Beyond Anxiety and Depression - Celebrities & Anxiety

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David Bowie: Success with Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 03:51:06 +0000

Did you know that many of your favorite singers suffer from anxiety? Although you may not realize that they do because of what you see on stage; their anxieties are very real and are often crippling to them. David Bowie even suffers from anxiety and extreme shyness. Although this hasn't prevented him from being a successful celebrity, it does affect his personal life. He's spoken out about this a few times, but generally avoids interviews because he has a hard time talking with people.

It's interesting to see how singers and other celebrities like him can become so successful. They are able to change their personalities while on stage and can become other people! This is a big reason why stage names and other personas are so common with singers.

How does David Bowie Deal with his Anxiety?

When you see David Bowie put on a performance you will think he's outgoing, fun, exciting and generally a flamboyant person. But, when Bowie is off of the stage it's a completely different story. When he's not pretending to be someone else, he has to deal with the shyness of being himself! Like many other celebrities and singers, Bowie uses his music and his stage to be someone else.

His shyness motivated him to be Ziggy Stardust and to explore a world where he wasn't afraid or panicking. He even appears on Broadway acting in small parts. When he is able to be someone else his concerns about being shy completely go away. He knows what he is going to do and say, but he also knows that he's free to be a different person. This gives him an outlet to be expressive and different from how he normally is every day.

Bowie's on-stage persona is one that has captured audiences for years. His success is a result of being able to entertain people of all ages while singing his heart out. He can put on an amazing show all while being interactive with the audience. Nobody would second guess that he would be extremely shy when meeting him in person. This is why a lot of fans are shocked to see what their favorite singers are really like in person. Meet and greets can really open up the eyes of fans so they can see just how shy and introverted many singers really are.

David deals with his anxiety by focusing on his work and being someone else when he is on stage. While he still does interviews as himself, you will notice that he is far different from the person you see on stage. He is quiet, not outgoing and has a shy way about how he acts. His ability to cope with his anxiety is an inspiration to anyone who wants to be successful and really explore all the sides they have. If you have any type of anxiety you should be able to express your personality instead of hide it!

What you can Learn from David Bowie

You don't have to set out a goal to be a huge singer or celebrity in order to deal with your anxiety. Instead, you should find something that takes your mind off of it. This could certainly be playing music, but it could also be golfing or creating crafts. There are tons of hobbies out there that can help you meet new people, learn how to be in social situations and allow you to deal with your anxiety in a healthy way.

You might also want to consider going to therapy on a regular basis. This is something that many people, including celebrities, do to help improve their coping skills. Whether you have extreme anxieties or those that are mild, you should seek help. Even if you're just shy like David Bowie you can become successful and motivate yourself to be better. The options for overcoming and controlling anxiety are endless when you're able to release your fears and focus on what is really important to you.

There is no rule that says you have to go out in front of hundreds of people or talk to everyone you see. How you choose to cope with your anxieties is completely up to you. David Bowie sings as a different person on stage, but when he goes home he's himself. Everyone has their own way of facing their issues and nobody has to be the same.

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Anxious but Sucessful: How Kristen Stewart Overcomes her Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 03:27:50 +0000

If you've ever seen Kristen Stewart on the red carpet or on television doing interviews, you probably know she is socially awkward. Kristen had been acting for a long time before she got her role in the film series Twilight. These movies pushed her career to new heights and made her more famous than she probably imaged was possible. Soon after she got the role of Bella, she was being followed just about everywhere by photographers. She became an icon, but also the target of cruelty. Her shy exterior and anxiety has been apparent by many and has caused her to become more aware of her insecurities.

Anxiety being Herself

At age 14 Kristen decided to quit school because she felt she did not fit in. This caused her to become more introverted and private than she was in the past. She didn't have a lot of exposure to other people and did not have a lot of close friends, struggling to find ways of how to be more social. She turned to acting to express herself and landed small roles while she was very young. These eventually led to getting larger parts in the blockbuster films that have been released today.

Kristen Stewart appears as awkward pretty much every time she is in the public eye. If you watch her at award shows giving speeches it is easy to see that she is uncomfortable. Her body language and shyness both give away the fact that she would rather be somewhere else. This is a big reason why she avoids doing interviews and why she doesn't give in to reading articles about herself online.

