Dove Cameron Shares Heartfelt Post About Identity, Saying That She’s ‘Struggling More Than Half of the Time'
Dove Cameron is opening up to her fans by showing a more vulnerable side of herself in a recent Instagram post.
On May 18, Dove took to Instagram to share selfies of herself, with tears streaming down her cheeks alongside a lengthy caption and note where she discusses her mental health, the concept of identity vs. the self, and how she has been struggling with dysphoria and depression.
Both the caption and thoughtful two-page note included at the end of her IG post's carousel discuss the actress's internal battles that she typically hides from the public.
“I've been struggling lately with the concept of self, my inner relationship to who I know myself to be and my outer perceivable self who I feel I have never known but other people seem to,” she writes. She also admits that she's "been covering mirrors lately," and "feeling wrong in clothing that used to make [her] feel beautiful."
"I've been crying a lot lately, sometimes terrorized by my identity and image, sometimes in absolute flow with something new and peripheral and joyous to me," she shares in the emotional post.
Expressing the “diametrically opposed” concept of “identity vs the self” she shared how she struggles to find her self-worth. “I have never been able to make them hold hands, and I realize as I get older, it's because I hold a deep-seeded belief that who I am is wrong, I am not allowed to be just as I am, I am not meant to be here. I feel I must be something else if I am going to be allowed to be here. and I really do wanna be here with you.”
She continued, "I don't know if i've ever slowed down enough to learn who i am outside of fight, flight or freeze. but the self finds ways of showing up anyway, trickling in enough to hint at who we might be if we didn't feel we had to be everything but the self."
Additionally, she wrote that "sexuality and performative gender norms, societal rewards and identity are really throwing [her] for a loop." The actress let the public know via Instagram Live in 2020 that she identifies as queer.
Dove also took the time to say that "social media" and the "constant broadcasting of self and visibility of ourselves and everyone everywhere" are among "modern problems" and not "optimal for mental health."
"What i am choosing to say is i am in process, im investigating, i'm struggling more than half of the time and i'm trying to maintain a quiet non judgmental curiosity rather than punish myself for not knowing what i'm feeling or where i'm going," she added.
Explaining to her followers why she's choosing to share the message "without conclusion," she says it's "because i don't have answers from myself yet, and because i have a feeling it's a very intrinsically (modern) human conversation."
The "Boyfriend" songstress also said she doesn't want her fans to "feel alone in a sea of what seems like humans who are comfortable in their identity."
"We all deserved a life unburdened by the societally created identity, we all deserve to unlearn self abuse and self hatred," she wrote, adding that she's "on that journey now, i'm sharing so that we may all feel more comfortable in a conversation that may be confusing, and we may navigate something that feels difficult to put to words, together."
Ending the in-post note with an affirming message, Dove wrote "Human, first. The rest is all the rest," adding that "Emotion is COOL. dysphoria is OK. living as a human is INTENSE. We are all holding hands. Don't forget."
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, you can call the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine at 1-(800)-950-NAMI (6264) or visit their website.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit their website.
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