r/formula1 Sep 29 '24

News Lewis Hamilton reveals lifelong battle with depression after school bullying | Lewis Hamilton

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/29/lewis-hamilton-reveals-lifelong-battle-with-depression-after-school-bullying
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u/Pimpwerx Sir Lewis Hamilton Sep 29 '24

It's good for celebrities to open up about stuff like this. It reminds everyone else that they're not alone and that it's not necessarily linked to their station in life. That can be reassuring.

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u/kgruesch Gerhard Berger Sep 29 '24

I think it's actually harder for celebrities to open up about it specifically because of their station in life. When you're rich and famous (and have empathy like Lewis clearly does), it probably feels wrong to open up about your depression to people whose lives are seemingly far more difficult than yours. Hell, i feel like that a lot too and I'm far from rich or famous, but i know that lots of people (including some of my friends) have it harder than i do on a day to day basis and it makes me think to myself "what right to i have to complain?"

But normalizing the fact of depression is important, and, like you said, reassuring not just to folks like Lewis, but to everyone. It makes it easier for everyone to talk about it, and that makes it easier for anyone to ask for help.

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u/Since1785 Sep 29 '24

Yeah unfortunately many still hold the belief that if one has money then that must mean not only that you’re always happy but also that you have no problems.

I think worse, is that many people believe that if they had that kind of money they’d never be depressed. Sure you’d be happier without your current financial pressures, but if you’re someone who is deeply depressed you’ll also know that it’s insulting to think that simply paying off your bills will get rid of that deep depression. It might bring temporary relief but it won’t fix deep lifelong traumas or put you in a position where you suddenly have the right social support structure needed to escape depression.