Ellie Goulding says this empowering sport helped her overcome her debilitating anxiety attacks
One of the things we love most about Ellie Goulding (if we had to pick just one) is how open she has been about her struggle with anxiety. She has previously said that her panic attacks were so bad that she could barely go to the studio and battled intrusive thoughts on a daily basis. Eventually, Ellie sought psychological help and used a combination of therapy and medication to get better. But, today we’ve learned that Ellie has another secret weapon against anxiety — boxing! SLAY, ELLIE.
In an incredibly inspiring post that she herself penned for Well + Good, Ellie explains that, while on the outside it may have looked like her life was perfect when her career began to take off, inside she felt out of control due to her anxiety.
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“I started having panic attacks, and the scariest part was it could be triggered by anything. I used to cover my face with a pillow whenever I had to walk outside from the car to the studio. My new life as a pop star certainly wasn’t as glamorous as all my friends from home thought. Secretly, I was really struggling physically and emotionally.”
So scary.
So, what else did she do to help build up her confidence? She found a workout that she LOVED: boxing. But, contrary to what some may think, she didn’t fall in love with the sport because of the way it changed her body.
“It wasn’t about any change in my outward appearance,” she explains. “It was about seeing and feeling myself get better and stronger. It carried over into other areas of my life, and now I truly feel that exercise — however you like to work out — is good for the soul.”
How amazing is she?
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We can’t wait to try this!
And she even though her anxiety is not as bad as it used to be, she still continues to struggle, especially before big performances. When she was asked to perform at the Grammys last year, for example, she felt her anxiety spike once again, but has learned to live with the discomfort and build herself back up when she feels down. Love.
While boxing helped alleviate Ellie’s anxiety, we have to emphasize that we don’t believe exercise is a cure-all for panic attacks or generalized anxiety disorder. But we’re glad that, along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and psych meds, Ellie found something that truly helped! We appreciate your bravery, Ellie!
