On November 19, the Oscar winner told broadcast journalist and podcast host Hoda Kotb that she developed anxiety and depression after landing a big role on the 1960s sitcom, Good Morning World. “They said they wrote a part in for me, and I called home and I said, ‘Mom, you’re not going to believe this,’” Hawn said. “And then I became anxious, and I had little panic attacks, and then I realized that every time I’d go into a restaurant or a place, I’d get dizzy, and I would want to go home.”
Hawn isn’t alone in her struggle. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 31 percent of Americans (or, about one in three people) will experience anxiety at some point in their lifetime. Being anxious can cause a variety of symptoms, including constant worrying, feeling restless or nervous, a rapid heartbeat, and difficulty concentrating and sleeping. Traumatic experiences, big life changes, and daily stressors can all contribute to anxiety.
The rise to fame was a big change for Hawn, who said she was a “happy” child growing up. It was only after getting her role on Good Morning World that she noticed she was struggling. “I didn’t know what happened to my joy,” Hawn said. “I tried to fake my smile. I’ll never forget that. It’s the scariest thing that has ever happened to me.”
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Though Hawn didn’t note a singular cause behind her anxiety (and, for what it’s worth, most mental health conditions are rarely due to just one factor), she did tell Kotb that she felt wasn’t on the right career path when she landed her sitcom role. “I didn’t want to do that,” Hawn said. “I was a dancer; I was just getting my feet wet.”
Eventually, Hawn says she began to experience panic attacks on the set of her sitcom. “I had to go back to my dressing room to pull myself together because I didn’t know when another panic attack was going to happen,” she said. Panic attack symptoms come with sudden and unexpected feelings of intense fear or discomfort, and they often cause people who live with them to worry about experiencing another panic attack in the future. Research also shows that women are twice as likely as men to have them.
Hawn said that her lived experiences with anxiety and panic attacks led her to start seeing a psychologist to help her cope, and she continued to see that doctor for nine years. “I was learning about myself,” she said. “I was learning about how to forgive, and I was learning as I grew extremely successful how to be able to manage other people’s perception of me because they didn’t know me.”
Working through her own mental health struggles is what inspired Hawn to create her foundation, MindUp, which develops educational programs to help children process their own emotions and learn to become more empathetic.
Now, Hawn stresses the importance of talking about anxiety and depression, including when you might be having symptoms. “We can’t live in the dark and wonder, ‘what’s going on with me?’” she said. “We have to know that people do experience [these feelings], and it’s really important to acknowledge it. Because only until you acknowledge it, can you fix it.”
You can listen to the full podcast interview between Hawn and Kotb on iHeart or on Apple Podcasts. If you, like Hawn, are experiencing your own challenges with mental health, it’s important to know that you’re not alone and support is available for you. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a good place for resources as you navigate your mental health journey.
