Kelly Clarkson has been in the spotlight for the better part of the past two decades, but there’s much more to this pop star-turned-talk show host than what meets the eye. In recent years, the singer has been more open with the details of her personal life. Kelly Clarkson’s wise words on mental health can resonate with anyone who feels the weight of societal pressures, toxic relationships and the struggle of overcoming hardship.
The American Dream
Kelly rose to fame back in 2002, during the first-ever season of the hit reality show American Idol. At just 20 years old, she triumphantly won the competition and stole the hearts of audiences all over the country. Kelly immediately signed a major record deal, and her first single quickly climbed to number one on the charts. Over the years, the singer has continued releasing hit after hit. She has headlined international tours and won countless prestigious awards. To this day, Kelly Clarkson is one of the biggest names and most recognized voices in the pop music industry.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Kelly didn’t limit her career to just music. She has also appeared in movies, hosted numerous live events and guest-starred in several TV shows. Recently, she has become a beloved judge on The Voice and started her very own talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
There’s no question that the woman is an incredible talent, but what really sets Kelly apart is her big heart, contagious laughter and lovable personality. However, underneath that famous smile and behind her hazel eyes, Kelly Clarkson has long harbored some heavy thoughts and feelings that the world knew nothing about.
Not All Sunshine and Rainbows
In the more recent years of her career, Kelly Clarkson has decided to speak up about some of the troubles she faced as a young woman in Hollywood and the internal battles she still faces today.
Shortly after her American Idol win, Kelly felt pressured into losing weight to better fit the ideal pop star image. Like many others, Kelly Clarkson spent hours each day overexercising, as she found it to be one of her only escapes from the stressors of her new lifestyle.
This kind of pressure isn’t restricted to celebrities and public figures. Every day people are also subject to stress from their jobs and can experience similar effects.
In a 2017 interview with Attitude magazine, Kelly talked about the praise she received after her body transformation. During that same time she was battling suicidal thoughts and ideation, but nobody picked up on it because, on the outside, she looked exactly how she was supposed to.
The invisibility of mental illness is one of its most dangerous and complicating factors. Unlike other health issues, mental illness doesn’t present physical symptoms. Unless a person is being actively observed for symptoms, mental health problems can easily be overlooked by others — in fact, researchers have estimated that approximately two-thirds of all cases of depression go undiagnosed. Hidden symptoms of depression can include weight fluctuations, changes in sleep habits, alcohol and drug use and loss of concentration. If you notice you or someone you know is exhibiting these behaviors, don’t hesitate to seek help.
Kelly Clarkson’s Health Gets Back on Track
Eventually, Kelly Clarkson was able to overcome this dark time and regain control of her physical and mental health. The most important part of this transition was letting go of people who brought negativity into her life and focusing on those who made her feel good.
When looking back on that time, Kelly explained, “I just slowly started going: ‘You’re not good for me, I can’t save you and I’m drowning because I’m trying to help you.’ It was really that moment of trying to be all things to all people and it’s like, ‘I can’t.’ I was around some really negative people and I got out of it because I also had a lot of great people there. So, it was more a case of turning around and facing them, and walking towards that light.”
When experiencing mental health problems, one of the best things you can do is set boundaries between yourself and anyone or anything that has a negative impact on your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Replacing toxicity with feelings of love, support and optimism will leave you with a greater sense of control and well-being in your life.
Kelly Speaks up About Mental Illness in Hollywood
More recently, Kelly has opened up about her experiences with depression while interviewing Demi Lovato on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” This came shortly after Kelly’s divorce went public. She praised her fellow vocalist for being so candid about her battle with addiction and mental illness.
Kelly discussed how artists in the creative industries are discouraged from sharing this side of themselves, saying “You’ve been kind of trained to, like, just keep going and you can handle it,” she said. “Especially as a woman, it’s like, ‘Don’t let ’em see you sweat.'”
The stigma around mental health prevents those affected from telling others what goes on behind closed doors. Many people are afraid of being open with their emotions from fear of appearing weak, being called crazy or other forms of judgment. Believe it or not, the National Institute of Mental Health reports that approximately one in five American adults lives with a mental illness. Brave celebrities like Kelly Clarkson and Demi Lovato who are open about their struggles are helping to normalize these conversations and make people feel comfortable talking about these sensitive topics.
Toward the end of her interview with Demi Lovato, Kelly talked about how overcoming hardship isn’t an isolated event but an effort that has to be made consciously and regularly. She said, “Like, you’re just over it, and you went to some magical therapy session, and it’s over. I think that’s a daily thing that you work at and a daily thing that I work at.”
FHE Health Is Here for You
Here at FHE, we recognize that managing mental health can feel like an uphill battle. If you or someone you know is in need of support, we can help you find the resources and services that best fit your needs. Contact us today at (833) 596-3502. Our compassionate team of counselors is standing by to take your call 24/7 and help you begin your journey to recovery.
Sources:
- https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-body-image
- https://fherehab.com/learning/job-stress-addiction-mentalhealth
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325513
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml#:~:text=Mental%20illnesses%20are%20common%20in,mild%20to%20moderate%20to%20severe.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=25&v=Tdi0v8Ukftc&feature=emb_logo
