I myself have grew up in a time where the majority believed mental illness was a false excuse for bad behavior, being irresponsible, not wanting to go to bed, excessive alcohol/drug use, or pretty much just coping out and that you needed to stop having a bad attitude. Most of the recommended solution was to suck it up, man up, or quit your bitching.

Some of those who may not suffer any mental illness might not understand why people act a certain way. They may choose to believe someone was not raised right, wants attention, or is faking it. Today with medical and scientific technologies rising we are finding a truly different reality.

Here is an image I've always found interesting of brain activity scans of different results of people who have been diagnosed with mental illness compared to those who have been believed to have normal brain activity.

I myself have been diagnosed and re-diagnosed quite a few times. At first a doctor told me I was Paranoid Delusional Schizophrenic. That was short lived and was due to a doctor thinking I wasn't telling the truth of something that happened during my childhood. Next was bi-polar disorder followed by dysthymic disorder. The label they put on me has little value in my mind. I have been on a quite a few different medications and have tried to self medicate with street drugs. Up until this past year I had no luck except for using street drugs including heroin, cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines and alcohol.

Today I am clean from abusing substances and take a mood stabilizer and an anti-depressant. I have finally found a balance to my mind that I thought I never was going to achieve. I am able to live as normal as a human should. There is no magic cure that will make you feel awesome 100% of the time. If there is then there is something wrong with that. Humans are made to go through emotions, rough times and times of great joy. The symptoms I was experiencing that crippled me from normal life are gone though.

The main idea is though that it is more than ok to seek help from professionals. Willpower alone will not cure a mental illness that may be misunderstood by your loved ones or others around you. Many people no longer have the chance to live normal lives. Early death from suicide or drug overdose has plagued many people who feared getting help or who where to ashamed to ask for it.

Mental Illness Does Not Discriminate

Here is a very long list of famous actors, musicians, politicians, and others who have suffered. Some of their lives have came to an early end as a result of these issues.

Britney Spears: Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Robin Williams: Dementia

Demi Lovato: Bulimia

Gwyneth Paltrow: Postpartum Depression

Catherine Zeta-Jones: Bipolar II Disorder

Amanda Bynes: Bipolar Disorder

Mel Gibson: Bipolar Disorder

Charlie Sheen: Bipolar Disorder

Carrie Fisher: Bipolar Disorder

Heath Ledger: Insomnia

Angelina Jolie: Depression

Miley Cyrus: Depression

Ellen DeGeneres: Depression

Halle Berry: Depression

Elton John: Substance Abuse and Bulimia

Owen Wilson: Depression

Princess Diana: Depression and Bulemia

Kurt Cobain: ADHD and Bipolar Disorder

Amanda Beard: Depression and Bulimia

Brooke Shields: Postpartum Depression

Kendra Wilkinson: Depression

Jim Carrey: Depression

Michael Phelps: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Craig Ferguson: Alcoholism

Jon Hamm: Depression

Winona Ryder: Depression

Emma Thompson: Depression

Linda Hamilton: Bipolar Disorder

Hugh Laurie: Depression

Paula Deen: Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia

Ashley Judd: Depression

David Arquette: Depression

Marissa Jaret Winokur: Depression

Paulina Porizkova: Depression

Margot Kidder: Manic Depression and Paranoia

Sinead O’Connor: Bipolar Disorder

Pete Wentz: Bipolar Disorder

Brian Wilson: Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type

Abraham Lincoln: Depression

Vincent Van Gogh: Depression

John Nash: Schizophrenia

Herschel Walker: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Howard Hughes: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Andrew Koenig: Depression

Tipper Gore: Depression

Jeret "Speedy" Peterson: Depression

J.K. Rowling: Depression

Winston Churchill: Depression

Kay Redfield Jamison: Bipolar Disorder

Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes

If anyone is suffering from mental illness I just urge to seek the help that is available. If you know you have a mental illness and are having trouble resolving the issue may of these famous people have found ways to cope and their story might be able to help you.

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