Why Brittany Snow Says Leaving Hollywood in Her 20s Saved Her Life

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Content warning: This story discusses eating disorders.

Brittany Snow made a life-changing career decision.

The actress, who first gained fame as a teen in the early 2000s with Pitch Perfect, realized that stepping away from work to prioritize her mental health – including overcoming an eating disorder and self-harm – was ultimately what she needed to heal and thrive.

Brittany explained to Self magazine that her life was on the line. ‘Honestly, I wouldn’t have survived without it,’ she said, ‘and I’m not exaggerating.’

Following a year of treatment for anorexia and self-harm, the 39-year-old actress returned to work on the 2012 film Pitch Perfect. She says the movie helped her rediscover happiness.

The actress, known for her role in Hunting Wives, shared how much she appreciated being on set, even during long shooting days. While others were complaining, she felt incredibly lucky to be working at all, saying she hadn’t expected to find another job after a period of not working.

She added, “So that movie was really special to me.” 

Although Brittany became well-known after appearing in films like John Tucker Must Die and Hairspray, she now views those roles as welcome distractions during a difficult time in her life.

She explained that at the time, she really needed to work on films that would help her rediscover her passion for life.

Although Brittany had to stop working to focus on her health, she believes returning to Hollywood actually helped her continue to heal, even when things got difficult.

She always believed she was meant for her career path and capable of achieving her goals, she just wasn’t sure when the opportunity would arrive.

I’m really thankful I’ve experienced both good times and bad. It helped me realize who my true friends are—the people who supported me when I was struggling and still wanted to spend time with me, even when things were tough.

Keep reading for more stars who have been candid about their mental health…

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He stated he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeking therapy, and even taking medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, along with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son. He worried about the impact of parenthood on his mental health, fearing a severe episode he might not recover from. Because of this, he proactively began therapy and sought support.

I was really struck by what the former Gossip Girl star shared recently. He talked about struggling with body image as a young actor, and he actually described it as having body dysmorphia. It was so brave of him to open up about something so personal and difficult.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn revealed they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, he gained weight and then entered a period where he felt pressured to focus on his appearance. He realized that in his new life, being seen as conventionally attractive seemed to increase his opportunities and make him feel more valued, and he both actively pursued and was pushed toward this expectation as he emerged from depression and isolation.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that facing those disappointments and personal struggles ultimately helped him grow and return to his work with a renewed perspective.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, stating on the The Funny Thing Is podcast, “Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” She admitted that food was her main coping mechanism, and she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards better health and fitness.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described this combination as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She shared that she’s an actress who struggles with eating and body image, but she’s working on healing those challenges and prioritizing her physical health through a healthy diet.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She explained on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She admitted that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about protecting her well-being, like blocking negativity online, and offers guidance to others who might be struggling.

When asked what advice she’d give someone struggling with their mental health, she told Vogue that patience is key. She emphasized being kind to yourself and not rushing things. She explained that she practiced patience, resisted making any drastic decisions, and allowed time to pass, believing that difficult feelings will eventually lessen.

As people adjusted to social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the singer of “Firework” opened up about the significant stress these kinds of situations can cause.

She tweeted about struggling with the challenges of the pandemic, saying it’s hard to know whether the virus itself or the resulting feelings of depression are more difficult. Katy explained that she often finds peace and comfort in her car, which has become her go-to safe space since there aren’t many other places to go.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and recently discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

After her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Honestly, my moods are all over the place – some days I feel great, other days I’m just a total mess with anxiety. That’s actually why I had to get involved with this – I really want to help people feel less alone, you know? It’s like, if I can make even one person feel understood, it’s worth it. I just want everyone to know they’re not the only ones struggling.

The actor who played Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental wellbeing.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t pick and choose who it affects. It took me a while to understand, but it’s important to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often tend to keep their feelings bottled up, but remember you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re part of a big community.”

The star of Empire is a strong advocate for seeking professional help, having publicly discussed her own experiences with depression. She’s stated that therapy is essential for her well-being, telling Variety, “I have a therapist that I speak to. That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a treatment using MDMA and psilocybin therapy to cope with the effects of both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

I’ll never forget what she told Rolling Stone last year. She said she was finally touring without any stage fright, which was incredible. She described this feeling, like a pressure change everyone in the audience felt along with her – a real gut feeling. It really hit me how much she thrives on that deep, physical connection with the crowd, how she needs that response to truly feel her music come alive. It was so insightful!

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

As a lifestyle expert, I often talk about the power of taking control of your own narrative, and I really connected with this woman’s experience. She described feeling like she needed to stop taking birth control – it wasn’t about preventing pregnancy, but about breaking free from what she saw as a prescribed version of femininity. It sounds a little unconventional, but she felt like stepping off that path allowed her to explore who she truly was and open up to new possibilities. It was about reclaiming her identity and feeling liberated from expectations.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, saying it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer behind the hit “What He Didn’t Do” has opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. I’ve actually dealt with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child – it’s not something that started recently in 2020.

The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health coping strategies for years, both in public speeches and on social media like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, balancing negative thoughts with ten positive ones, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has publicly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a condition many new mothers face but often feel unable to talk about.

Honestly, hearing her finally say it out loud each time just felt…amazing. I remember reading her letter in Glamour back in 2017, and it hit me so hard. She wanted everyone to understand it could happen to anyone, and that was so important. More than anything, she didn’t want anyone going through it to feel ashamed or like they were the only ones. It made me feel so seen, and I think that’s what she was hoping for with everyone else too.

While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “something dark” within her during that period.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn how to find joy on her own, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to do that. She can now be happy when she’s by herself.

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a tweet asking about her therapist. She shared that therapy has been life-saving for her on numerous occasions.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to reach out for help. You don’t have to suffer in silence, and healing from past trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has publicly shared her struggles and recovery related to addiction, mental health, and other personal challenges, often reflecting these experiences in her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “Remember, if you’re struggling, life has its challenges, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health both in her work, like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria, and in her personal life.

In 2013, Zendaya shared on her old app that she felt anxious after a visit to Ellen, where there was a technical issue with her microphone. She’s since found healthy ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break and reduce stress.

Oh my gosh, she was SO open in her recent interview with WSJ Magazine! She actually talked about what it was really like, and it broke my heart. She said her good days were amazing, but when she was down, she was completely wiped out for weeks. Weeks! It’s just… so relatable, and I’m so proud of her for sharing.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but after finding the right medication, her life has dramatically improved.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

In 2018, while accepting the Global Changemakers Award at a fundraiser, she shared that she’d kept her struggles with mental health private for a long time. She explained that she now believes keeping those issues hidden actually makes things worse, stating, ‘Secrets keep you sick.’

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2025-11-07 00:54