Kristen Bell shared what she wishes she could say to her younger self about mental health in a raw new Instagram video
When celebrities speak candidly about their experiences with mental health, it helps lessen the stigma surrounding mental illness for every person going through it. So we love that Kristen Bell is always open about mental illness, sharing her experiences with anxiety and depression so others feel less alone in their struggle.
Bell always uses her platform for good, and her latest Instagram post is especially powerful — revealing how social media can mess with our confidence and reminding us that what you see on Instagram and in magazines is often a filtered and distorted version of reality. In partnership with The Child Mind Institute‘s new #MyYoungerSelf campaign, Bell spoke directly into the camera to give her younger self advice — and it’s a poignant reminder we could all use from time to time.
Bell specifically said she’d tell her younger self “not to be fooled by this game of perfection that humans play because Instagram and magazines and TV shows strive for a certain aesthetic and everything looks so beautiful and people seem like they don’t have any problems.”
"But everyone's human. Everyone has problems. Everyone feels yucky on the inside sometimes," she added.
She continued, “You deserve to feel just as beautiful on the days you wear no makeup and the days you don’t shower and the days you feel like you’re depressed. You have an obligation to take care of yourself from the inside out, because that’s how you can truly feel beautiful,” also reminding viewers that there are resources out there if you’re feeling anxious and need someone to talk to.
She said, “You are not alone. Never feel embarrassed or ashamed about who you are. Never feel embarrassed or ashamed about the uniqueness that is you, because there are people out there to help. And we are all just human.”
This message is crucial — especially in a time when it’s so easy to compare ourselves with what we see on social media feeds. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or another mental health issue, you can always go here to NIH.gov to find resources in your area.
