Why We Should Stop Calling Amanda Bynes ‘Crazy’

By Kate Mueller on October 23, 2014

via 4HDWallpapers.com

It’s easy to say that being a child star is a ‘dream come true.’

But the sad fact is that not many survive past their 20’s without some really rough patches. The benefits of being famous include getting into wild parties and driving luxurious cars at 16-years-old.

But what hides in between is the risk of mental illnesses. We’ve witnessed it from Britney Spears and her infamous shaved head and umbrella toting disaster, but she’s not the only one.

Most recently, Amanda Bynes has been in the news for her ‘bizarre’ behavior and ‘crazy’ tweets.

via Twitter

While I won’t repeat what she said as to not further spread the false accusations, she said some very disturbing things about her father on Twitter.

She then deleted the tweets and blamed the ‘microchip’ in her brain for the accusations. While they may not have the ideal father-daughter relationship, the entire family says the tweets were due to her ‘mental state’ and aren’t true.

This is when people really became worried. She soon found herself in an involuntary hold at a treatment center for 72-hours.

Let’s look at Robin Williams for a minute. Now, some of you may be thinking ‘Robin Williams doesn’t belong grouped with Britney and Amanda,’ but in fact, he does.

While the diagnoses are very different, they both belong under mental illness. It’s strange, to me, that we only have true sympathy for those that commit suicide, when it’s already too late to help them.

We grieved the loss of Robin Williams, with plenty of reason to – he was a great actor and man that touched a lot of lives. But why is it that a mentally ill person has to take their life to bring attention to the seriousness of mental health?

via Psychology Today Blog

Outside of the celebrity world, what do we hear about mental illness? Aside from the few uplifting stories that sadly aren’t spread enough, what’s on the news?

When we think of mentally ill we picture the man that killed a bunch of kids, the man that killed people in a movie theater and the man that killed women who wouldn’t sleep with him.

Yes, these are huge stories that should have been covered in the news, but is it shaping our idea of what mental illness looks like?

Just as the news and TV shapes our stereotypical views on black people, women, Hispanics/Latinos, etc., the same is being done for mental illness.

Now, I don’t know what’s going through Amanda Bynes’ head and whether or not she’s having suicidal thoughts and she is nowhere near relatable to the men in the news, but clearly she is going through something that is very unhealthy and very serious.

Yet, you see memes poking fun at her. Sure we are all guilty of being a little insensitive and laughing at jokes at the expense of others, but now it’s time to take a step back.

via Owned

Say Amanda Bynes was diagnosed with breast cancer. We would all rally for her health and cheer in her recovery. We wouldn’t post memes of her balding head she has after chemotherapy.

What we need to do is think of mental illness as a physical illness. So many times it’s easy to just say “she’s crazy,” just as it is easy to tell a depressed person to “get up” or an anxious person to “get over it” or a bipolar person to “act normal.”

These illnesses are real. They’re not made up by some guru shrink that just wants to make money. Mental diseases are also treatable.

Look at Britney Spears. She had probably one of the most infamous mental breakdowns in the celebrity world and in front of the entire world. Yet, she took some time off to really get healthy again and she’s looking better than ever.

Amanda was the lovable, adorable child star that we all watched on Nickelodeon. She’s practically grown up with us. Imagine if your best friend was in her place. Would you still call her crazy? Would you stand up for her? Would you help her? There have been some very supportive friends, like her old pal Nick Cannon, that have shown some real sympathy for what she’s going through.

Mental illnesses have a wide range from the common ADHD to schizophrenia to bipolar disorder. We need to educate ourselves on these illnesses and get treated if we feel that we may have a problem.

There is no shame in getting treatment and getting help. Or maybe you notice some changes in a family member or friend – be there for them without being judgmental or ignorant.

And for the strangers you meet, live by one of my favorite quotes:

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. – Plato

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