Stewart has even said that she has to try hard to keep herself from crying while she is doing interviews. The pressure to be perfect is often more than she can handle. She finds it difficult to be herself and has a hard time facing the cruelty that is so prevalent Celebrities, and the anxiety it causes for them. Many times she will say something strange or be conveyed as "weird" to the public because her anxieties get the best of her.

Kristen also has anxiety and fears about her fans harming her because of her role in the Twilight franchise. Many of the mega fans took to the internet talking about harming her due to her relationship with Robert Pattinson, her co-star on the films. Stewart does not take these threats lightly and that is a big reason why she has a lot of fearfulness when meeting any of her fans. She gets scared of large crowds, what people will say and how they will react to her.

Anxiety in Movies

Many people feel that Stewart is an extremely awkward actress, even when she is in huge movie roles. Many fans say that she is tight and unconvincing as an actress because she doesn't open up. This could be a result of anxiety taking over, but Stewart has yet to comment back. She just continues to move on with her life and take up different roles to expand her resume. She says she enjoys acting a variety of parts because it allows her to explore different sides of herself.

Even when Stewart hits the red carpet for her films it's apparent she does not feel comfortable. She does not ham it up on the camera or talk about her personal life. Instead she will do a few short interviews and then disappear until the end of the night. She doesn't like to be in the center of attention, especially when she doesn't know anyone she is talking to.

How to Overcome Social Anxiety like Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart hasn't ever announced that she has a social phobia or anxiety, but it is apparent with the way she acts. She's hinted at the fact that she is uncomfortable in the spotlight and has hid her true self for many years. Stewart could definitely benefit from therapy to teach her tools for how to control her anxiety. Being a celebrity with anxiety certainly isn't easy, but it's something many people deal with.

If you feel like you have the same outward awkwardness as Stewart does, you might want to consider therapy. You might be surprised at how much this can help you open up and change the way you react. You are still going to have the anxieties on a daily basis, but there are things you can do to control the way you act. This control can help you gain a lot of confidence!

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Even Teens Like Selena Gomez Suffer from Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 03:14:18 +0000

She's the face of Disney, has her own clothing line, is dating Justin Bieber, is a singer and is only 22 years old. It seems Selena Gomez has accomplished more in her life than most people could imagine. She's been acting since a young age and has skyrocketed into the spotlight with all of her singing and acting talents. Although this girl certainly leads a great life, she does have problems that affect her personally, as is often the case for celebrities in the public spotlight. Selena has recently started talking about how she suffers from anxiety and how it affects her each day.

Selena's Career Anxiety

Selena started acting at a young age by landing the star role in Disney Channel's The Wizards of Waverly Place. Fortunately this show became a success and Selena enjoyed years of this show, which led to her eventual film career. She's been in many movies and has even launched a successful singing career. She has released a couple of albums that have all had hit songs that top the charts. Starting a career like this at a young age led to a lot of adult choices, but her support system is strong.

The recent pressure of her movie schedule caused Gomez to have an anxiety attack while filming. Fortunately she was able to get through the panic by speaking with her co-workers and taking time to herself. She even took to her Twitter page talking about how she needed to relax. Even someone like Selena can have anxiety because she has so much stress when filming movies. Busy schedules, little sleep and the pressure to do well can be more than most adults can handle, let alone a 22 year old actress.

Although Selena does suffer from bouts of anxiety due to her busy and stressful life, she is able to move on. She has gotten more movie roles and plans on releasing more albums. Her continued success is a result of her learning how to manage and control her anxiety and talk through it with those who can help. She has many close friends that she's able to open up to, which offer her advice and comfort.

Selena's Relationship Anxiety

Gomez's relationship with Justin Bieber has been off and on throughout the years. It seems as soon as they get back together there are stories about them breaking up. A friend actually revealed that Selena suffers from a lot of anxiety about her relationship with Bieber, which causes more anxiety in her everyday life. Both of their schedules cause them to spend a considerable time away from each other. This causes trust issues and anxiety for her, which has resulted in weight loss.

Selena also attributes her anxiety to her constant exposure to paparazzi. It's never easy to have pictures taken of you 24/7, especially when you want to enjoy some private moments to yourself. She has a difficult time going anywhere, whether it's to the store or out on a date with her boyfriend. This can create a challenge that is hard to overcome, especially when in the public eye constantly.

