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Kristen Bell Just Busted the Myth That 'Bubbly' People Can't Get Depression

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In an interview on “Off Camera” with photographer and director Sam Jones, “Frozen” star Kristen Bell opened up about being a bubbly person who experiences depression and anxiety — proving that mental health issues don’t discriminate, even for people who appear “cheery.”

“I shatter a little when I feel like people don’t like me,” Bell told Jones. “That’s why I lead with kindness, I compensate with being really bubbly all the time. It really hurts my feelings when I’m not liked. And I know that’s not very healthy, and I fight it all the time.”

Bell’s family has a history of mental health issues, and at an early age her mom was very open about what she should look out for.

In the interview, Bell repeats what her mom told her: “If you start to feel like you’re twisting things around you, or you start to feel like there’s no sunlight around you or you are paralyzed with fear, this is what it is, and this is how you can help yourself.”

As a young woman, Bell started taking medication for anxiety and depression, and still does to this day. But, despite what the world says, she refuses to be ashamed. “In the medical community, you would never deny a diabetic his insulin. Ever. But for some reason when someone needs a serotonin inhibitor, they’re immediately crazy. It’s a very interesting double standard that I don’t often have the ability to talk about, but I certainly feel no shame about,” she said.

Thanks for speaking up, Kristen.

Watch the full interview below:

Originally published: May 6, 2016
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