Dax Shepard is opening up about the husband duties he performs when he senses his wife Kristen Bell in low spirits.
Shepard, 49, was discussing his “coping mechanisms” for depression during the November 25 episode of his *Armchair Expert* podcast when the conversation shifted to Bell’s struggles.
“Kristen has depression, so hers won’t necessarily be incident driven,” he shared during a conversation with guest Anna Kendrick. “It’s not like she has a specific thing. She’ll just have a wave of it. She’ll sleep a lot, and there’s nothing I can do or nor do I think I should do,” he said of Bell, 44.
Shepard noted that he finds the *Nobody Wants This* actress in a “slump” when she’s experiencing a depressive episode.
“She’s going to sleep a lot for a while, and then she’s going to come out of it. Now earlier on, that used to scare me. And I was like, ‘Is this gonna be forever?'”
He admitted. “And I was like, ‘Is this gonna be forever?’”
The podcast added that now that he’s “gone through the cycle enough,” he knows his wife is going to “organize for a couple days really, really intensely, and then she’s gonna sleep a lot for a few days, and then it’s gonna be over.”
Shepard then revealed how he tries to contribute to her mental well-being during these periods, adding that there were “steps” to his process.
“I will gently [be] like, ‘Hey, love. Have you checked in with your psychiatrist lately? I’m not saying you need to do anything. Just, like, have you checked in with your psychiatrist?'” he said. “So that’ll be like one thing I can do. It’s evolved because I used to try to fix it.”
He explained, “That’s my nature. And I used to try to talk her out of it or tell her what’s good in her life or [make a] gratitude list.”
“One thing I’ll still do, and she likes this, and it doesn’t trigger [her] feeling judged about being sad, is [saying] let’s go for a walk or let’s go for a hike,” he added. “Like, just encouraging, let’s go move around.”
Bell has also spoken on her mental health journey with depression and anxiety on multiple occasions.
However, at some point, Bell decided to keep her struggles “private
What strategies does Dax Shepard use to support Kristen Bell when she is experiencing a depressive episode?
## Interview with Dax Shepard on Kristen Bell’s Depression
**Host:** Dax, thanks for joining us today. You recently opened up about experiencing depression and also shared how you support your wife Kristen through her struggles. Can you tell us more about that?
**Dax Shepard:** Absolutely. It’s something we’ve both been navigating for a while. Kristen has been open about dealing with depression since high school [[1](https://people.com/celebrity/kristen-bell-talks-dealing-with-mental-illness/)]. It’s important to remember that everyone experiences it differently. For Kristen, it’s not always triggered by specific events.
**Host:** How do you recognize when Kristen is struggling?
**Dax Shepard:** Over time, you just learn the signs. It might be changes in her energy levels, her mood, or even just a sense that something’s off. She’s incredibly brave about communicating how she’s feeling, but sometimes it takes a little observation and understanding.
**Host:** And how do you offer support?
**Dax Shepard:** I try to be present, to listen without judgment, and to create a safe space for her to express herself. Sometimes just letting her know I’m there for her is enough. Other times, it might involve encouraging her to seek professional help or just making sure she takes time for self-care.
**Host:** You’ve both been very vocal about mental health awareness. Why is that important to you?
**Dax Shepard:** Normalizing these conversations is crucial. It helps to break down the stigma and let people know they’re not alone. We all have our struggles, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
