Caitlyn Jenner health: I’m A Celebrity contestant reveals isolating health battle
The events in Caitlyn Jenner’s life, from the day-to-day to the life-changing moments, have seemingly played out in the public eye. From setting a world record in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics, to providing an intimate window into her family life in Keeping up with the Kardashians and publicly coming out as a trans woman after gender reassignment surgery, Caitlyn’s personal life and professional life has become a source of public fascination.
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Along with her triumphs, Caitlyn has also revealed her trials over the years, and in a panel discussion earlier in the year on ‘Mental Health in Popular Storytelling’, the reality star opened up about the mental health issues she grappled with in the years leading up to gender transition.
Speaking on the panel she said: “I couldn’t talk to anybody about it — nobody. I had been trying to deal with this on my own.
“Growing up and having difficulty with your identity, in the 50s, 60s, even in the 70s, people didn’t even give it a name. They didn’t know what it was, so you keep your mouth shut and you keep moving on.
She added: “For six years one time, I kind of put myself away in my house because I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere. And I said, ‘Am I going to sit out here and rot? Or am I going to live my life authentically?’”
Each year nearly three in ten people will experience a mental health issue, according to Bupa and the causes and types of mental health issues can be wide-ranging and complex.
One common mental health issue is depression, and according to the NHS, if you have a low mood that lasts two weeks or more, it could be a signal the condition.
Other symptoms of depression may include:
- Not getting any enjoyment out of life
- Feeling hopeless
- Not being able to concentrate on everyday things
- Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming yourself
Depression can also manifest itself physically too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains, explains the health site.
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“Sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re depressed – the illness can make it difficult to see things clearly or it may have come on gradually,” explained Bupa.
It’s important to seek help from your GP if you think you may be depressed, says the NHS.
As the health site explains, many people wait a long time before seeking help for depression, but it’s best not to delay – the sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can be on the way to recovery.
How to treat it
Treatment for depression can involve a combination of lifestyle changes, talking therapies and medication.
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Your recommended treatment will be based on whether you have mild, moderate or severe depression, explains the NHS.
If you have mild depression, your doctor may suggest waiting to see whether it improves on its own, while monitoring your progress, notes the health site.
They may also suggest lifestyle measures such as exercise and self-help groups.
Talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), are often used for mild depression that is not improving or moderate depression.
CBT is a type of talking therapy that can help to change negative patterns in how you think, feel and behave, explains Bupa.
For moderate to severe depression, a combination of talking therapy and antidepressants is often recommended.
As the NHS explains, antidepressants are thought to work by increasing levels of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.
Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, are linked to mood and emotion.
According to the NHS, if you have severe depression, you may be referred to a specialist mental health team for intensive specialist talking treatments and prescribed medication.
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