American actress Betty Gilpin, who has starred in television series like "GLOW" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," has shared a number of personal tales that have a global following. In one of these tales, she describes a period of time when she was so depressed that she totally stopped eating. Gilpin resorted to eating simple foods like saltines and cucumbers in place of regular meals.

This story demonstrates how severe emotional distress can impact a person's physical health. Think of your feelings as a storm cloud that hangs over you; occasionally, this cloud is so thick that it completely blocks out the sun, giving the impression that everything is gloomy and dark. A person's appetite frequently vanishes when they are dealing with extreme sadness or anxiety. It seems as though that emotional storm consumes all of their energy.

Gilpin's story reminds us that people may not be able to eat or take care of themselves as they typically would when they are in severe distress. Her decision to eat saltines and cucumbers is straightforward and reflects a time when she needed something easy to handle that wouldn't cause her any more stress.

Her candor about this experience inspires others who may be facing comparable difficulties to acknowledge their emotions without passing judgment and to get help when necessary. It's acceptable to not feel hungry or energized during difficult times; what matters is admitting one's feelings and figuring out coping mechanisms, no matter how minor those initial steps may seem.