7 Social Figures who Fought Social Anxiety Disorder Celebrities might appear as the epitome of grace, grandeur and the silhouette of a social status, but even they have own their share of foibles. Their stories and pictures may be splashed across dailies, magazines and websites in the trendiest way possible, yet many of them cringe in their personal lives due to mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, or something else. Here, we take a look at seven celebrities who suffered from anxiety disorders, but overcame their hurdles to become what they are known for: 1. Barbra Streisand: It is difficult to imagine someone of her caliber and status to be a victim of social anxiety disorder. An iconic figure of Broadway performances, the American singer, songwriter, actress, and filmmaker, who had enthralled live audiences with mesmerizing performances since long, admitted in a 2006 interview with Oprah Winfrey of taking anxiety medication before going onstage. She experienced intense stage frights and anxiety before stepping into the spotlight during her lifetime. 2.
Kim Basinger: An Oscar-winning actress with many stellar performances under her belt, Basinger suffered from agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder. She perennially struggled with anxiety throughout her career and had to bank on her medications to manage her panic attacks. “Now I wake up and enjoy life,” she told the People in 2013 after her struggle with agoraphobia. “I didn’t want to live on drugs. I wanted to face everything I was afraid of.”
3. Whoopi Goldberg: An actress par excellence, known for her roles in movies like The Color Purple and Ghost and winning an academy award for the latter, Goldberg too suffered from anxiety disorders. She experienced anxiety through a specific fear of flying which she addressed by attending an airplane course. 4. Emma Stone: “I was just kind of immobilized by it,” she once confessed to the Vogue. “I didn’t want to go to my friends’ houses or hang out with anybody, and nobody really understood.” The beautiful actress who starred in movies like Spiderman suffered severe panic attacks as a child. She underwent therapy sessions to address her anxiety which is pretty under control now. Though she experiences it at
times, the situation is seldom out of hand as she knows how to manage it by channelizing her energy towards work and fun activities. 5. Olivia Munn: The actress who is best known for the portrayal of Sloan Sabbith, with a confident demeanor on HBO’s The Newsroom, Munn too suffered from severe social anxiety. “If I were to walk into someone’s birthday party, I’d have a bad anxiety attack,” she told the People in 2013. But she fought back and managed to overcome the challenge. 6. John Steinbeck: The American author and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962, who penned marvels like The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden, suffered from anxiety and manic depression, which compelled him to seek treatment. He received treatment from psychologist Gertrudis Brenner to deal with his mental health problems. 7. John Mayer: John Clayton Mayer is a performer par excellence who is loved by everyone. But the American singer-songwriter and producer had his private agonies as his life was fraught with anxiety problems, which forced him to keep anti-anxiety medication on hand. Anxiety disorders are treatable with medication and therapy. If you or a loved one is suffering from a social anxiety disorder and looking for social anxiety treatment in Florida, call the Florida Helpline for Anxiety at our 24/7 helpline number 855-920-9834 for immediate assistance. Our expert members can connect you to social anxiety disorders treatment in Florida best suited for you.
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