May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the more we talk about mental illness, the more we start to break the stigma. I was honored to write this piece about how powerful it is when celebrities like Britney Spears are open about their own struggles…
It definitely makes us feel less alone, doesn’t it? We often think that celebrities are these larger-than-life figures who are immune to everything. We see the fame, the glitz and the glam and start to think that their life is perfect. But, to quote famed magazine Us Weekly, stars really are just like us! They have their own struggles, and, sadly, all the money in the world can’t protect you from things like mental illness.
Here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which I recall, with exceptional clarity, the exact moment that I discovered the greatness of Britney Spears and became a super huge fan…
Instead, the pop star chose to be open about the bad times as well as the good, and in doing so, she further found her voice. She also helped fans find their own voices. That sort of candidness from a celebrity is both powerful and empowering, especially in a society where there are still so many misconceptions and misunderstandings about mental illness.
Even in 2019, we still live in a world where…people who struggle with mental health are seen as “weak” or looked down on when they can’t “simply get over it.” That sort of shame can be crushing and can make people feel like they need to be silent.
While she’s a world-famous icon, Britney’s willingness to be open and honest shows that, above all, she’s human. That vulnerability is just as fierce and refreshing as her music. And it will never go out of style.
You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo