Bella Hadid is choosing honesty over perfection. The supermodel, who recently turned 29, opened up in a raw and deeply personal message to her followers, shedding light on her internal battles with depression and anxiety.
Her post came just ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, marking the occasion with an emotional reflection shared with her 61 million Instagram fans.
“Something I’ve carried for many years is the weight of anxiety and depression,” she wrote on October 12. “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.”
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupHer message resonated far and wide, not just for its vulnerability, but for its compassion. “It's not a weakness – it's a part of me,” she said. “My sensitivity, my awareness, my empathy… It's what makes us human. These parts of me have helped me understand myself and others more deeply.”
Her caption included not only her own words, but also a poem she shared to remind people to slow down and stay present: “When the load feels too heavy, and the future is looking dark, it's okay to take a moment, if you feel you've lost your spark.”
© yolanda.hadid/InstagramThe model also urged her followers to remember they’re not alone. She included mental health resources and shared a powerful message. “Please don't feel afraid to ask for help. I've been there and I started to understand the workings of my mind by speaking to others.”
Bella has spent years struggling behind the scenes, often while appearing successful on the outside. In her post, she acknowledged the shame that can come with mental illness. “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.”
© GothamShe emphasized that her emotional depth is something she’s come to embrace. “In many ways, it can be a superpower.” This moment of openness comes just weeks after Hadid addressed her physical health, specifically her ongoing battle with Lyme disease.
On September 17, she posted a carousel of photos that showed both quiet moments in a European village and intense medical treatments, IV drips, oxygen tubes, and visible fatigue. “I’m sorry I always go MIA I love you guys,” she captioned the post.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupHer mother, Yolanda Hadid, responded the next day with a heartfelt tribute. “You are relentless and courageous,” Yolanda wrote. “I admire your bravery and your willingness to keep fighting for health despite the failing protocols and countless setbacks you have faced.”
“There simply aren't words big enough for the darkness, the pain, and the unknown hell you've lived through since your diagnosis,” she added. “You didn't really live, you learned how to exist inside the jail of your own paralyzed brain.”
© yolanda.hadid/InstagramYolanda, who also lives with Lyme disease, has been open about the toll it has taken on her family. In her message, she reminded Bella, “You are a survivor… I love you so much.” In her recent mental health post, Bella also discussed her humanitarian work with UNICEF and the deeper understanding it has brought her.
“Beneath those smiles, they hold the same invisible battles with anxiety, PTSD, and fear, but without access to the care and safety we so often take for granted.” “Access to mental health care is not a luxury- it’s a right,” she 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.”
