5 Celebs Speak Out About Their Difficult Health Journeys
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Too often what we see on social media is one slice of a person’s life – typically, the best slice with all the cheese – very rarely do we see their struggles or a bad day. In the past year, some celebs are moving away from ‘picture-perfect’ and are beginning to share everything from their mental to physical health battles. And honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time. The ongoing pandemic means we’re spending even more time on social media and we want to see content that’s raw, real, and relatable.
So, when we see celebs sharing their stories and spreading the word on important health issues, like endometriosis or epilepsy, we love them even more. Here are five celebs who opened up about their struggles and earned some major respect!
1. Keke Palmer Speaks Out About PCOS
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Keke Palmer recently opened up about her battle with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – a health condition that’s often misdiagnosed, which was the case with Keke and her family members. The reality is, 1 in 10 women have PCOS and yet it’s a condition that few women know about, let alone know they have it.
If you, like Keke, were in the dark about PCOS, then let us explain: PCOS is a hormonal disorder that occurs among women who are of reproductive age (after your first period), when your hormone levels are out of balance. As a result of this imbalance, it can cause many small fluid-filled sacs to grow inside the ovaries. The word “polycystic” actually means “many cysts.” Symptoms vary from irregular periods, excess hair growth, anxiety, acne, and typically, PCOS also causes weight gain and increased hunger.
One symptom that Keke talks about here is acne, and by posting this picture, she reminds people that acne and PCOS are nothing to be ashamed of and it shouldn’t stop you from doing anything. So, in her words: “To all the people struggling with this please know you’re not alone and that you are still so fucking fine!” We couldn’t agree more.
Read more about PCOS here to find out what it is, signs, symptoms, and treatment options.
2. Olivia Culpo Shares her Struggle with Endometriosis
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Olivia Culpo is another celeb sharing her struggles with feminine health. Just a few months ago she opened up about her endometriosis journey by sharing that she underwent surgery in the hopes of relieving her painful symptoms, which included heavy, excruciatingly painful periods. Olivia documented everything from the bloating to the surgery details to raise awareness and help other endometriosis warriors find a solution.
If you’re currently wondering… Endo-what? Endometriosis occurs when the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is displaced and ends up in areas that it shouldn’t be, which can cause pain, worsening cramps, pain with intercourse, and many other symptoms of inflammation in the pelvis. Again, it’s a condition that’s misdiagnosed and often dismissed as a painful period, which is exactly what happened to Olivia. It’s clear that both Keke and Olivia know that knowledge is power, which is why they’re sharing their story.
Read more about what endometriosis is, what causes it, and how you can treat it.
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3. Chrissy Teigen Opens Up About Her Pregnancy Loss
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When Chrissy Teigen shared this post back in October, her family’s heartbreak was felt worldwide. She didn’t just share her struggle, she shared one of the worst moments of her life. However, by doing so she offered solace to so many women and families who have also shared the same or similar experiences, which is why Chrissy felt it so necessary to do. Many women who have also suffered from fertility problems, post-natal depression or miscarriage will tell you how isolating it can be, and by sharing this, Chrissy offered a sense of solidarity.
To read more from Chrissy, her essay published on Medium shares more about what happened and why it felt so important for her to document her very difficult journey.
4. Camila Coelho on Epilepsy
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Last year, Camila Coelho not only launched her beauty brand, Elaluz, and countless drops for her clothing line, but she also opened up to her followers about having epilepsy for the first time. She shared everything from her diagnosis at age nine to her current struggle trying to conceive that has been affected by her epilepsy. At times, Camila said her condition became hard for her to accept, and she wants to share her story in the hopes that it will help others along their journey of self-acceptance while breaking the stigma surrounding epilepsy. This detailed video is definitely worth the watch, whether you suffer from epilepsy or not, it’s truly inspiring.
In Camila’s video, she also has another very important message: “If you are struggling with anything in your life, talk about it.” She goes on to say that when we hold things in, it tends to make us weaker, and by sharing, it’s comforting and feels freeing.
5. Demi Lovato Embraces Her Eating Disorder Recovery
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Demi Lovato has always been very transparent about her battles with addiction and mental health. She’s now opening up about her body and how she’s learned to embrace herself, and it’s so inspiring and refreshing. In this particular post, she’s serving up some major self-love, self-acceptance, and gratitude towards her body. While in the midst of her eating disorder, Demi said it was very hard to accept her body or even imagine that she ever could. Today, instead of hiding her stretch marks, she’s covered them in glitter to celebrate her body and the headspace she’s been able to get to. A true role model.
For more inspirational celeb moments, check out five celebs who teach you to love your body.
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