If there’s anyone out there who still thinks that anxiety isn’t a big deal, Kristen Stewart is here to set them straight.
The actress sat down with Elle U.K. for their September issue, where she openly addressed the reality of being in the spotlight when you’re dealing with a mental health condition.
“I went through so much stress and periods of strife,” she told the magazine. “I would have panic attacks. I literally always had a stomachache.”
Stewart also opened up about her experience with anxiety in Marie Claire earlier this summer, recounting how she would feel panicked and debilitated when she wasn’t in control of a situation.
Although Stewart told Elle U.K. she no longer struggles with anxiety (side note: everyone’s experience with mental health issues is different), her testimony brings awareness to a condition that is often seen as a flaw or deficiency. One in five American adults will experience a mental health issue in a given year. But despite how common they are, people still stigmatize them.
Research shows that negative perceptions could prevent people with mental illness from seeking treatment, which can be incredibly harmful for the person experiencing it. Professional support is one of the most effective ways to manage a mental health condition.
That’s why comments like Stewart’s are so important. They contribute to a more accepting attitude toward mental health through public education, which could in turn take away some of the shame wrongfully associated with mental health disorders.
In other words, can we have more of this, please?