Jon Hamm Struggled With Depression Following Parents' Deaths
'Mad Men' star
Jon Hamm is finally opening up about his struggle with depression and antidepressants following the death of his father.
"I was ... unmoored by that. I struggled with chronic depression. I was in bad shape," he told UK's
Guardian. Hamm, who was just 20 at the time, had become an orphan; his mother had died of stomach cancer when he was only 10.
Hamm battled the chronic depression, relying on antidepressants and therapy to beat the illness. He continued his studies at the University of Texas and "was very fortunate to have really good friends in my life whose parents sort of rallied."
"I did do therapy and antidepressants for a brief period, which helped me. Which is what therapy does: it gives you another perspective when you are so lost in your own spiral, your own bullsh**t. It helps," Hamm said. "Antidepressants help! If you can change your brain chemistry enough to think: 'I want to get up in the morning; I don't want to sleep until four in the afternoon. I want to get up and go do my sh** and go to work and ...' Reset the auto-meter, kick-start the engine!"
Now, he's at the top of his career, playing Don Draper in 'Mad Men,' co-starring in the number one movie in the country, 'The Town,' and holding tight to his 12-year relationship with girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt.
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Jon Hamm Photos
he always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building in NYC on September 16, 2010.
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In this film publicity image released by Oscilloscope, Jon Hamm is shown in a scene from the film, "Howl." (AP Photo/Oscilloscope, JoJo Whilden)
Jon Hamm Snapshots
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: Actor Jon Hamm visits the "Live With Regis And Kelly" taping at the ABC Lincoln Center Studios on September 16, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm Snapshots
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM The always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building. NON-EXCLUSIVE September 16, 2010 Job: 100916H4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM The always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building. NON-EXCLUSIVE September 16, 2010 Job: 100916H4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM The always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building. NON-EXCLUSIVE September 16, 2010 Job: 100916H4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM The always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building. NON-EXCLUSIVE September 16, 2010 Job: 100916H4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM The always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building. NON-EXCLUSIVE September 16, 2010 Job: 100916H4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM The always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building. NON-EXCLUSIVE September 16, 2010 Job: 100916H4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM The always dapper Jon Hamm arrives at a Midtown office building. NON-EXCLUSIVE September 16, 2010 Job: 100916H4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
Jennifer Westfeldt and actor Jon Hamm attend a Private Dinner with Jon Hamm to Celebrate October Details Cover at DeSantos on September 15, 2010 in New York City. Private Dinner With Jon Hamm To Celebrate October Details Cover DeSantos New York, NY United States September 15, 2010 Photo by Thos Robinson/WireImage.com To license this image (61685417), contact WireImage.com
Jon Hamm Snapshots
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Glad that it's all working out well for ya,JH. How about taking it one step further by finally making an honest woman out of Jennifer? Just a thought.
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Maybe....just maybe SHE'S the one that doesn't want to get married. I know, unreal that a woman wouldn't want to get married, right? And, why on earth wouldn't she be an "honest woman" now? In case you hadn't noticed it, unlike Don Draper, we aren't actually living in the 1960's. Lastly, it's none of our business whether they ever get married or not. Just a thought.
Now this make sense... He has depression that must be why he thinks all the tea-party members are racists.
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No, he thinks all the tea-party members are racists because they are.
The tea party people are racist!!! They're all just republicans in disguise
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Ok show me proof that they are racist you moran really show me proof. Not what some moran has said that they are racist
Well, WTF, I can show that you are an idiot in your response to May Be because you can't spell MORON, you moron.
I am so tired of reading articles about this guy. This is the second story today.At least he's not talking about racists and porn star reality actors. Why is anything he says interesting to the public? He just needs to stick with acting and looking pretty.
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I couldn't agree more. This guy has no clue about the real world. He just mouth's off about stuff he knows nothing about and I know it's sad to lose a parent but he was 20 at the time and he calls himself an orphan? Maybe he should go to africa or New Orleans and see what a real orphan looks like. What a douche. He should stick to his one dimensional characters and his bad acting and keep his mouth shut. Hey what if regular people pegged all Hollywood Liberals as racist?
Maybe you are hearing/reading about him because he is finally being recognized as in actor in a hit show?!? Ever watch him on Mad Men? Outstanding actor! It seems you idiots can't keep his politics out of your posts...not one mention of politics in the above article, why must you bring it into conversation?? Just because he shared his views on Bill Maher - which is a POLITICAL show - doesn't mean you need to bring it up here. I enjoy watching him act, hell, I just enjoy watching him. If he wants to share with us, his depression from the loss of his parents, I am interested, I respect him as an actor and a person.
and one more thing...obviously charlie hasn't lost both of his parents. as a person who lost both of my parents, within 5 months of each other, during my 20's - we are referred to as orphans and I felt like one. Just because I was a bit older, doesn't change the fact that I've lost two of the most important people in my life who were supposed to be there for me to give me guidance and unconditional love and support. You lose a part of yourself when you lose a parent and to lose them both, you feel a bit lost. there are several books on the subject and they too, refer to people like me and Jon Hamm, as adult orphans. You may not like this guy and that is fine, but it's pretty petty to bash him over the subject of him being an orphan.
Ok, that explains his rant on the Bill Maher show..This guys still depressed and needs help!! Now hes got the wows me,ive had a hard life crap. Please, this guys such an elitist its not going to be long before he brings a great show down with his idiotic rants. Save Mad Men, replace this idiot.
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