In 2024, a lot of people are living their lives with plenty of eyes on them. Even your neighbor or coworker might have a sizable social media following. In the internet age, plenty of folks are inviting onlookers to participate in their lives.
That means that celebrities and other public figures are getting more attention — and scrutiny — than ever. With increased visibility, many also choose increased transparency. It’s now more common for celebs to open up about their personal mental health challenges, for example. In fact, we often applaud them for sharing their stories since it creates a sense of validation for others who might share in that same experience. Finding representation in the media of things that we struggle with can be a normalizing experience.
But when it comes to cognitive challenges, we notice that there is historically less information and media exposure. As a result, stigmas prevail. Last year, though, we at least saw the public conversation about cognitive challenges pick up.
Visible cognitive challenges in politics and Hollywood
When Senator Mitch McConnell froze twice in front of cameras this summer, conversation swirled around what had happened. While nothing definitive was released from his team, many health experts think he was experiencing small seizures called petit mal or absence seizures. Still, because Senator McConnell is 81 years old, many people dismissed the incident relatively quickly, attributing it to his age.
But he’s not alone in publicly experiencing cognitive challenges. Bruce Willis recently came forward and shared that he’s living with aphasia, a type of dementia that affects his ability to speak. Willis is just 67.
Clearly, then, age is not the only driving force behind cognitive challenges. And instances like these getting the spotlight gives us all a chance to be more aware. It also gives us the chance to discover information surrounding issues we may have uninformed perspectives on.
Talking about cognitive difficulties
Activities that many people take for granted — from remembering a past event to communicating an idea — become challenging for people dealing with a cognitive issue. To make matters worse, cognitive impairment can often leave people feeling embarrassed and isolated.
Public incidents like McConnell’s freeze-ups and Willis’s retirement from acting can help to remind us all that cognitive challenges are more common than we might realize. Since we never know what the person across from us is up against, we might all want to add an extra dose of patience to our interactions.
The increasing public discourse around cognitive challenges might also help lift some stigma, encouraging us to seek treatment and help when we need it. If you’ve noticed changes in the way your brain works, talk to your doctor and your loved ones about it.
If you do face cognitive hurdles, working with a therapist can make them easier to manage. You can always contact our team at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center in Ventura or the West Valley Counseling Center in Tarzana.
