Catherine Zeta Jones Headed Toward Mental Health Crisis, Friend Says

Catherine Zeta Jones may be spiraling downward into a mental health crisis in the wake of her divorce, a friend of the actress has said.

Anna Walker was maid of honor when Catherine married Michael Douglas 13 years ago, and now the friend says she’s worried about Catherine’s mental health.

“The next few weeks will be very tough and I’m very worried about her,” Walker, a TV host in the UK, told the Daily Mail. “This is a very traumatic time and mental health could be adversely affected.”

Catherine Zeta Jones has been open in the past about her struggles with bipolar disorder and her treatment of the disease. But Douglas’ recent diagnosis of throat cancer and ensuing treatment may have only added stress to the marriage, Walker said.

“I’m sure it’s not been easy for her to cope with the stress of Michael’s illness. She’s just had another round of treatment for her bipolar and if she can keep that in check under all this stress it will be a miracle,” she said.

Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas announced this week that they were splitting, but insiders say the decision has been made for much longer.

It was actually Michael’s brush with cancer that put the divorce wheels into motion, one source said. After being declared cancer-free in 2011, the 69-year-old Douglas began to re-evaluate his life and realized that his relationship with Catherine was in shambles.

“He concluded that his marriage was over in all but name and he saw no point in continuing to live a lie,” an insider told The Mail on Sunday.

Even though all the warning signs were there, the divorce has still come as a shock to Catherine, her friend and former maid of honor said.

“Her parents have been together for more than 50 years and are her role models,” Walker said of Catherine Zeta Jones. “She wanted her marriage to be like theirs.”

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