Your Success with Anxiety

Everyone can suffer from a tumultuous relationship during their life, which is why it's extremely important to learn how to manage fears. Not all relationships are perfect and most will go through their ups and downs. Keep in mind it is important to realize when it is becoming unhealthy for you. If a relationship is causing you to have problems in your everyday life and suffer from anxiety more than usual, it might be time to seek counseling or quit it all together.

While you might not be working on movie sets or dating a mega-star, there are probably fears and worries you have on a daily basis. It's important that you learn, just like Selena did, that practicing relaxation techniques for anxiety and facing your fears is important. While she is young and still learning how to navigate through life, she's doing a great job of making good decisions. A strong support system and great therapist can help you get through your anxieties so you live a healthier and more fulfilled life. You might also consider other natural anxiety remedies for managing anxiety.

Selena Gomez can be an inspiration whether you suffer from mild or extreme anxieties. You can be successful just like she is and you can enjoy your life as well! You shouldn't have limits on what you can do when there are ways to manage your anxiety.

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Social Anxiety in Celebrities - What Lessons Can We Learn?

Gloria Goodwin — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 01:48:48 +0000

It is difficult to imagine celebrities suffering from social anxiety simply because their lives revolve around appearing before lots of people and the media. On the contrary, this can and does happen, proving that nobody is immune to social anxiety. However, many of these celebrities have been able to cope with the condition and become successful despite their condition. If you are struggling with social anxiety, it is important to understand that you are not alone. Celebrities, from comedians to sportspeople, have learned how to overcome their social anxiety - and so can you.

How does social anxiety affect celebrities?

Most shy or socially phobic people believe they are expected to behave perfectly and display lots of self-confidence. While this is generally a false belief for most normal people, it may seem truer for celebrities since their jobs often entail appearing or performing in front of people. Typically, successful celebrities are those who receive favorable responses from their audience, so it would naturally be accurate to assume your audience is judging you when you are a celebrity. It is also worth noting that just like normal people, celebrities also develop the condition during childhood and adolescence, or as a result of learnt behavior within the family setting. It's also worth noting that anxiety affects women more then men, and celebrities seem to be no exception.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Facial blushing or sweating is common in people with social anxiety, but this could present a greater problem for a celebrity. Appearing before cameras without a script or when not performing can trigger reactions from the sympathetic nervous system in a celebrity. When exposed to such a situation, the body experiences fear, which in turn activates the fight or flight response and pumps adrenaline into the bloodstream. The symptoms of social anxiety may not be so obvious, but certain reactions are observable including blushing, sweating or stuttering. For instance, although an actor may be outspoken and confident while acting, he or she may stutter or look down when receiving an award. This is a clear indication of social anxiety.

Challenges for Celebrities with Anxiety

When appearing or performing in public is the essence of your career, it becomes even more important to overcome social anxiety. The condition has been a hindrance for many people who would otherwise be successful actors, musicians and sportspeople. Barbra Streisand, a famous music artist, developed social phobia after forgetting the lyrics to one of her songs during a performance, which led to many years of avoiding on-stage performances. She eventually dealt with her social phobia and began performing again decades later. With this knowledge, you can only imagine how many more potential celebrities are missing from the spotlight as a result of social anxiety.

Coping strategies

Like normal people, the coping strategies for social phobia differ for celebrities. Daniel Tosh, a comedian, copes with social anxiety by creating a new personality when on stage or in front of a camera. He is outspoken in front of strangers and crowds, but laid back and quiet around family and close friends. This strategy only works for certain individuals - not everyone can successfully put on a new personality, go out and interact with others with ease. However, professional help from specialists is critical when identifying the most appropriate coping strategy to keep the condition under control.

How does treatment help?

Seeking treatment for social anxiety as early as possible is also recommended. Barbra Streisand, who was eventually treated with medication, has been quoted as saying that she wished she had known about the medication years before she finally got treatment. The number of opportunities she missed to perform live for more than 30 years is best left to the imagination. Typical treatment options include therapy, medication, alternative treatments, and natural anxiety remedies. Identifying the appropriate treatment option for your particular situation will ensure that unlike her, you will not have to miss any opportunities in your life.

