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Jim Carrey depression battle is a meaningful and inspirational one. Let’s see how he opens up about his dark days of depression with Depression Open Talks. The art of making people laugh has become Jim Carrey’s profession. Carrey’s sense of humor, however, was a by-product of his “desperation” as a child, growing up with a sick mother and an unemployed father. He stopped attending high school and started working full-time to support his family. Carrey battled depression constantly and took medication periodically for years.

Today, Jim is a well-known Hollywood actor with a generous net worth. However, he had almost little at the start of his existence. The star continued to work instead of giving up, and this is exactly what brought him to where he is today. Carrey possesses the best acting and mimetic abilities the world has ever seen.

The-Battle-Against-Jim-Carrey-Depression

Humble Beginnings

Jim was born in New Market, Ontario, Canada, in 1962. His parents worked as housewives and accountants. Even so, he traveled to Los Angeles to pursue comedy because he knew he had the desire for it from a young age. 

Jim had grown up watching the Carol Burnett Show. When he was just 10 years old, he even sent Burnett a letter asking her to allow him to showcase his comedy skills on the program. Carrey continued to practice his comic routines and copying performances by using 150 different voices, but he soon received a letter of rejection. According to the letter, this show didn’t call kids since they didn’t want them to be distracted from their studies.

A Career in Comedy

The Carol Burnett incident ended up being ironic for Carrey because soon after, his father lost his job as an accountant, and he was homeless. They were forced to spend some time living in a vehicle because their financial condition became so dire. Jim, being the ambitious man he is, though, took this as a chance and started attempting to pursue a career as a comic. According to The Psych Professionals, he created “desperation jokes” to support himself because of his unstable personal situation.

Jim created desperation jokes

Jim was a comedian before entering the acting industry. In 1978, he worked as a janitor in a factory, but in 1979, he was hired to perform as Buddy Hackett and Rodney Dangerfield’s opening act. Jim’s comic success opened doors for him in Hollywood. His debut appearance was in the 1991 television movie Introducing…Janet, and he then appeared in episodes of The Duck Factory and Jim Carrey’s Unnatural Act, according to Biography. The TV program Living Color helped the performer eventually achieve success.

A Successful Acting Career

Finders Keepers served as Carrey’s big-screen debut in 1984, while Ace Ventura: Pet Detective served as the setting for his first commercially successful performance. More success has come Carrey’s way ever since he established himself as a brand. These include Dumb and Dumber (1994), The Mask (1994), Batman Forever (1995), Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995), The Cable Guy (1996), and Liar Liar (1997).

The renowned Golden Globe Award for his performance in The Truman Show in 1998 was one of the first prizes Jim won. His fame soared due to his legendary performances. The actor soon began making $20 million per film, which, according to Celebrity Net Worth, is comparable to $34 million per film in today’s money. Jim was now regarded as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid performers.

The Root of Jim Carrey Depression

The negative aspects of his acting career were the parts that affected his mental health. In Man on the Moon (1999), a moving biopic of the renowned Andy Kaufman, he portrayed the main character. Even Carrey admits in an interview that he sometimes feels Kaufman’s persistent sorrow.

Jim also appeared in some other great works including comedies like Liar, Liar, Bruce Almighty, Me, Myself, and Irene, and Yes Man, thrillers like The Number 23, and dramas like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Majestic. He became a millionaire because of these astounding performances while valiantly suffering mental problems.

The turmoil in Jim’s personal life was one of the main contributors to this celebrity’s long-term depression. He encountered issues in his interpersonal and romantic relationships with many women, which led to the perception that he was a difficult guy to date. However, Jim still made progress by turning to spiritualism for comfort and, in the process, amassed $200 million; he is truly a legend.

A Great Quote by Jim Carrey

In the public eye, Jim Carrey has also been open about his battle with mental illness. He says the following regarding depression:

I believe depression is legitimate. But I also believe that if you don’t exercise, eat nutritious food, get sunlight, get enough sleep, consume positive material, surround yourself with support, then you aren’t giving yourself a fighting chance.

