Gwyneth Paltrow “Filled With Dread” Amid Struggle With Anxiety

by

Gwyneth Paltrow has been fighting a private battle.

The 53-year-old recently opened up about the mental health challenges she’s faced over the last two years.

She recently shared on her goop podcast that she’s experiencing anxiety for the first time. She described feeling her heart race and having unwanted thoughts while trying to fall asleep, something she’s never dealt with before.

She said she’s still generally sleeping well, but occasionally wakes up feeling anxious as soon as she opens her eyes.

Paltrow shared how her struggles manifest in her day-to-day activities, including her work.

She explained that she often feels scattered and easily distracted. When she receives emails, work requests, or encounters problems, she tends to react very strongly, as if personally attacked. She’s hoping to change how she responds to negative news so it doesn’t upset her as much.

Gwyneth Paltrow is navigating her mental health journey.

The 53-year-old recently opened up about the difficulties she’s faced over the last two years.

She recently shared on her goop podcast that she’s experiencing anxiety for the first time. She described feeling exhausted at the end of the day, then having her heart race and being bothered by unwanted thoughts – something she’s never dealt with before.

She said she’s still generally sleeping well, but occasionally wakes up feeling anxious as soon as she opens her eyes.

Paltrow shared how her struggles manifest in her day-to-day activities, including her work.

I struggle with focus and get easily distracted, jumping from one thing to another. When I receive an email, encounter a work issue, or face a problem, I tend to react strongly, as if it’s a personal attack. I’m hoping to change how I respond so that negative or even just okay news doesn’t upset me so much.

The Academy Award-winning actress believed her difficulties stemmed from a combination of physical factors, her mental state, her emotions, and the challenges of being in the public eye.

She explained that after a long time being in the public spotlight, she became very affected by what people thought. She’s naturally sensitive, like many people, and all the attention and opinions really took a toll on her well-being and left her feeling worn out.

She also mentioned a deeper, societal concern. “I’m honestly disturbed,” she said. “I’m having a hard time making sense of things in our society right now.”

The actress, known for her role in Emma, manages her challenges by seeing two therapists – one specializing in the nervous system – and relying on her friends and family for support.

Gwyneth Paltrow shared that spending time with her family is incredibly restorative. She finds that being together with all four of her children – Apple and Moses (with ex-husband Chris Martin), and her stepchildren Isabella and Brody (from husband Brad Falchuk’s previous relationship) – along with Brad, helps her relax and feel at peace.

Gwyneth Paltrow is one of many celebrities who have been open about their mental health challenges. Here’s a look at what other stars have shared about their personal struggles over the years.

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 said he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and taking 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 raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared a severe mental health crisis and whether he’d be able to recover, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

As a longtime fan, I was really saddened to hear the former Gossip Girl star talk about his struggles with body image as a kid. He described it as a kind of ‘body dysmorphia,’ and it sounds like it was a really tough time for him growing up.

Looking back, I really struggled with body image. I’ll be honest, I just wanted to be someone else – to have a different body altogether. It was a tough time, and something I’ve been working through, but I’m sharing this now in hopes it resonates with others who might feel the same way.

I’ve seen this pattern so many times with clients, and it really hit home when this person shared their experience after their parents’ divorce. They explained that after a tough time with depression and feeling withdrawn, they started to feel pressure – both from themselves and the world around them – to focus on appearance. It was like they believed that being conventionally attractive would unlock success and, honestly, make them feel more worthy. It’s a really vulnerable admission, and it highlights how easily we can tie self-worth to external validation, especially when navigating difficult life changes.

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

Honestly, that’s what kept me going through all the tough times and everything I was struggling with. It let me eventually return to what I was doing, but I really felt like I’d changed inside, and for the better, I hope.

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

She described her struggles with food, saying on The Funny Thing Is podcast, “Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” She admitted to using food in extreme ways, calling it her ‘drug of choice.’

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 and alcohol and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She shared that she struggles with food and body image, which are genuine concerns for her. However, she’s working on improving her mental and physical health by focusing on a healthy diet and natural wellness practices.

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 these things, 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.

Okay, so I’ve been following this artist for years, and honestly, I admire how she handles everything. She’s won a Grammy, which she totally deserves, but what’s even cooler is how she protects herself. She just doesn’t feed the negativity online – she straight up ignores the haters, which is brilliant! And it’s not just for herself, either. She actually shares advice for others who are struggling, which is so incredibly kind. I’m a total fan, obviously, and I think it’s amazing how she prioritizes her well-being and tries to help others do the same.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that patience is key. She emphasized being kind to yourself and resisting impulsive decisions. She explained that giving things time allows difficult feelings to pass.

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.

She tweeted about struggling with the challenges of the pandemic, saying it’s hard to decide what’s more difficult – avoiding the virus itself or dealing with the resulting sadness. Katy explained that she often finds peace in her car, describing it as her only safe place to go when she’s feeling overwhelmed.

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.

She remembered that after her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall explained that she experiences both good and anxious days, making her emotional state fluctuate. That’s why she wanted to get involved with this cause – she hopes to help people feel less isolated and alone.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his experiences 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 pick and choose who it affects. It took me a while to understand this, but it’s important to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often keep their feelings bottled up, 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 publicly discussed her experiences with depression and emphasizes the importance of seeking professional support. She shared with Variety that therapy is essential for her to cope and manage her mental health.

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 type of PTSD treatment involving MDMA and psilocybin after struggling with an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she was touring without feeling nervous for the first time. She described a strange sensation – almost like a shift in pressure – that she and the audience shared, a deeply physical connection. This experience made her realize how much she thrives on that intense, emotional response to her music – how much she needs it to truly connect with her work.

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

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control because it felt like a break from societal expectations of what it meant to be a woman. It may sound unusual, but she felt liberated and like she could explore new possibilities by stepping outside those traditional boundaries. She believed this newfound freedom would allow her to grow and discover more about herself.

In a 2017 Instagram post, the Riverdale actress shared that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and credited the support of her family and a therapist with saving her life. She encouraged others to seek help, writing that asking for it is the crucial first step and that everyone has immense value.

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

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

For about ten years, I just got used to keeping everything bottled up and handling things on my own. But a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and really start working through some things. It wasn’t something that suddenly appeared in 2020, though. I’ve actually been dealing with OCD since I was a little kid, around six or seven years old.

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

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

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

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became increasingly comfortable for her to talk about her experience. Her hope was to show others that this could happen to anyone, and to help those going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

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, through 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 finally can. “Now I can be by myself and be happy,” she said.

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

Oh my god, she just said it! She was like, “Seriously, if you’re struggling, please reach out!” It’s like she was speaking directly to me! And she totally gets it – you don’t have to just live with the pain, you can actually deal with what happened. She said she has a long way to go, but even just realizing it’s possible to heal? That’s HUGE. I’m seriously tearing up, it’s like she understands everything!

The singer has openly shared her experiences with addiction, recovery, and mental health, and often incorporates these personal struggles into her songs.

She often encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder 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 has spoken about experiencing anxiety after a 2013 appearance on Ellen, when her microphone malfunctioned. She shared this on an app she used to have, and has since found ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ. Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of intense highs followed by weeks-long lows.

Let me tell you, discovering I was dealing with some mental health challenges was a huge turning point for me. Thankfully, finding the right medication made all the difference – it honestly transformed my life. I feel like a completely different person now, and it’s amazing what a little support can do!

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 kept her mental health challenges private for a long time, both in public and in private. Speaking at the 2018 Global Changemakers Award, she explained that she believes holding onto secrets actually makes things worse.

Read More

2025-11-13 19:49