Many celebrities today are living with social anxiety, but they are still able to perform in front of crowds and live their lives to the fullest. You will probably be surprised when you hear some of the names of celebrities living with the condition. They include Oprah Winfrey, Olivia Munn, David Bowie, Amanda Seyfried, Kristen Stewart, Winona Ryder, Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, Johnny Depp and Kim Basinger and comedian Daniel Tosh. They were all able to take control of their lives and prevent the condition from hindering their success. If there was ever a reason to believe that social anxiety can be overcome, these celebrities have proven it over and over again.

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How Emma Stone Overcame her Anxieties in Life

Gloria Goodwin — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 03:42:28 +0000

Emma Stone is the face of Revlon, she's in a ton of movies and she graces the covers of most magazines today. Her ambitions to become a successful actress paid off when she landed the life changing role in the movie Super Bad. Soon after this movie filmed, Emma was getting more and more roles in huge movies. The best part was that she was the lead actress in most of these and she shined like a true star!

What you probably don't know about Emma is that she has suffered from anxiety since she was a child. She has opened up about this and is a great role model for any woman dealing with anxiety. If you suffer from anxiety and want someone to look up to, Emma Stone is a great choice.

When Emma's Anxieties Started

When Emma was just 8 years old she started experiencing her first panic attacks. She said she would feel immobilized and afraid for no apparent reason. She constantly felt anxious and didn't want to go out or do any social activities that most kids enjoyed. This crippled her life and caused her to become very introverted as a result. Fortunately, she started therapy soon after this.

Her therapy sessions lasted for several years and was where she learned techniques for facing her anxieties. When she turned 11 years old she enrolled in theater, which is where she found comedy. Emma found her passion in comedy and knew that it was something she could use the ease her panic attacks and anxious thoughts. She said she learned how to roll with the punches when she was being a comedian and enjoyed the laughter it gave her.

Emma's Anxieties Today

Emma understands now how to better control her anxieties, although she knows they will never go away. Now whenever she is feeling a panic attack or anxious feelings, she does a certain activity. For example, sometimes she will do creative work and other times she will bake a cake. She even had attacks when on the set of the movie "Crazy, Stupid, Love", but she was able to control them. While she was on the set of the most recent "Spider-Man" movie she said she was baking all the time because of her panic. She realized that panic was a result of not being in control of her surroundings or what was going on.

Emma is a fantastic example of someone who has been able to really take control of her anxiety, like so many celebrities have learnt to do. Not only is she not afraid to talk about it, she also wasn't too afraid to get help. The few years she spent in therapy taught her a lot about herself and opened her up to a whole new world, which was comedy. Through comedy she has created an amazing career for herself that other people can look up to.

Stone is also a great role model because she is all about honesty and bettering yourself. She learned how to channel her own anxieties to activities that she actually enjoys. This takes a lot of courage and it takes a lot of self-confidence. Though she is always going to deal with the anxious feelings and sometimes panic attacks, she can better control them when she needs to the most. This control allows her to have a flourishing career that will only continue to grow into the future.

Tips for Getting Through your Anxiety

Go see a therapist when you want to get help. This will ensure you learn how to deal with your thoughts, fears and nervousness.
Keep a strong support system of people around you that you can talk to. Emma is best friends with her mom, who she can talk to about her anxiety.
Try channeling your anxiety into activities like Emma does. If you don't want to bake maybe you can try a new sport or even something like knitting! Taking your mind off of these things can make a huge difference with your well-being and just how you feel on a daily basis.
Explore the large array of natural anxiety remedies and herbal remedies for anxiety.
Realize that change doesn't happen overnight and if you end up having an attack that is okay. You have to learn how to navigate your feelings and your emotions, which can take a while in order to master.

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Kim Basinger's Battle With Social Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:36:51 +0000

Do you suffer from anxiety attacks and depression? If you feel that you are, fear not for you are not alone. Millions of people all around the world have experienced what you've been through or what you're going through. Even celebrities and people who seem to have everything - money, fame, power - struggle with anxiety and depression at some point in their lives.

