If you’re struggling with anxiety, daily life can feel overwhelming. You can feel like you’re alone, and that no one understands just how daunting it can be.
But it’s important to know that there are others like you, living with anxiety, and are continuously finding ways to cope with it every day.
It can be comforting to know that people in varying degrees of success understand and have lived your experience, and that you too can find ways to live with anxiety while still living your best life.
Below, 10 celebrities you didn’t know were struggling with anxiety.
- Amanda Seyfried
You’ll be surprised to know that Amanda Seyfried has been struggling with OCD since childhood, and that she’s found that as she’s sought help for it, she’s learned that a lot of it is her anxiety running high and trying to control it.
- Jesinta Franklin
Crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2010, Jesinta Franklin is open about her struggles with anxiety, and has found that speaking to a counsellor and her Doctor, as well as leaning on her friends and family for support, have helped her to manage her symptoms.
- Selena Gomez
A vocal advocate for mental health and anxiety, singer Selena Gomez makes sure that she’s focusing on her health above all.
- Lady Gaga
Another celebrity who has battled depression and anxiety, Lady Gaga even created the Born This Way Foundation in 2012 which focuses on building empowered communities and improving mental health resources for young adults.
- Gina Rodriguez
Known for her role in Jane the Virgin, Gina Rodriguez is open about her anxiety, and emphasises that it’s okay to be anxious, even if it’s uncomfortable.
- Zayn Malik
The former One Direction singer wrote a memoir, as well as an article for Time, after becoming a solo artist and becoming vocal about his anxiety issues. He says that it “is nothing to be ashamed of”, and that he “wanted to be honest,” for his fans’ sake.
- Ariana Grande
From a cover story in British Vogue, Ariana Grande says, “I’ve never really spoken about it because I thought everyone had it, but when I got home from tour it was the most severe I think it’s ever been,” following the bombing at her Manchester Arena concert in 2017.
- Kim Kardashian-West
The star has opened up about her anxiety, especially around car crashes, and has admitted to seeing a therapist for it.
- Emma Stone
Emma Stone opened up about her anxiety issues, and even shared that her first panic attack was when she was 7 years old. While she still struggles with panic attacks today, seeing a therapist, meditating, and keeping close connections with people has helped her cope.
- Whoopi Goldberg
For years, she traveled via private bus from New York to Los Angeles because she was so afraid of flying. Her anxiety is known as a phobia, and Whoopi Goldberg is working through hers by taking a course by Virgin Atlantic which helps people work through their issues with flying.
If you’re living with an injury, illness or disability, there are services available to help you find work. DES Providers are organisations whose sole mission is to help those living with disabilities to find work.
