While celebrities often seem immune to many of the health problems that plague us here in normal-town — do they ever not look fabulous in a bikini? And when has someone ever walked the red carpet with a cold? — there are several famous faces who have opened up about an important health issue that can lead to a host of serious complications: They can’t sleep!
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60 percent of Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 experience a sleep problem every night or almost every night, and 43 percent say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep on weeknights.
We know these stars — and you! — are juggling busy schedules and hectic home lives, but chronically skimping on sleep can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart problems, pain and other health concerns. Luckily, it’s easy to start sleeping better tonight. Some general rules of thumb for catching more quality shut-eye: Power down your electronic devices (yes, all of them!) an hour or so before bedtime. The glaring light from the screens can seriously impact your sleep. Make sure your room is dark and cool and quiet, and try not to exercise or have caffeine too close to bedtime.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms: Difficulty falling asleep. Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep. It can strike anyone at any time — and celebrities aren’t spared from nights of tossing and turning. Just like us, the rich and famous can struggle with sleep deprivation. Here are 10 of the most famous celebrities who struggle with their sleep.
10. Demi Lovato
If there’s one thing singer-songwriter Demi Lovato knows how to do, it’s express her emotions on stage, detailing her trials and triumphs with mental illness through her lyrics. But in her downtime, she’s also a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and acceptance, speaking publicly about her experience with bipolar disorder and addiction. “I want to use my voice in more ways than just singing.”
Now, she’s taking her advocacy one step further. The singer recently launched Be Vocal, a campaign to encourage individuals struggling with mental illness to talk about what they’re going through. The project is a partnership with well-regarded mental health organizations like The Jed Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who have long been involved in other anti-stigma initiatives.
“I didn’t really realize I was sick. I thought that writing seven songs in one night was normal. I thought that staying up until 5:30 in the morning is normal. Last night, I stayed up until five in the morning. I just couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing and it’s an ongoing thing and I still learn how to cope with it.” —MTV’s Demi Lovato: Stay Strong, March 2012.