Bet you never thought you’d read about Deadpool and a Kardashian-Jenner in the same sentence now did ya?
Oh well, the world is a weird and wonderful place, and here we are.
While these two celebrities couldn’t be more different, they do have one commonality that binds them – their willingness to discuss their ongoing (and often crippling) bouts with anxiety.
The honest and heartfelt admissions by both Hollywood heavyweights during the last 12 months have been entirely refreshing and relatable to millions of fans across the globe.
.@VancityReynolds thank you for opening up about your anxiety. Nothing helps like talking about it. #TalkAboutIt
— Will Friedle (@willfriedle) May 4, 2018
Neither Jenner or Reynolds have tackled the topic of anxiety lightly or carelessly, instead, each of them has been extremely candid about the severity of how mental illness affects their lives.
In the recent lead up to the release of Deadpool 2, Reynolds admitted to The New York Times that he has suffered all differing variations of the disorder.
“Both in the lighthearted ‘I’m anxious about this’ kind of thing, and I’ve been to the depths of the darker end of the spectrum, which is not fun.”
This isn’t the first time Reynolds had opened up about his struggles.
In 2016, he admitted that his anxiety was made worse while awaiting the release of the first Deadpool movie.
He confessed to hiding behind sarcasm and humour to deal with the disorder, but things only got worse when he started the promotional trail for the film.
“By the time we were in post[-production], we’d been to Comic-Con, and people went crazy for it. The expectations were eating me alive.”
Ryan then had a small nervous breakdown, which led him to seeking medical help.
“I went to go see a doctor because I felt like I was suffering from a neurological problem or something. And every doctor I saw said, ‘You have anxiety’.”
Might be worth adding that Reynolds’s father passed away from Parkinson’s, so the fear of possibly suffering from the same disease that claimed the life of his dad is a legitimate one.
But Ryan’s anxiety hasn’t just been reserved for his time in the public eye.
The actor admitted he’s suffered from anxiety since his younger years due to his very strict and scary father.
“I think the anxiety might have started there, trying to find ways to control others by trying to control myself.”
Despite the validity of his situation, Ryan has often spoken about his anxiety while acknowledging how privileged he has been in his life.
“I say this with the caveat that I completely recognize the ridiculously fortunate position that I am in. But the attention is hard on your nervous system — that might be why I live out in the woods. And I was banging the loudest drum for ‘Deadpool.’ I wasn’t just trying to open it; I was trying to make a cultural phenomenon.”
In doing this, Reynolds has reminded us that anyone, no matter how old or young, rich or poor, lucky or unlucky, can suffer from anxiety or depression.
Mental illness does not discriminate.
i made a birthday magnet for my neighbour#FreeComicBookDay is this Saturday! i am so excited!#KeepTalkingMH #SickNotWeak #Deadpool #ADHD #anxiety #depression #recovery #PTSD @Deadpool @VancityReynolds ? pic.twitter.com/4yF2NWWlZQ
— VLNX bb (@VLNXbb) May 4, 2018
Someone who knows this just as well as Reynolds is Kendall Jenner, who has also been very vocal about her issues in the last two years.
Yes she is privileged, but that does not mean her emotions and mental health concerns aren’t valid.
At the beginning of 2018, Jenner told Harpers Bazaar she suffered from regular panic attacks.
“… I have such debilitating anxiety because of everything going on that I literally wake up in the middle of the night with full-on panic attacks. Where do I even start? Everything is so horrible, it’s hard to name one thing… You go online and you see everyone saying the worst things to each other, and it’s hard to stay positive. It’s hard not to get eaten alive by all the negativity.”
Like Reynolds, Jenner places huge amounts of pressure on herself to live up to the expectation of fans, which just makes things worse.
Jenner’s anxiety peaked last year after a number of robberies and an insane travel schedule that landed her with sleep paralysis and ongoing panic attacks.
Since then, Jenner has been very vocal about the way she deals with her anxiety and is a big advocate for putting the phone away, stepping away from social media, and doing whatever you can to put your health first – no matter what.
If you’ve ever had panic attacks or anxiety like Jenner or Reynolds, you’ll know it’s one of the worst feelings in the world – and one that feels particularly isolating.
By speaking about anxiety, it helps us to normalise the behaviour, to understand it, and to create and share coping mechanisms that can help people live their lives the way they want to.
Jenner realised this firsthand after speaking publicly about her anxiety.
I really really really like the way @KendallJenner speaks out about anxiety ??
— cαℓαℓσυ (@dlihcogidni) May 13, 2018
This month she told Elle magazine that she’s had a good response from friends and family after chatting about her issues.
“It’s interesting; ever since I said something about being anxious, a lot of people in the spotlight have come to me, being like, ‘Oh my God, me too!’ There’s this community. I take what they do to help themselves and piece it together to find what helps me.”
Hopefully the more we talk about it and take pages out of the Reynolds and Jenner book, the more we’ll all find the support we need.
If you are suffering from anxiety and are looking for support, simply head to www.beyondblue.org.au.