Jim Carrey depression

We don’t always choose to feel down; sometimes it happens due to outside circumstances, like going through a trying time or losing someone we care about, and other times it occurs due to a physiological imbalance. We do have an option as to how we respond in any scenario. And by positioning ourselves to deal with feeling down the best, we are proactive gifts to ourselves that put us on the path to recovery.

Jim Carrey depression quote

Jim Carrey shares his difference between depression and sadness

Depression differs from sadness in that the former is merely the result of chance. Whatever happened or didn’t happen for you, or grief or whatever it is. Depression is your body saying ‘fuck you, I don’t want to be this character anymore. I don’t want to hold up this avatar that you created. And the world is too big for me.

Jim Carrey

He reveals in the film that author and spiritual healer Jeff Foster refers to being “depressed” as “deep rest.” Which is something that individuals suffering from depression may require a reset. Your mind may need to relax because of the perceptions you are making of the outside world or because of your ideas.

He makes a reference to the majestic and mighty Oz from The Wizard of Oz as he concludes the video. Oz is a normal-sized man hiding behind a screen, claiming to be this big, strong leader. Jim describes the depressed person pretending to be someone you are not, which causes your mind to become fatigued and into a depressive state.

Global Mental Health News claims that since 2009, Jim has been forthcoming with the media about his depression. According to the article, he has had emotional problems ever since he was a young child. Jim has used comedy and acting as ways to escape reality. Additionally, he disclosed to the world that he takes Prozac to treat his depression.

Ariana Grande quotes Jim Carrey

Grande has already spoken out on social media about her mental health. She posted images of her brain scan earlier this month on Instagram, claiming it revealed post-traumatic stress disorder. Ariana Grande used a Jim Carrey quote in an Instagram post about her battle with depression. She shared a collection of images along with a quotation from Carrey on her Instagram stories on Saturday.

Depression is your body saying, ‘I don’t want to be this character anymore. I don’t want to hold up this avatar that you’ve created in the world. It’s too much for me. You should think of the word ‘depressed’ as ‘deep rest.’ Your body needs to be depressed. It needs deep rest from the character that you’ve been trying to play.

Jim Carrey

The singer described how she has long admired the comedian. “My first AIM username was jimcarreyfan42 when I was in like 4th grade,” she posted on Instagram. She shared a video of herself sobbing when meeting the star in 2014.

Following the Manchester Arena bombings in 2017, Ariana previously disclosed a series of brain scans that confirmed the severity of her PTSD. In 2017, Carrey himself spoke openly about his struggles with depression. Upon seeing her tweets, Carrey replied to her on Twitter, praising Grande for her candor.

I read your lovely mention of me and things I’ve said about depression. A brilliant teacher and friend, Jeff Foster was OG on the ‘Deep Rest’ concept. I admire your openness. I wish you freedom and peace. I feel blessed to have such a gifted admirer.

In her response, Grande joked that she was eager to “tattoo this tweet on my forehead.”

Thank you so much for your kindness. I don’t think u understand how much I adore u or what u mean to me. thank u for taking the time to share this w me. You are such an inspiration … Sending you lots of love & all things happy.

Ariana Grande

Jim Carrey Depression: Final words

In conclusion, despite his struggles with depression, Jim Carrey continues to inspire others through his work and personal example. His story provides hope for those who are struggling and shows that even the most difficult times can be overcome with the help of family, friends, and a positive attitude. If you or someone you know is experiencing depression, please seek out resources and talk to your doctor. There is always hope, and with the support of loved ones, recovery can be achieved.

References

Dewar, K. (2021, August 12). A Great Quote by Jim Carrey. Counselwise. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://counselwise.ca/great-quote-depression-jim-carrey/

Muller, G. (n.d.). Jim Carrey’s Story on Overcoming Depression. The Psych Professionals. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://psychprofessionals.com.au/jim-carrey-on-overcoming-depression/

Sorto, G. (2019, April 22). Ariana Grande cites Jim Carrey in post opening up about depression. CNN. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/22/entertainment/ariana-grande-jim-carrey-depression-trnd/index.html

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