Originally appeared on E! Online
Bella Hadid is pulling back the curtain.
The 29-year-old shared an honest look into her mental health journey, chronicling her struggles with anxiety and depression in honor of World Mental Health Day, which occurred on Oct. 10.
“Something I’ve carried for many years is the weight of anxiety and depression,” she captioned her Oct. 12 post. “It can sometimes feel all-consuming, paralyzing, and invisible to the outside world, leaving you in tears before starting your day, wondering why your mind feels so heavy when life around you seems so bright.”
Acknowledging the “deep sense of shame” that can accompany mental health struggles, Hadid continued, “I sometimes wonder how life has blessed me and how my body and mind are filled with the weight of sadness, depression, and debilitating anxiety on a regular basis.”
However, the model added that over the years she’s learned to accept her mental health struggles not as a weakness, but instead as a piece of who she is.
READ Bella Hadid Returns to the Runway After Lyme Disease Treatment
“My sensitivity, my awareness, my empathy,” she wrote. “In many ways, it can be a superpower. It’s what makes us human, and these parts of me have helped me understand myself and others more deeply.”
She added a reminder to anyone else struggling with their mental health that they’re not alone, and expressed gratitude for her work with UNICEF, which as part of its work seeks to bring mental health care to those around the world.
“Access to mental health care is not a luxury- it’s a right,” Hadid added. “No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your story looks like, your pain and your healing matter… so so much.”
Along with her moving caption—which included mental health resources—Hadid included a carousel of images and graphics pertaining to mental health, including one note that read, “Tell someone how much they mean to you. We all really need it right now.”
Hadid’s moving account comes less than a month after she shared an emotional look into her physical health, as she continues to navigate the side effects of her Lyme disease diagnosis.
Alongside a carousel of photos—which featured images of Hadid’s summer in a small, European town alongside images of her hooked up to medical bags and tubes—she captioned her Sept. 17 post, “I’m sorry I always go MIA I love you guys.”
Following the revealing look, Hadid’s mom Yolanda Hadid praised her perseverance. “You are relentless and courageous,” she wrote in her own Sept. 18 post. “I admire your bravery and your willingness to keep fighting for health despite the failing protocols and countless setbacks you have faced.”
She added, “I am so proud of the fighter that you are.”
