People like Sophie Turner and Naomi Judd appear to have it all: money, fame, influence, awards, and loving family members. Yet, as this month’s headlines revealed, both came down with mental illnesses. According to the press, both fought their health battles. Sophie is reportedly doing well and recovering (or recovered) from her eating disorder. Naomi tried but lost her battle with the “disease of mental illness,” killing herself by firearm the day before her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Both celebrities remind us that mental health disorders do not discriminate. No matter how successful (or not) you are, if you have a mental disorder, it’s a sickness. Like a medical ailment, a mental one often negatively affects your days, moods, moments, interactions, and quality of life. It can also negatively impact or compound physical wellness (or unwellness). Furthermore, similar to medical diseases, some mental illnesses will remit, pass, or heal fully. Others require ongoing management. And still others can be fatal.
When discussing disorders related to emotional, psychological, and social well-being, I prefer to use physical sickness language (e.g., “came down with,” “got”). Why? We often give physical problems more respect and acceptance than psychiatric. For example, a broken leg or cancer often elicits “I’m sorry to hear that”-type statements. Yet, when you first heard about Sophie Turner’s eating disorder or Naomi Judd’s suicide, did you think something like, “But, they have everything! How could she feel bad about herself or her life?” If you did, you are not alone. (Click for full article)
