Emma Stone suffered crippling panic attacks as a child
Actress Emma Stone suffered daily panic attacks as a youngster because she was convinced an awful tragedy was about to claim the lives of her family members and friends.
The Birdman star reveals her terrifying anxious moments began at a friend's house and spiralled out of control for over three years.
She tells WSJ Magazine, "It was really bad. The first time I had a
panic attack I was sitting in my friend’s house, and I thought the
house was burning down. I called my mom and she brought me home,
and for the next three years it just would not stop.
"I would go to the nurse at lunch most days and just wring my
hands. I would ask my mom to tell me exactly how the day was going
to be, then ask again 30 seconds later. I just needed to know that
no one was going to die and nothing was going to change."
Stone reveals acting helped her conquer her worst fears because
learning lines helped her focus on something other than her
anxieties.
She adds, "There’s something about the immediacy of acting. You
can’t afford to think about a million other things. You have to
think about the task at hand. Acting forces me to sort of be like a
Zen master: 'What is happening right in this moment?'"