During an interview with Hoda Kotb, award-winning actress Goldie Hawn shared that she began experiencing anxiety and depression after securing a major role in the 1960s television show, Good Morning World. Hawn recounted informing her mother about the opportunity with excitement, only to later feel overwhelmed with anxiety, leading to panic attacks and feelings of dizziness whenever she was in public settings.
Hawn’s experience is not uncommon, as statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health reveal that approximately 31% of Americans will encounter anxiety at some stage in their lives. Symptoms of anxiety can manifest in various ways, such as persistent worrying, restlessness, a racing heart, and difficulties with concentration and sleep. Factors like traumatic events, significant life changes, and daily stressors can all contribute to the development of anxiety.
For Hawn, her rapid ascent to stardom marked a stark departure from her earlier carefree days, leading to a profound shift in her mental well-being. Prior to her involvement in Good Morning World, Hawn described herself as a happy individual. However, the pressures of fame took a toll on her, causing her to lose touch with her joy and resort to putting on a façade of happiness. Reflecting on this period, Hawn expressed that the experience was immensely frightening for her.
Though Hawn didn’t note a singular cause behind her anxiety (and, for what it’s worth, most mental health conditions are rarely due to just one factor), she did tell Kotb that she felt wasn’t on the right career path when she landed her sitcom role. “I didn’t want to do that,” Hawn said. “I was a dancer; I was just getting my feet wet.”
Eventually, Hawn says she began to experience panic attacks on the set of her sitcom. “I had to go back to my dressing room to pull myself together because I didn’t know when another panic attack was going to happen,” she said. Panic attack symptoms come with sudden and unexpected feelings of intense fear or discomfort, and they often cause people who live with them to worry about experiencing another panic attack in the future. Research also shows that women are twice as likely as men to have them.
Hawn said that her lived experiences with anxiety and panic attacks led her to start seeing a psychologist to help her cope, and she continued to see that doctor for nine years. “I was learning about myself,” she said. “I was learning about how to forgive, and I was learning as I grew extremely successful how to be able to manage other people’s perception of me because they didn’t know me.”
Working through her own mental health struggles is what inspired Hawn to create her foundation, MindUp, which develops educational programs to help children process their own emotions and learn to become more empathetic.
Now, Hawn stresses the importance of talking about anxiety and depression, including when you might be having symptoms. “We can’t live in the dark and wonder, ‘what’s going on with me?’” she said. “We have to know that people do experience [these feelings], and it’s really important to acknowledge it. Because only until you acknowledge it, can you fix it.”
You can listen to the full podcast interview between Hawn and Kotb on iHeart or on Apple Podcasts. If you, like Hawn, are experiencing your own challenges with mental health, it’s important to know that you’re not alone and support is available for you. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a good place for resources as you navigate your mental health journey.
