Celebrity Tips for Beating Depression

Nancy Carver
Jul 22, 2017 · 2 min read

The pressures and expectations of public life often make dealing with mental illness harder; denial and the need to fulfil high-profile duties can be compounded by the fear of stigma and the intense scrutiny and consequences that may come with admitting that something’s not right and seeking help.

We can draw plenty of reassurance and inspiration from these candid accounts of grappling with the black dog in spite of — or sometimes due to — a very public life in the limelight.

We can also learn plenty of lessons from how others have fared in coping and living with depression, bipolar or postpartum depression and apply them to our own situation.

Here’s what three prominent figures from the worlds of sports and politics can teach you about coping with depression.

1. Cliff Richey

A successful tennis star in the 1960s and 70s with over 500 tournaments under his belt, Cliff Richey was the original “bad boy” of tennis, well before the likes of John McEnroe and Ilie Nastase.

But the decline of Cliff’s tennis prowess precipitated a slide into depression, though he didn’t realise it at the time.

Cliff now shares his story and gives presentations on how to stand up to depression. He calls depression a liar and likens the illness to a schoolyard bully, and teaches others how to stand up to it. For Cliff, the gratitude offered by those who attend his presentations is very powerful and fulfilling.

Cliff’s lesson: Get help as soon as you suspect something is wrong. At the height of his career, Cliff realised something was up and toyed with getting help, but didn’t go through with it. Now, he wishes he’d got help when he first had the chance. Even when housebound with depression, he self-medicated, not seeking help until 1996. In Cliff’s own words:

“I needed help before I got it. I think it has to dawn on you that you do, in fact, have something wrong…. I want to encourage people that there is help, that there is reason to hope, and that recovery is possible.”

For remaining depression tips, CLICK HERE

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