Kim Basinger is one of the many celebrities who battled with social anxiety. Born in Athens, Georgia on December 8, 1953, Basinger won the Georgia Junior Miss Pageant at the age of 16 and moved on to the National competition in New York. After a brief stint as a successful model, Basinger decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of being an actress. She won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars in 1997 for her film LA Confidential. Kim was married and divorced twice, first to Ron Britton, second to actor Alec Baldwin, with whom she has a daughter.

Anxiety from an early age

Kim's parents had her tested as a child for autism and/or other psychiatric disorders due to her being so withdrawn. The test results were inconclusive. Kim's worst fear while growing up was reading aloud in class that it reached a point when her teachers thought she was experiencing a nervous breakdown. When she accepted her award at the Oscars, she couldn't even speak even when she practiced her acceptance speech days beforehand.

Panic: A Film About Coping

In the HBO produced film Panic: A Film About Coping, Kim has been open about her struggles with her social anxiety, panic disorder and agoraphobia. She reveals that she has received professional psychological therapy for her disorder but that she still remains shy and vulnerable to panic attacks and agoraphobia.

People who suffer from social anxiety disorder tend to have an irrational fear of being constantly watched, judged or evaluated and they greatly fear humiliating or embarrassing themselves or finding themselves in embarrassing situations. Their anxiety and level of discomfort becomes so grave that it interferes with how they function on a daily basis. Social anxiety disorder or SAD is one of the most common types of mental disorders. Thirteen percent of the general population experience symptoms of SAD at some point in their lives. However with proper diagnosis and treatment, the symptoms of SAD can be controlled and the quality of life can vastly improve.

There is a significant difference between feeling normally shy and having SAD and it depends on the symptoms' gravity and persistence that a person experiences. People who have SAD generally present emotional and physical symptoms. The emotional symptoms have been mentioned in the previous paragraph. The physical symptoms include blushing, excessive sweating, muscle tension, tremors, increased heart rate or palpitations.

Treatment for Social Anxiety

People who have SAD recognize that their fear is irrational and is out of proportional to the situation they find themselves in. However, they are unable to control their anxiety. Their anxiety can either be classified as specific SAD, wherein their feelings of anxiety is specific to one type of social situation or it may be classified as generalized SAD wherein they experience anxiety in all types of situations. Common triggers of SAD include making direct eye contact, interacting with strangers and initiating conversations.

SAD usually begins around the adolescent years, although it may also start during childhood. The general belief is that SAD results from a combination of several factors, both environmental and genetic. As SAD tends to run in families, researchers believe that the underlying cause of SAD is most likely genetic. An imbalance in brain chemistry has been linked to the disorder, such as an imbalance in serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical that regulates emotions and mood and plays a role in the development of the disorder. Using medication in order to treat SAD indicates a necessity for regulating brain chemicals.

Environmental factors may also play a role in increasing your risk of developing this type of mental disorder. Factors such as having a controlling or protective parent, having experienced being bullied as a child, sexual abuse and family conflicts.

There are two available treatment options for people who have SAD: medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. Oftentimes, health professionals use these two types of treatments simultaneously for optimal results.

Cognitive behavioral therapy entails exposure of the patient with SAD to situations that trigger the disorder in order to develop their confidence, cognitive restructuring that serves to alter maladaptive thought patterns which greatly contributes to the symptoms of SAD, and social skills training which helps those people who lack certain social skills.

The first line of treatment for people with SAD is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, more commonly known as SSRIs. Some people may notice an improvement in their symptoms after a short period of treatment, while others need to medicate continuously in order to avoid relapses.

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Celebrities that Overcome Anxiety: Olivia Munn's Story

Gloria Goodwin — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 02:52:53 +0000

Olivia Munn is a beautiful actress well known for her roles in many big films today. She makes many guest appearances on network television and she's continued to act in blockbusters gaining bigger roles each year. In addition to being an actress, Munn also models for many different companies. For example, she's been in Playboy and also has modeled for Pepsi. She even became an author in 2010 with her book Suck It, Wonder Woman.

While Munn's life certainly is in the spotlight and she enjoys it, there are many different layers to her. Her confidence on screen and in pictures masks the fact that she has a rare form of anxiety disorder. She recently spoke about this disorder, how it affects her life and how she has overcome it for so many years.

