Gwyneth Paltrow's Candid Mental Health Revelation
Academy Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has spoken openly about her mental health challenges during a recent episode of the goop podcast. The 53-year-old star revealed she's experiencing anxiety for the first time in her life, attributing it to both physiological changes and decades of living in the public eye.
The Physical and Emotional Factors Behind Her Anxiety
During Tuesday's podcast episode with moderator Zanna Roberts Rassi, Paltrow described what she calls her hormonal phase of life at age 53. I have a lot of anxiety for the very first time in my life, the actress confessed. I think it's an estrogen dominance thing. It makes you really anxious.
Paltrow explained that her symptoms stem from multiple sources: part physiological, part psychological, part emotional, and part public life. Having begun her acting career at just 17 years old, the daughter of actor Blythe Danner and director Bruce Paltrow has spent most of her life under public scrutiny.
Whenever we're at the mercy of people's opinions and all the energy behind the opinions—I'm very sensitive, as most of us are—so I feel that and it kind of frays my nervous system, Paltrow noted about the impact of constant public attention.
Intrusive Thoughts and Physical Symptoms
The Iron Man star revealed that the past couple of years have hit her particularly hard, bringing not only anxiety but also intrusive thoughts she'd never experienced before. I know there's something wrong because my cortisol... like I'll get in bed exhausted and my heart will start to race, she described.
Paltrow shared concerning details about her mental state: My sleep is still pretty OK, but sometimes I wake up first thing in the morning and I'm filled with dread. She admitted that even negative work emails can feel like a slap in the face, expressing her desire to rewire myself so that medium or bad news doesn't feel so terrible.
Coping Strategies and Support Systems
The goop founder is actively addressing her mental health through professional support and family connections. She revealed she's seeing two therapists, including a nervous system specialist, to help manage her symptoms.
Family time provides significant relief for Paltrow. I get a lot of healing from my family, from my kids and my husband, she shared. If I can be with everyone, especially if all four kids—my stepkids and my kids—and my husband and I, if we're under one roof, my nervous system calms down.
Paltrow, who married director Brad Falchuk in 2018, shares daughter Apple and son Moses with ex-husband Chris Martin of Coldplay. She's also stepmother to Falchuk's children, Isabella and Brody, from his previous marriage to Suzanne Bukinik.
The Oscar winner also credited the amazing friends and amazing women in her life for their support during this challenging period.
Working Toward Greater Intentionality
Paltrow discussed her efforts to become more intentional in her everyday life, mentioning she suspects she has a bit of ADD (referring to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, as ADD is an outdated term). I can really sort of get pulled in lots of directions, she explained. I think I would love to try to not do that so much and feel more grounded throughout the day.
This isn't the first time Paltrow has been transparent about health matters, having previously discussed both mental and physical health challenges. Her latest revelations continue her pattern of candidness about personal struggles while navigating life in the spotlight.
