Lovato (via Creative Commons)

Catherine Zeta-Jones, 41, has decided to take action against her bipolar II disorder. Her rep confirmed, “After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check in to a mental health facility…” With the complications of her past year, it’s no surprise that the actress has reached out for expert help.

2010 was a rough year for not only Zeta-Jones, but also Disney starlet, Demi Lovato. After recently opening up about her own personal struggles with and treatment for depression, eating disorders and cutting, Lovato has tweeted her support for Zeta-Jones:

“I don’t know Catherine Zeta-Jones personally but what she has decided to do is SO brave.. And SO difficult but worth it… I’m proud of her.”

The stress of 2010 began for Zeta-Jones when her stepson was faced drug-related charges, resulting in a five year sentence. Month later, her husband, Michael Douglas, was diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer. Although, as of January, Douglas is cancer free, the long-term affects of the difficult year continue to haunt the actress. 

As if this was not enough, the family was thrown another curveball. Douglas’ first wife initiated a court order for a fraction of the earnings he made from his movie, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” This, undoubtedly, has brought even more tension to their household and after a year of non-stop stress, the actress has decided to take her disorder head-on.

Mood swings and depression shook Zeta-Jones while struggling with this disorder. The actress is now in a mental health facility hoping to learn how to cope with and manage her disorder.

Following a difficult year, support is the only thing Zeta-Jones and her family could ask for during yet another rough time. Lovato's tweet not only showed her support for Zeta-Jones, but also her support for others struggling to reach out.

In January, Lovato, 18, returned from her 3-month stay at a treatment center in Illinois. She dropped out of her tour with the Jonas Brothers after some controversy with a back-up dancer. She admitted herself to tackle her own emotional and physical problems. Since returning from her treatment, Lovato has begun to open up about her personal struggles, stemming back to her pre-Disney days.

In her interview with Seventeen magazine, Lovato gave her advice for teenager’s struggling with issues similar to her own: “If you are going through that dark period, go to your family and closest friends…You can overcome and get through anything.” She also addressed the pressures she still experiences even after treatment; she recognizes that she will deal with the temptations of her eating disorder “for the rest of my life because it’s a life-long disease…I’m living with it.” Her story has inspired troubled teens to reach out and confront their inner battles.

Most recently, Lovato has joined the Love is Louder campaign, partnered with The Jed Foundation and Seventeen magazine. “There’s a ton of pressure out there to meet impossible standards…Many of us feel like we have to be everything to everyone,” she explains their inspiration for their newest movement. The movement is referred to as “Love is Louder than the Pressure to Be Perfect” and it discusses teenagers' struggle to achieve perfection in all aspects of life.

Rumors had circulated in the past year of Lovato’s struggles and the teenager’s bravery shines through as she let’s the world into her heart and shares her story. The problems Lovato is discussing are not easy topics to bring up, but the singer and actress sees the importance in supporting troubled teen’s to face these issues.

Lovato told People magazine that she will be posting articles on the Seventeen magazine website, twice a month, to “help other teens talk about and cope with the problems we all face” 

Her life motto? “Never be ashamed of what you feel. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want, and to do what makes you happy.” Who could disagree with that?

Lovato has used her personal struggles and experiences to inspire others to reach out and recognize their problems. One can only hope that once Zeta-Jones returns home, she can do the same.

Reach Ali Blair here.