Hollywood Panic Disorders - How The Stars Manage

Often, people will look at Hollywood stars from a distance, and wish that they were so perfect and glamorous. But what people forget is that Hollywood stars are, after all, just people. They are no more immune to the problems that plague people than the rest of us are. And panic disorders are no exception. All sorts of people can have panic disorders. Men, women, children, business executives, and yes, Hollywood stars.

It can be interesting to read about Hollywood stars and their battles with panic disorders. As you can imagine, having a panic disorder such as stage fright can cause serious problems for a person who's career is based around appearing in front of large groups of people. The image any Hollywood star wants to project is that of calm confidence, and having a panic attack that is caught on film can shatter that image. But panic attacks can happen anywhere, anytime. Some Hollywood stars have admitted to having panic attacks:

Onstage, and forgetting lines or lyrics
On an airplane
Some recollect having panic attacks even as a teenager
Panic attacks caused by their status as celebrities
Panic attacks brought on by the constant scrutiny and photographs of paparazzi

In general, panic disorders are not particularly tied to any one event. There are many cases of Hollywood stars that have panic attacks, but never onstage, or not particularly tied to being onstage. Stage fright (the disorder) is a kind of anxiety disorder, not a panic disorder. The defining trait of panic disorders as opposed to anxiety disorders are that panic attacks can happen anywhere, anytime. So, while a Hollywood star may have a panic attack onstage, it's not because they were onstage. It just happened to occur while they were onstage.

It is good that Hollywood stars are willing to share their experiences fighting panic disorders. Their stories and how they deal with their panic disorder can help all people with panic disorders learn to cope. People are usually embarrassed by their panic disorder, and having someone so very much in the public eye come out and tell their experiences dealing with panic disorders can lessen that feeling.

Ignoring your condition is the worst thing you can do. Seek treatment, and realize it is nothing to be embarrassed about. 40 million Americans each year are treated for anxiety and panic disorders, so you are far from alone. And if a Hollywood star, who depends on their public image more than most, can come out and tell the world that they have a panic disorder, you should be able to as well.