Bella Hadid offers invaluable advice on mental health issues through social media post

November 23, 2021

Bella Hadid has always been vocal about her mental health struggle and the way she deals with her anxiety and depression. However, on a recent Instagram post, the supermodel opened up even more and posted candid pictures, including a crying selfie, along with a powerful message while responding to Willow Smith, daughter of Will Smith.

“I love you and your words,” writes Hadid, who has 47 million followers on Instagram. “It made me feel a little less alone and that’s why I’d like to post this.”

Hadid also said that social media is not real and people have to endure any struggle all by themselves. “For anyone struggling, please remember that. Sometimes all you’ve gotta hear is that you’re not alone. So from me to you, you’re not alone. I love you, I see you, and I hear you.”

As per the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are among the most common behavioral health issues in the U.S., plaguing 40 million adults aged 18 and above. With the onset of the pandemic, the picture has turned grimmer, with the CDC reporting the percentage of adults facing symptoms of anxiety or depression shot up from 36.4% to 41.5% (from August 2020 to February 2021).

Mental health struggle is an ongoing battle, says Bella Hadid

This is not the first time Hadid has talked about her mental health struggle. In an interview in 2018, she told a magazine she suffered from “serious depression”—a fallout of being bullied as a child for her “weird” face.

Even in an earlier Instagram post in 2019 (on the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Day), Hadid said that social media is not always what people see on seemingly happy posts. There is sadness hidden, and the happiness created online is all façade. “The happiness we create online while being sad in real life makes no sense, but sometimes it just seems easier to live within your sadness rather than talk about it,” she wrote.

In her latest post, Hadid mentioned about mental health issues and said that no two battles are the same as it is an ongoing struggle. The popular super model mentioned that the tirade against mental health or the chemical imbalance is almost like a rollercoaster ride of hurdles for everyone. But, she also said that there is hope and always light at the end of the tunnel. Hadid says that the emotions of sadness and helplessness ebb and flow by nature. “Even if it’s a few days, weeks, or months, it does get better.”

Through her post, Hadid conveyed some important and pertinent messages to her fans, especially those dealing with mental health issues. She took a long time to come to grips as far as her inner struggle with emotional health is concerned. It was only through much burnout and too many breakdowns Hadid could realize her problem and how to deal with it. “If you work hard enough on yourself, spending time alone to understand your traumas, triggers, joys, and routine, you will always be able to understand or learn more about your pain and how to handle it which is all that you can ask of yourself,” she said.

Hadid brought to the fore another very important aspect and connection between mental health issues and chronic illness. She once told in 2016 that she suffers from Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness with symptoms, including fatigue and muscle pain. This disorder can severely affect a patient’s quality of life. Depression is one such outcome of a chronic illness. According to estimates, up to one-third of people with any serious and chronic illness have symptoms of depression.

Mental health does not discriminate

Hadid’s confession about her mental health struggle belies the impression that people have of celebrities. Considered privileged, even celebrities are not immune to mental health problems. It points towards the most crucial factor about mental health, which is raising awareness about its pervasiveness. There shouldn’t be any stigma around mental health. Stigma has been the single-most destructing antitheses when it comes to seeking help for mental health problems.

The Instagram post by Hadid, which created quite a furor, raised hope for millions of people by highlighting that there are avenues and resources to cope with mental health issues. It is not the end of the road for people dealing with mental health problems.

Seeking help

The most radical step to deal with any mental health issue is to seek immediate help from professionals. So, if you or a loved one is grappling with any behavioral health problem, reach out to us at California Behavioral Health.

We, at California Behavioral Health, provide tailor-made intervention programs after accessing a patient’s condition. You can also avail of our partial hospitalization programs in California that have benefitted so many people so far. Our California PHP rehab center is a sought-after institution for people seeking mental health treatment.

For further information, call us now on our 24/7 helpline number (919) 260-2807 and get immediate assistance.