The new Taylor Swift documentary, Miss Americana, is making waves as she opens up about hate, shame, anxiety, and an eating disorder that reduced her to a size two. Celebrities, just like anyone else, deal with mental health issues. Anxiety, for instance, is quite common, and a survey by the Mental Health Foundation shows that around three million people suffer from it.
Here are some influential celebrities who have dealt with anxiety and panic attacks.
Taylor Swift, now 30, has faced public scrutiny from a young age, labeled as “too annoying,” “too skinny,” or even appearing “pregnant.” In her documentary, she reveals a period when she isolated herself for a year, thinking that’s what people wanted. Despite her confident public persona and numerous awards, she struggled privately with anxiety, including while in a romantic relationship. Swift felt she always had to be the “good girl,” burdened by expectations from executives to not express her opinions. This pressure led to extreme measures like starving herself, resulting in fainting spells during performances.
Another celebrity, Sienna Miller, known for her roles in Stardust and Layer Cake, has avoided social media for over two years due to anxiety. Despite some people brushing off celebrities’ mental health issues as trendy, disorders like anxiety and depression are incredibly common. Anxiety UK reports about 10 percent of the UK population will experience an anxiety disorder at some point.
Model Kendall Jenner has also spoken openly about her anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep paralysis. She filed a restraining order against a stalker, which added to her distress. Jenner’s anxiety has made her fear falling asleep due to the terrifying experiences of sleep paralysis, a state where one is awake but unable to move or speak, often accompanied by hallucinations.
Singer Adele, who burst into the mainstream in 2008, has also faced anxiety, particularly about live performances. She’s battled panic attacks and finds strength in her alter ego, Sasha Carter, inspired by Beyoncé and June Carter. This persona helps her manage stage fright.
Kristen Bell, known for her role in Frozen, actively challenges the stigma surrounding mental health. She shares her experiences with anxiety and encourages others to seek help without shame. Bell even held an Instagram Q&A to discuss anxiety and shares her coping mechanisms, including the use of CBD lotion.
Ryan Reynolds, famous for his role in Deadpool, has confessed to struggling with anxiety his entire life. He often uses his humorous, quick-witted characters to cope with his anxious nature. Reynolds attributes some of his anxiety to a difficult relationship with his father, which pushed him to over-compensate in maintaining household peace.
Gina Rodriguez, star of Jane the Virgin, has opened up about her battles with panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, especially while filming. She’s used social media to discuss her struggles and aims to reduce stigma around mental health, particularly in the Latino community. Rodriguez also deals with a thyroid condition that affects her weight and energy levels, further complicating her mental health journey.
These stories highlight that anxiety is widespread, affecting people across all walks of life, including some of the most successful and influential celebrities.
