This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at York U chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
As school gets back into full swing and the pressures begin to mount, it’s often easy to feel overwhelmed. Goals begin to seem out of reach, small tasks begin to feel insurmountable, and doubt creeps in and decides to run your life. If you suffer from a mental illness, you may find these feelings being amplified and strongly taking hold before you realize. Yet, despite these feelings, whether simmering beneath the surface or spilling over, it’s not impossible to reach your goals of any size. Therefore, I felt it prudent to compile a list of five well-known people who’ve accomplished their goals and dreams despite the fight going on within themselves. It shows that you too can beat the odds, and that your mental illness does not define who you are or what you can accomplish.
Lady Gaga
Stefani Germanotta, otherwise known as Lady Gaga, deals with not only post-traumatic stress disorder, but fibromyalgia as well—a condition she only recently revealed she had in her newest documentary. Despite this, Lady Gaga has gone on to win a slew of awards including six Grammys and is one of the top powerhouses of music with well over 20 million albums sold worldwide.
Photo Credit: Debra Hurford Brown ©J.K. Rowling
Sir Isaac Newton
Although he was never formally diagnosed, Newton is believed to have had some form of mental illness, possibly bipolar disorder and/or schizophrenia. During his life he helped develop calculus, the laws of motion and the theory of gravity, arguably becoming one of the most well-known scientists in the world
Emma Stone
Since she was young, actress Emma Stone has suffered from debilitating anxiety, telling Rolling Stone magazine she even had trouble leaving her house to go to school. She cites therapy and performing as her godsends, with acting giving her a way to be more in the moment than her own head. Despite this, Stone has gone on to win awards and acclamations, including an Oscar for Best Actress.
Photo Credit: Ben A. Pruchnie / Getty Image
Zayn Malik
The former One Direction singer has admitted to having serious anxiety, especially around live performances, yet, Malik continues on, even recently releasing a new single after becoming the first U.K. male solo artist to debut number one in the billboard top 200 with his first album.
Photo Credit: Miller Mobley / Hollywire
The one thing all these people have in common is they all live with a mental illness. They’re just five of the millions of people around the world who have one. They have struggled and fought, and, despite their perceived demons, they’ve persisted in their own ways, just as so many have before, are and will. Let them be reminders that you’re not alone in your pursuits, and that hope is always there.
