Emma Stone seems to have it all. The Oscar-winning actress is smart, she's witty, and she's a lip-syncing superstar. Oh, and she regularly gets to cozy up to Ryan Gosling—for work.
But the La La Land star has had her share of challenges as well, including a history of anxiety and panic disorders. Stone is the latest among a growing group of celebrities—including Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Kristen Bell, Amanda Seyfried, and Demi Lovato—who are speaking up about their mental health struggles.
"Don't ever feel like you're a weirdo for it. We're all weirdos."
In a new video series, the Child Mind Institute asked celebrities—including Stone, Idina Menzel, and Ali Wentworth—what they'd tell their younger selves about their mental health disorders. Stone packs a punch in her 90-second video.
Keep reading for Stone's top takeaways about living with anxiety—and watch the video below.
1. You're not alone
"You're so normal, it's crazy," Stone says. "Everyone experiences a version of anxiety or worry in their lives. Maybe we go through it in a different or more intense way for longer periods of time, but there's nothing wrong with you." (And she's right: One in five adults in the US deal with mental health issues.) "Don't ever feel like you're a weirdo for it," she says. "We're all weirdos."
2. Your anxiety makes you unique—and more in touch with your emotions
"To be a sensitive person that cares a lot, that takes things in in a deep way, is actually part of what makes you amazing and is one of the greatest gifts of life," says Stone. "You think a lot and feel a lot—you feel deeply, and it's the best."
3. It gets better
"I wouldn't trade it for the world," says Stone. "Even when there are really hard times, there are so many tools you can use to help yourself in those times, and it does get better and easier as life goes on and you start to get to know yourself more and what will trigger certain instances of anxiety and where you feel comfortable and safe." Those tools can include anything from seeking professional help through therapy or finding ways to quiet the noise, like taking a social media hiatus, which Stone is all about. The actress is famously not on Instagram or Twitter: In 2014, Stone told Vanity Fair she wasn't interested in seeking validation from strangers based on carefully cultivated photos, and she's stayed true to her word.
Here's the full video:
https://v-cdn.embedly.com/production/gRUkXchX/mp4/1500.mp4
Ellie Goulding and Lo Bosworth are just two fellow celebrities who also deal with anxiety issues. Goulding says this workout helped her overcome her panic attacks, and Bosworth found relief with these two vitamins.
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