Ash_Administrator_Ville February 15, 2017
Carrie Fisher—also commonly known as Princess Leia—has left an amazing and inspiring impression on the world, especially in the area of teen mental health. While Princess Leia battled against droids, clones, and the Dark Side, Carrier Fisher fought mental health issues. For years and years, Fisher was a strong advocate for those struggling with mental health issues and her enormous contribution to this area will not be forgotten.
A battle between light and dark
In Star Wars, as many know, there’s an intense battle between the light and the dark side—this is the main premise of the epic movie series. When Carrie Fisher got the role of Princess Leia, she probably didn’t know how much that galactic battle would apply to her own life. Over the years, Fisher spoke extensively about her struggles with bipolar disorder and the challenges that come with it.
Her support and sharing acted as a shining beacon of light for many who have felt left in the darkness.
Fisher used humor to speak about mental health.
Art is often used as a way to express oneself, but Carrie Fisher was one of the first popular female celebrities to use it in such a manner. Fisher struggled with alcoholism, drug abuse, bipolar disorder, and body dysmorphia—all very extreme issues. Many would expect that writing or speaking about these struggles would be fairly dark and depressing, but Fisher did it in such a way that it made others feel more comfortable about seeking help.
Fisher can definitely be considered one of the people that has caused major steps in destigmatizing adult and teen mental health issues. Instead of portraying mental illness as something rare and intensely terrifying, Fisher portrayed it as something regular, difficult, and even funny at times. Through her multiple memoirs and talks, Fisher emboldened individuals who struggle with mental health issues.
Mental illness isn’t the end.
Carrie Fisher has left us with a strong piece of wisdom: mental illness isn’t the end. You can thrive with a mental illness and she exemplified this fact. For many, teen mental health issues can seem to be the end of the world, but there are ways to move forward—you just have to reach out and find them. That’s exactly what Fisher had to do.
She explained part of her long journey in an advice column:
“I was told that I was bipolar when I was 24 but was unable to accept that diagnosis until I was 28 when I overdosed and finally got sober. Only then was I able to see nothing else could explain away my behavior. Going to AA helped me to see that there were other people who had problems that had found a way to talk about them and find relief and humor through that.”
Carrie Fisher’s advice and guidance has encouraged many to seek out help for their mental health issues. After her death on December 27th, tons of tweets and statuses talking about how Carrie Fisher inspired individuals to be more comfortable with themselves were posted—acting as a sort of memorial for all that she’s done for the mental health community.
Asheville Academy helps with teen mental health issues
Asheville Academy is a therapeutic boarding school for girls, ages 10-14. Our students commonly struggle with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other behavioral or emotional challenges. With the help of our licensed therapists, experienced teachers, caring staff, and expertly designed program, our students move closer to a healthier life. At Asheville Academy, we use the best tactics and therapeutic methods in order to help your daughter reach success in teen mental health.
For more information about Asheville Academy, call 800-264-8709 today.
