Kristen Bell Shares the Anxiety Advice She'd Give to Her Younger Self
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in honor of that, the Child Mind Institute has collaborated with celebrities and activists to share the kind of advice they could’ve used when they were younger. Kicking off this very special #MyYoungerSelf campaign is Kristen Bell, who has been open in the past about the anxiety and depression she’s experienced since she was 18 years old.
On Tuesday, the Child Mind Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and young adults with mental health and learning disorders, released a video in which Bell offers her past self a few pieces of very valuable advice about embracing every aspect of her personality and no longer comparing herself to others.
“Don’t be fooled by this game of perfection that humans play. Because Instagram and magazines and TV shows, they 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,” Bell says in the video. “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. And you have an obligation to take care of yourself from the inside out, because that’s how you can truly feel beautiful.”
The 37-year-old goes on to encourage her younger self (and all others watching) to seek help if they need it. “You are not alone,” Bell says. “Never feel embarrassed or ashamed about who you are. There are plenty of things to feel embarrassed or ashamed about. If you forget your mom’s birthday, feel embarrassed about that! If you are prone to gossiping, feel ashamed about that. But never feel embarrassed or ashamed about the uniqueness that is you.” She added, “Because there are people out there to help. And we’re all just human. And you can do it.”
Throughout the month of May, stars like Sarah Silverman, James Van Der Beek, Gabrielle Union, and Brittany Snow will join Bell in getting candid about their own struggles, all for the purpose of eliminating the stigma attached to mental illness.
“These actors, athletes, authors, and influencers are helping to eradicate the stigma that keeps the one in five young people who struggle with a mental health or learning disorder from getting help and reaching their potential,” Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, founder and president of the Child Mind Institute, said in a statement. “#MyYoungerSelf represents our society, whether you’re famous or not, coming together to get these kids the help they need.”