Trichotillomania and Life

Olivia has an anxiety disorder that not many people are familiar with. This is where she rips out her eyelashes by just using her fingers. Other people with trichotillomania rip out their hair follicles on other areas of their body, but this isn't the case with Munn. She admits that she doesn't bite her nails or rip out other hair on her body, but she can't stop ripping out her lashes. She admits that it doesn't cause her pain because she's been doing it for so many years. This has caused her to constantly wear fake eyelashes whether she's doing a photo shoot or just going to the grocery store.

This disorder causes even more anxiety because she doesn't want people to make fun of her. As a child she grew up moving around all the time. This made her a perpetual "new kid", which meant other kids making fun of her. Her anxieties as a child still follow her around today and have manifested themselves into this disorder. Olivia doesn't speak a lot about her disorder or how it affects her, but she has made it known.

Olivia even revealed that her social anxiety affects her when she goes out to parties and social occassions. She explained that when going to a party recently, she simply stood outside because she didn't want to go in alone. Her fear of people being mean to her has caused her to have problems in many social situations throughout her life. While she hasn't let them affect her professionally, they have made an impact on her personal life.

Focusing on Life and Moving Forward

She is focused on expanding her career and has spent most of her time making connections with people she has worked with in the past. All of this work takes a lot of her time and her attention, which leads to countless hours spent not thinking about her disorder. While she has opened up about her trichotillomania to many media outlets, she doesn't speak about it on her social networking sites.

She's recently landed even more roles in huge movies that are set to come out later this year. These roles have given her more passion than ever to continue with her career and get more parts in the future. She doesn't let her disorder slow her down, which is why she has been so successful. Whether she's at a modeling shoot or acting in a blockbuster she puts her heart and soul into what she is doing without letting her anxieties hold her back.

How you can be Successful with Anxiety

If you suffer from this disorder or any other type of anxiety disorder, you should know there are ways to get through it. Although those anxieties are always going to be there, they don't have to control your life. You can use Olivia's story as one that provides you with hope and inspiration. If someone who works in Hollywood can survive with anxiety, so can you! Your fears don't have to control what you accomplish in life, whether professionally or personally.

Try putting all of your focus into something you care about and see how you feel. This can easily take your mind off of your anxiety and help you move forward with something new. You will never know what you can accomplish in life until you try your hardest. No disorder has the ability to control your life, especially if you are focused and determined, just like Olivia Munn and other celebrities!

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Oprah Winfrey and her Unknown Anxiety Story

Gloria Goodwin — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 02:23:35 +0000

If you haven't heard of Oprah Winfrey, then chances are pretty high that you've been living under a rock for at least the last 20 years. Oprah has made a name for herself that people around the world know today. Becoming a household name is not easy, especially when she did it so many years ago. Although Oprah is powerful, wealthy and a good businesswoman, there are still emotional problems she has suffered from. For example, did you know she still suffers from anxiety, like so many celebrities do?

It's no surprise that one of the wealthiest women in the world has anxieties, especially considering the huge choices she has to make on a daily basis. Starting her own network, quitting her show and other decisions do not come easy no matter how wealthy and successful you are.

Oprah's Lifelong Anxiety

While Oprah still battles anxiety today; it's something that has affected her throughout her entire life. She recently revealed that when she was a child she was sexually abused. The abuse she suffered happened for several years, which really took a toll on her mental and physical health. This experience changed the way she looked at her life and she was never the same after it. Her anxieties were rooted in the abuse she dealt with for years until she finally got professional help. These experiences caused her to have bad self-esteem and an anxious feeling when dealing with some people.

At the age of 14 she gave birth to a son, but he unfortunately passed away soon after birth. Oprah's bad life experiences then led her to run away from home. After years of battling with her mother and finally being sent away, she found her place. This is where she found her voice and learned how to talk with and trust people once again. Her first job was at a corner store where she wasn't allowed to speak with people, but things changed when she got a job at a radio station.

This led to a job and opportunity to run a camera, which then led to being in front of one! Oprah knew that if she wanted to be successful and speak with people, she would have to let her anxieties go. When she was a reporter her downfall was having too much empathy for people. She wanted to work with people instead of report the news about them. The thought of spending her career at a news desk like this gave Oprah even more anxiety about her life. That is not what she wanted to do and couldn't imagine her life staying that way.

