Celebrity Social Anxiety

[janemariesayed]

With having had the Golden Globe awards presented very recently got me wondering about those folk who work in the acting profession and social anxiety.

I would have thought that actors and actresses would never suffer from any kind of social anxiety as I thought they would have had a high ego.

What do you think? Can a celebrity suffer from social anxiety, or is that impossible taking into consideration that their roles mainly need someone who has a healthy ego?

 

[Alex]

Celebrities are just people who are well known, and many do suffer from anxiety. They are humans, they are no different. Ego has nothing to do with it as it was my industry for many years, and actors act.

Ego is when you think you are better than someone, when an actor has an ability to portray a different voice or character.

 

[Jester85]

Plenty of actors have anxiety problems. Ego has nothing to do with having anxiety.

Off the top of my head, I know Chris Evans (Captain America) used to struggle a lot with anxiety and could barely stand to do interviews until he worked a lot with a therapist to get it under control.

 

[janemariesayed]

So both of you are saying that those who work in the acting profession don't necessarily have a high ego, and they can also suffer from anxiety just like the rest of us. I did wonder, but my way of thinking was that to be an actor you are in front of people. I could never work in the acting profession because I am too shy and would hate the limelight. This made me think that actors need to have some kind of opposite to social anxiety as I thought that they would be the kind of folk that enjoy being in the limelight.

Obviously, that isn't the case though and I had a little look more into it. I found that Babara Streisand, as well as Kim Basinger were sufferers. I'm not including sports men and women, as I think that profession is a bit different. I understand that @Alex you are saying that actors act, but I just thought that they must like to be in the limelight to purposely put themselves in front of the camera. Thinking about it though, they are only in front of millions of people on the screen, when they are working they are only in front of the film crew I suppose.

 

[Alex]

I used to be a presenter and I can tell you there are many celebrities I have known that behind closed doors who are nervous wrecks, and some have been on medication. Why do people act? It's a skill like dancing, that they can do, like a salesperson. At home and behind closed doors they are very different and we can all get anxiety at some point.

Some turn to drugs or alcohol, and others turn to meditation and other spiritual remedies. Churchill suffered from depression and he was one of the greatest Prime Ministers.

 

[janemariesayed]

It is just a thought, though, that to take a job that will put you in the public eye means that you need some kind of ego. Or maybe ego isn't the right word. I thought that people who take on those kind of jobs like to be in the limelight, or be the centre of attention. I see now that isn't the case at all. I myself couldn't ever do that kind of job for fear of doing things in front of people. I can't overcome my shyness and social anxiety like that.

Of course, we read all the time about actors and such turning to drugs or alcohol and needing to dry out. I never gave it a thought before that they could also suffer from anxiety. I've often wished I could be more like them and have the confidence that they portray. I will certainly appreciate the work they do a bit more now!

 

[Alex]

It is just a thought, though, that to take a job that will put you in the public eye means that you need some kind of ego. Or maybe ego isn't the right word. I thought that people who take on those kind of jobs like to be in the limelight, or be the centre of attention. I see now that isn't the case at all. I myself couldn't ever do that kind of job for fear of doing things in front of people. I can't overcome my shyness and social anxiety like that.

Of course, we read all the time about actors and such turning to drugs or alcohol and needing to dry out. I never gave it a thought before that they could also suffer from anxiety. I've often wished I could be more like them and have the confidence that they portray. I will certainly appreciate the work they do a bit more now!

No, often it's because you look or sound the part. Of course there are many with egos too, but that isn't always the case. I met a well known comedian who was a guest on an awards show we were hosting, and she was so shy and quiet that she chose to sit alone outside and read a book until it was her time on stage. Now, if I told you who that was you wouldn't believe me.

I was offered jobs because of my appearance and also my voice. I had no real desire for the limelight, but it was good money and a way to make a living while you can.

 

[janemariesayed]

Well, I wonder who that comedian was? No really, don't say, I respect her privacy as she deserves to have her privacy respected. It is amazing how they can switch, though, when it is their turn to do what they have to do. Of course, I have heard of stage fright, but not being in the profession myself I don't have the understanding of what it takes for them to perform.

I am wrong really because I should be able to comprehend it quite easily. I worked in the catering industry for years, and all the time I suffered from depression and anxiety. Any customer that I had would never have known my predicament though because I always put on an act. It is said that to work in the hospitality industry you have to be a good actor. If you are feeling blue, angry, or any such feeling, you have to leave it behind and smile, be friendly and appear happy, however it is you feel. So of course, this must be the same for actors or those with jobs in the limelight.

It is understandable that performance type jobs are offered to people who have a good, or an appealing appearance as I think it is that which attracts viewers. At the end of the day, these people are human just like the rest of us and suffer all the same things. Thinking about it actually, those people with that kind of work are normally creative people as well. I think that creative people are more in touch with their emotions, so they would naturally have more anxiety symptoms than the rest of us.

 

[Alex]

The thing is humans underneath it all are still subject to the same afflictions. There are actors who once the fame has withered away, get depressed and end up on reality shows to try and revive their careers. Just look at celebrity big brother, and if there was ever a case of needing full time therapists, all the people on that show need one especially after they leave. I had two friends on the last show, and I am sure they have needed therapy.

 

[janemariesayed]

So it seems that having a larger than normal ego isn't such a great thing. It looks like an ego needs to be fed for it to remain happy. I think about a certain person I know in my life who has a very large ego. If she were to lose her popularity which feeds it, she would definitely slump to an all time low until the problem was overcome.