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, saying it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.
The singer behind the hit “What He Didn’t Do” has opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.
Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began around the time of her divorce during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.
Over the past decade, I became 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 been dealing with obsessive-compulsive tendencies since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.
The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health strategies for years, both in public speeches and on social media like Instagram.
She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, actively focusing on the positive by listing ten good things for every negative thought, and regular exercise.
The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experiences with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.
She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became simpler to talk about her experience each time. Her hope was to show others that this could happen to anyone, and to let those going through it know they aren’t alone and shouldn’t feel ashamed.
While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teen, describing a feeling of “something dark” within her during that period.
Cara shared with 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 me 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 response? Pure gold. She said it was funny, but then she added that therapy has literally saved her life SO many times. Like, seriously, that means the world to me, and I know so many other fans feel the same. It’s amazing she’s so open about it and encourages everyone to get help if they need it. She’s not just a singer, she’s a real inspiration!
She encouraged me not to be afraid to reach out for help. She explained that I didn’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While acknowledging 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 wellbeing, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder to anyone who’s struggling – 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.
Oh my gosh, I remember when Zendaya first talked about this! Back in 2013, she shared on her old app that she was so anxious after being on Ellen – her microphone actually cut out during the appearance, can you believe it?! It totally stressed her out. But she’s learned so much since then, and she said something that really stuck with me: sometimes you just need to take a break and step away from everything so it stops being so overwhelming. She’s just so real and relatable, it makes me love her even more!
In a recent interview with WSJ. Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of great energy followed by weeks of debilitating lows.
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.
In 2018, while accepting the Global Changemakers Award at a fundraiser, she shared that she’d long wrestled with whether to talk openly about her mental health. She explained that she firmly believes keeping things hidden only makes things worse.
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2025-11-03 20:18