Mental Mastery: How to Conquer Anxiety and Worry

Being in the public eye can be a pressure-filled environment, leaving many famous people struggling to handle the stresses and strains.

Creative types, top athletes and many other people cannot handle being in the spotlight, often leading to them suffering with worry, anxiety and depression.

However, by working with professionals to understand these conditions, many celebrities have learned to manage the symptoms and thrive in their respective careers.

Read on as we look at some of the world’s most famous people have managed to conquer anxiety and worry.

Exercise the key for Lovato

Singer Demi Lovato has regularly spoken about her struggles with mental health and says she uses a variety of methods to deal with her anxiety issues.

The founder of the ‘Be Vocal: Speak Up For Mental Health’ initiative, Lovato has regularly opened up about living with bipolar disorder and battling anxiety in the past.

She says that solutions can vary from person to person and has encouraged people not to stay silent about mental health issues.

“I can’t stress enough to vocalize your needs to a great support system – whether it’s your family or even an online community of people who are going through the same thing that you are,” she told the Huffington Post.

“It’s so important to vocalise what you’re dealing with instead of internalising it and letting it manifest into unhealthy behavior. That eventually leads to lifelong problems. That’s the most important thing you can do.

“Exercising is another way I deal with anxiety. Painting, and writing music and expressing myself through art are other ways that I can release emotions. Meditation is another one. Whatever it is, it’s important to find what works for you.”

Soreness, tiredness and feelings of nausea are amongst the main side effects of intensive training and restrictions on certain pharmaceuticals make it difficult for athletes to get relief from the symptoms.

With top level sports being a pressure-filled environment, many athletes also suffer bouts of anxiety often brought on by concerns about their injuries or worrying about performance.

Performing helps Stone cope

Oscar winner, Emma Stone, says performing on the big screen helps her cope with lifelong anxiety and panic attacks.

Stone struggled with deep separation anxiety as a youngster and was eventually diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

She learned cognitive therapy techniques that helped her cope with anxiety and channel her feelings into productive behaviour.

“I believe the people who have anxiety and depression are very, very sensitive and very, very smart,” she said.

“Because the world is hard and scary and there’s a lot that goes on and if you’re very attuned to it, it can be crippling.

“But if you don’t let it cripple you and use it for something productive, it’s like a superpower.”

Today, she manages her anxiety with therapy, meditation, being with others and keeping busy. She also steers clear of social media to ensure she avoids putting herself in difficult situations.

Helping others keeps Gaga grounded

Lady Gaga has been open about her experiences with mental illness, particularly in light of being a survivor of assault.

She takes medication to manage her depression, but freely admits that talking about the problem is the key to her wellbeing.

The ‘Star is Born’ actress created the Born This Way Foundation in 2012 to build empowered communities and improve mental health resources for young adults.

Gaga believes that mental health is just as vital to our wellbeing as physical health, and insists that talking about it can really help.

“I’ve suffered through depression and anxiety my entire life – I still suffer with it every single day,” she said.

“I just want these kids to know that that depth that they feel as human beings is normal. We were born that way. This modern thing, where everyone is feeling shallow and less connected? That‘s not human.

“I think it’s better when we all say: ‘Cheers!’ And ‘fess up to it.”

Fish urges people to talk

In 2012, tennis star Mardy Fish began suffering from anxiety attacks so serious that he had to withdraw before a match against Rodger Federer at the US Open.

His anxiety ultimately led him to retiring from the sport, but therapy, medication and talking openly about his mental-health difficulties have proved to be a life-saver.

“Mental health is not a very easy thing to talk about in sports,” he told the Players’ Tribune. “It’s not perceived as very masculine.

“We’re so trained to be ‘mentally tough,’ in sports. To show weakness, we’re told, in so many words, is to deserve shame.”

Fish has refused to be defined by anxiety disorder and has found his way back into tennis as captain of the US Davis Cup team.

He believes that his previous experiences make him well-equipped to help the current crop of players deal with the pressures of representing their country.

“To be the Davis Cup captain, the next Davis Cup captain, I’m incredibly humbled,” Fish said. “I can’t even express how excited I am, how excited I am that the players have supported the decision.

“The friendships I’ve made throughout the years, relationships of all the players, not just the top players, is very special.”