She used her fears and anxieties to push herself to where she is today. Soon after that, she got an opportunity to host a talk show and never looked back! Her wildly successful show turned into a phenomenon and made Oprah the powerful woman she is today. In fact, some say she's one of the most influential women in the world. Her talk show ran for 25 years and was one of the most watched daytime television programs of all time.

Oprah's Adult Anxieties

Oprah had never revealed this abuse until she opened up to David Letterman a couple of years ago. She admits that she relied on religion to get her through the process and that the challenges she went through affected her mental state. She now heads many different foundations that help women all around the world get educated about sexual abuse, including rape. Talking about her sexual abuse has been very healing and she's been able to find comfort in helping others.

Her anxieties today are a bit different from what everyone else deals with, but they can be extremely stressful and worrisome. When she made moves to purchase her own television network, OWN, she worried about whether or not it was a good business decision. Only time will tell if this investment pays off, which is why Oprah still carries around anxiety about it today.

The success story of how Oprah overcame her abusive childhood and became one of the most powerful women in the world is one every person should know! She was able to turn her anxieties into a driving force that made her career what it is today. Although she still makes huge decisions that carry the weight of worry, she is able to get through it by using her passion and hope. She's an advocate for women and speaks freely about her anxieties today.

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Johnny Depp and his Social Anxiety Battle

Gloria Goodwin — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 03:02:58 +0000

A lot of people think that celebrities don't have any problem with anxiety because they are constantly in the spotlight. Someone who has been in tons of movies and that does award shows with cameras all over certainly can't have anxiety, right? While it does take some fine tuning and time in order to master how to be a public figure, not all celebrities have it down perfectly. For example, Johnny Depp is one of the biggest celebrities today and he suffers from anxiety that affects his everyday life. Some people can see this while others cannot, simply because it certainly doesn't shine through in his films.

Anxiety on Television

While you certainly can't tell that Depp has anxiety while he's acting, it can be seen while he's doing interviews on various talk shows. At times he looks uncomfortable and even panicked just because he's in front of a crowd or all of the cameras. This affects the way he sits, the way he responds and even his facial expressions. There are numerous interviews you can find online that show his discomfort, which can come across and rudeness to some people. You can see that he gets shy and sometimes doesn't speak a lot when he's doing interviews, which are both signs of his disorder showing up.

There are many actors that suffer from anxiety and most of them do not show it when they act. This is thought to be the result of them being someone else when they are acting. For example, when acting in a movie they are being someone that is not themselves. This means they will talk different, say different things and even look different. When doing interviews and speaking as their true selves is when they become anxious and scared.

You'd never second guess Johnny having anxiety disorder if you watched one of his films. He can take on a broad range of characters and change the way he looks dramatically. This acting ability allows him to be free of his anxiety without having to worry about people seeing the way he really is. A lot of celebrities feel this same way, but unfortunately when they are off the big screen they turn to drugs or alcohol. This has led to a lot of deaths, which is what many people think happened with Heath Ledger.

Overcoming his Anxiety

Depp has access to therapists at all times, including on movie sets, to help talk to him and advise him on how to control anxiety when it strikes. These professionals can help him change his way of thinking so he is able to get through the day doing what he loves the most. While it is difficult for him to go out and do interviews; he is able to do it. He's not the best at being outgoing or friendly when he's in uncomfortable situations, but it's still able to try.

Johnny gets through countless media interviews, including those that are in front of hundreds of people. His ability to do this is something that anyone can appreciate, but especially those who suffer from anxiety themselves. Depp is a great role model for anxiety sufferers because of what he has been able to achieve and how he deals with his disorder on a regular basis. It isn't easy for him, but he does it and he is successful!

Can you Overcome your Anxiety?

If a celebrity like Johnny Depp, who has been in countless films and television shows, can control his anxiety, so can you. The biggest reason why he is successful is because he has learned how to manage his anxieties and and developed relaxation techniques for anxiety. It is apparent that he is uncomfortable when he is being himself, and that is okay. You don't have to be perfect and you don't have to put pressure on yourself.

A big part of overcome social anxiety or any other type of anxiety is playing out your fears. In addition to this, working with a therapist can help out quite a bit. Both of these things can work together to change the way you think and the way fears play a role in your life. Anxiety is something that can affect anyone, but it doesn't have to be something that takes over your life.

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