Amanda Seyfried Details Getting Brain Scans Before OCD Diagnosis

by

Amanda Seyfried won’t let this difficult chapter slip through her fingers.

I’m just so proud of her for talking about this! She’s really owning her journey with mental health, and honestly, it’s inspiring. She’s been so open about getting diagnosed with really severe OCD, and how it actually affected the choices she made when she was starting out as an actress. It’s amazing to see her share this, especially after all these years. It makes me love her even more!

Amanda, 40, recently shared with Vogue that when she was filming Big Love and living in Marina del Rey, her mother had to temporarily leave her job in Pennsylvania to stay with her for a month. It was during this time that Amanda received brain scans and began taking medication that she still takes nightly.

The actress, known for her role in Mean Girls, has said she’s been on Lexapro since she was 19 years old. But medication isn’t her only approach to managing her condition. She deals with obsessive thoughts and fears – unwanted, recurring thoughts – which sometimes lead to repetitive behaviors, as defined by the Mayo Clinic.

Oh my gosh, you wouldn’t BELIEVE how much I admire Amanda! It’s so fascinating to learn about her journey. Apparently, when she was starting out as an actress, she was so dedicated to staying healthy and focused. She basically avoided anything that could throw her off track – like, no drinking, absolutely no drugs, and she wasn’t about staying out late. She even admitted she’d make plans and then just… cancel! It’s amazing! She said she actively made those choices, steered clear of the whole club scene, and she actually thanked her OCD for helping her! Can you believe it? It’s just…so Amanda. I just adore how intentional she is about everything.

Amanda has shared her OCD diagnosis story before. She explained that she visited several doctors to discuss her symptoms before beginning treatment with medication.

In a 2016 interview with Allure, she explained that after an MRI, her neurologist suggested she see a psychiatrist. She also shared that as she’s gotten older, her obsessive thoughts and anxieties have lessened, and realizing many of her fears weren’t based in reality has been a big help.

The actress from The Housemaid explained that mental illness is often unfairly separated from other health problems. She believes it deserves the same level of seriousness and care. Unlike physical illnesses, mental health conditions aren’t always visible, but that doesn’t make them any less real. She questioned why people feel the need to prove a mental illness exists, arguing that if treatment helps, that’s all that matters.

Keep reading to see more celebrities discussing their mental health struggles…

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. He explained that these diagnoses led to a mental health crisis in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for himself. He said he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and will even consider medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said that his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, 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, and he was worried about the impact of parenthood on his mental health. He feared a potential breakdown he might not recover from, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

Oh my gosh, I just read that one of my absolute favorites from Gossip Girl opened up about something so brave! He talked about struggling with how he saw himself as a kid, like he had this really distorted view of his own body. He actually called it “body dysmorphia,” and honestly, it just makes me admire him even more. It’s so tough to be in the spotlight at any age, but to deal with that and that kind of internal struggle…wow. I’m sending him all the love!

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

He explained his weight gain after his parents’ divorce, saying he went through a time where he deliberately and also unintentionally embraced a focus on physical appearance. He felt that being seen as more conventionally attractive might lead to greater success and make him feel more valuable.

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

He said that overcoming his disappointment and personal struggles enabled him to return to his work, hoping he had grown as a person in the process.

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

She described her struggles with food, saying, “Some might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” During an appearance on The Funny Thing Is podcast, she admitted that food was her primary coping mechanism and that 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 starting yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

I’m an actress who struggles with both eating problems and how I see my body, and that’s something I’m actively working on. I’m also focusing on improving my overall health by eating a nutritious diet.

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

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

The Grammy-winning artist frequently talks about protecting her mental well-being, like blocking negativity online, and often offers support to others who are struggling.

You know, people often ask me for my best advice when it comes to mental wellbeing, and honestly, it always comes back to patience. That’s what really worked for me. I was kind to myself, and when things felt overwhelming, I didn’t push too hard. I just waited it out, and I found that, eventually, difficult feelings do fade. It’s about giving yourself the time and space you need to heal.

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

Honestly, it’s just…a lot. Some days I don’t even know what’s harder, dodging the virus or just feeling completely down about everything. It’s like, this new normal is just exhausting. I saw Katy talking about it, and she gets it. She said she mostly just escapes to her car, and I totally relate! It’s become her safe place, and honestly? Same. That’s where I go when I need to just…breathe. It’s the only place I feel okay sometimes.

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

She remembered that after her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to understand what was going on.

Kendall shared that she experiences both good and very anxious days, making her journey inconsistent. This is why she was drawn to the movement – she wants people to know they’re not alone in their struggles.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, known for playing Black Adam, has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but it’s important to talk about what you’re going through. Men especially often feel like they need to keep their feelings to themselves, but remember, you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting help for mental health by sharing 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 not alone.”

The actress from Empire has openly discussed her experiences with depression and strongly advocates for seeking professional help. She’s shared that seeing a therapist is essential for managing her mental health, telling Variety, “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 shared that her struggles with an eating disorder and performance anxiety prompted her to try a PTSD treatment involving MDMA and psilocybin.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any nervousness for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This made her understand how much she thrives on and needs that strong, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

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

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control because it felt like a break from traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, she said, but she felt liberated and like she could explore new possibilities once she wasn’t bound by those expectations.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled 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 been open 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 around the time of her divorce during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I learned to suppress my feelings and cope on my own. But a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy to understand what was going on. I discovered I’ve been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since childhood – it wasn’t something that started recently in 2020, but has been present since I was around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly discussed her mental health strategies for years, sharing them in public speeches and on platforms like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, consciously focusing on ten positive aspects of life for every negative one, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken struggle for new mothers.

You know, I’ve learned something really important over the years, and I’ve been sharing it more and more openly. It actually gets easier each time I say it out loud! My biggest hope is that people understand this can happen to anyone – truly anyone. And if you’re going through something similar, please know you’re absolutely not alone, and there’s no need to feel ashamed.

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 to find joy on her own, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to do that. She says she can now be happy when she’s by herself.

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a playful 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 ask for help. She explained that I don’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

I’ve always admired this singer’s honesty. She really puts herself out there, sharing so much about her struggles with addiction, getting sober, and dealing with mental health – and she bravely weaves those experiences right into her songs. It makes her music so much more powerful and relatable, knowing it all comes from a real place.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with inevitable setbacks. She previously shared on Instagram, “To anyone who’s struggling: life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

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

Zendaya revealed in 2013, through her old app, that she experienced anxiety following a frustrating appearance on Ellen where her microphone malfunctioned. She’s since found healthy ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that it’s important to take a break when things become overwhelming.

The singer opened up to WSJ Magazine about her struggles with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme highs and lows that could leave her incapacitated for weeks.

Okay, so she finally said it – she’s been dealing with some serious stuff internally, you know? But the best part? She found the right meds! Honestly, it’s like a completely different person now. It’s just…amazing to see how much her life has turned around. I’m SO relieved and happy for her, it’s like a weight lifted just hearing her talk about it!

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

She shared that she’d dealt with mental health challenges for a long time, sometimes openly and sometimes privately. Speaking at the 2018 Global Changemakers Award, she explained that she believes keeping these struggles hidden actually makes things worse.

Read More

2026-01-08 23:21