Chris Evans opened up about his social anxiety in a big way
When you hear Chris Evans’ name, it’s understandable that you’d automatically think of Captain America. Perhaps this would then lead you to see Evans as a real-life superhero, as someone who lives a perfect life where nothing ever goes wrong. However, Chris himself assured the world that this isn’t the case – especially when it comes to dealing with social anxiety.
During an interview with Rolling Stone, Chris mentioned that this form of anxiety tends to kick in the moment he steps on the red carpet. “It’s a little nerve-racking,” Evans explained. “You’re in the SUV with your family, your people. And then you have to pull over in some weird parking lot and do the swap. There’s security and all these people. All of a sudden you’re out of your comfort zone. It’s strange. The little things that can tip you over.” false
His Captain America and Avengers co-star, Scarlett Johansson, confirmed this: “[When] he has to be in the fray in some work-related context, he’s terrified.”
While he’s acting, Evans revealed that the anxious part of his brain quiets down and he’s able to simply live in the moment. It’s also not that bad when he has to do press junkets, since he’s only speaking to one reporter at a time. However, the red carpet is an entirely different story.
“[T]he premiere – that’s overwhelming,” stated Chris. “It’s nice to talk about the work with people who are interested – but I freak out when I hear stupid questions about stupid things, and you’ve gotta act like you give a fuck. It’s part of the job, I’ve got to sell this thing. But it’s just a gross feeling. It makes me insecure.” false
We can understand why Chris’ anxiety would kick in at such a time. Having to be someone you’re not can be a lot to handle, especially when you have what Evans calls a “noisy brain.” The actor describes such a brain as one that tends to overthink everything in the name of self-doubt. In spite of the fact that he’s learned to cope with such things – through learning about meditation and Buddhism – it isn’t always easy for Chris to handle this part of his life as a leading man in the public eye. His mom added, “In case you haven’t figured this out, he’s super-private.”
Though he’s a private person, we’re glad Chris took the time to open up about his social anxiety. Because even superheroes deal with mental health issues and that doesn’t make them any less super.
If you, too, cope with social anxiety – you aren’t alone. It’s been estimated that around 15 million American adults have social anxiety disorder. For support, you can visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s “Find Help” page for several great resources.