Chyler Leigh

It’s been increasingly clear that struggling with mental health is a completely normal experience for many. However, the labels that we attach to different mental health challenges still see a lot of stigma. While some like anxiety are becoming destigmatized due to being more common, bipolar disorder seems to still have this negative stigma attached to it. Actress Chyler Leigh, who appeared in Grey’s Anatomy and Super Girl, has been vocal about her acceptance of her bipolar disorder and she advocates for its destigmatization. Leigh was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her late 20s, but had health with her symptoms for much longer. She mentions that “during [her] teens and 20s I experienced intense cycles of mania and depression.” These experiences were not easy for Leigh to open up about, because she often felt like something was wrong with her. 

Leigh reached a breaking point when she was 29 and knee-deep in family and work stress. Before that point, she would bury herself in her work and always put the health of her family above her own health. However, this only exacerbated her mental health struggles. She found herself mentally exhausted and not able to give her all to work, her family, or her job. Finally, she decided that the mood swings and exhaustion were too much and went to a therapist to seek help. After a week-long stay in the hospital, she came out with a diagnosis: bipolar disorder. The diagnosis both came with a sense of relief and terror as Leigh had to now figure out ways to manage her mental health.

She left Grey's Anatomy shortly after diagnosis to focus on both her family and herself, and has made an effort to take care of her mental health. After years of putting it on the backburner, she realizes how important acknowledging her bipolar disorder is. Now, she manages it through both medication and therapy. She also advocates for open discussion on mental health and is part of the Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health campaign, an initiative that aims to get more people to open up about their mental health struggles so they don’t have to face it alone. Leigh hopes that by sharing her story, more people will be compelled to share theirs.

Links:

https://www.bevocalspeakup.com/spotlight-chyler-leigh.html

https://www.prevention.com/health/mental-health/a30174004/chyler-leigh-bipolar-disorder/

https://www.bphope.com/actor-chyler-leigh-speaks-up-about-her-bipolar-disorder/