Millie Bobby Brown Shares How She Overcame Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
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- Actress Millie Bobby Brown experienced three months of anxiety and panic attacks after a traumatic incident where she was chased by a group of people.
- She described her anxiety as cyclical, triggered by significant events, and isolating.
- Brown found a way to manage her anxiety through meditation and spending time with monks in Japan, an experience she found transformative.
Millie Bobby Brown, the star of "Stranger Things," revealed she endured three months of intense anxiety and panic attacks following a deeply traumatic experience of being chased by a group of people.
My anxiety doesn't just come on a Monday, then show up again on a Wednesday. Something big has to happen, and then it will last for two months, every day. So my anxiety comes in cycles.
Speaking on the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast, Brown explained that her anxiety was not random but occurred in cycles, typically triggered by major life events. "My anxiety doesn't just come on a Monday, then show up again on a Wednesday. Something big has to happen, and then it will last for two months, every day. So my anxiety comes in cycles," she said.
The 22-year-old actress recalled one of the most challenging periods of her life, where a prolonged cycle of anxiety lasted for three months after she was pursued by individuals. "One of the longest cycles I've ever had maybe lasted for three months. I was chased by someone somewhere and it made me have anxiety and panic attacks for three months. The incident was very intense and scary. I shut myself off for three months," she recounted.
One of the longest cycles I've ever had maybe lasted for three months. I was chased by someone somewhere and it made me have anxiety and panic attacks for three months. The incident was very intense and scary. I shut myself off for three months.
Brown found her path to recovery through a trip to Japan. She shared that spending time meditating with monks provided her with tools to manage her anxiety. "Anxiety is the worst thing ever, and I know I have to recover. I need to understand my anxiety before I start a family. I need to understand what is actually going on," Brown stated.
Anxiety is the worst thing ever, and I know I have to recover. I need to understand my anxiety before I start a family. I need to understand what is actually going on.
She described the experience in Japan as one of the most remarkable in her life, enabling her to break free from the cycle of anxiety. "It was an amazing experience. That experience brought me out of that cycle," she said. The journey also shifted her perspective on meditation, which she previously found ineffective due to her racing thoughts.
It was an amazing experience. That experience brought me out of that cycle.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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