Hannah Ferrier Opens Up About Battling Anxiety During 'Below Deck Med': Shedding 22 Pounds in 6 Weeks
Hannah Ferrier reveals the hidden struggles she faced during her debut season on Bravo's 'Below Deck Mediterranean,' shedding light on the toll it took on her mental and physical well-being as she battled anxiety and lost a staggering 22 lbs in just 6 weeks
Courtesy of Hannah Ferrier/Instagram
Hannah Ferrier candidly discussed the toll that filming season 1 of Below Deck Mediterranean took on her body.
The reality star, 37, shared via Instagram Stories on Sunday, December 3, that during the filming of Below Deck Med season 1, she struggled with anxiety and went to great lengths to hide it from production. This led her to lose 22 pounds in just six weeks. She admitted to hiding in the bathroom to cover her microphone and have panic attacks, but expressed gratitude that society has progressed to a point where mental illness can be openly discussed.
Hannah received an overwhelming amount of support from viewers after sharing her experience. Her followers praised her for normalizing conversations about anxiety and inspiring them to speak out. This contributed to the success of Below Deck Med, with Hannah becoming the face of the series since its debut in 2016, despite the presence of other notable cast members.
Courtesy of Hannah Ferrier/Instagram
After cameras captured Hannah experiencing a panic attack in season 3, the chief stew opened up about what led to the breakdown.
"The anxiety had been escalating for eight days before the attack. It wasn't sudden," she explained to Decider in August 2018. "I was thinking, 'What has changed from season 1 to now?' and all I could think of was [my relationship with bosun] Conrad [Empson]. Looking back at the season now, there were actually a lot of differences."
Hannah pointed out that her personal life wasn't the primary cause of her panic attack.
We had the worst charter guests we've ever had. I was only getting four hours of sleep per night for the first two weeks," she shared. "Captain Sandy was really tough on me at the beginning of the season. And there's no escape. You can't get away from the cameras or the work environment, and the charter guests just keep coming. In a regular job, you can go home, relax with your partner or friends, have a glass of wine, and talk about it. But even when we talk with our families, we don't have much time. Everything just goes in, instead of coming out like it would in a typical situation."
The TV personality expressed gratitude to viewers for their understanding response.
Many individuals have reached out and expressed surprise at discovering that others experience the same physical symptoms of anxiety. This revelation has highlighted the feeling of isolation that many people face. It is important for those who do not suffer from anxiety to understand that stress and anxiety are different, and the response from others has made people feel less alone. During the filming of the fifth season of Below Deck Med, Hannah experienced hyperventilation after witnessing the firing of her coworker, Kiko Lorran. This led to a series of events that ultimately resulted in Hannah's departure. She confided in her roommate, Malia White, that she needed a Valium to calm down, prompting the bosun, Sandy, to be notified of the situation.
Hannah later challenged Sandy's decision to terminate her employment due to the presence of Valium and a CBD vape pen in her cabin.
"I sometimes feel that she is not being honest with herself. She says it wasn't personal, the firing. But it's funny because Kat had prescription meds that Captain Lee had found out about and she didn't get fired," Hannah exclusively told We in May 2021. "There was no need to fire me for that. It was definitely personal, but I guess whatever helps you sleep at night."
Sandy, on the other hand, justified her choice to dismiss Hannah. "If the trust is broken for me as a captain, I cannot take anyone to sea," she told Us in September 2021. "Over the years, people have tried to revoke my license due to incidents with the crew."
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Sandy has expressed her willingness to reconcile with her former costar, stating in an interview with Us in July 2022, "Hannah doesn't want anything to do with me. I'm happy for her and everything she's doing. I've never felt any hatred. It's not in my heart. I wish her well, and if she blames me for some reason, I'm sorry. I won't jeopardize my career for anyone. I wish her the best."
At the beginning of the year, Sandy shocked Below Deck fans by expressing her willingness to work with Hannah again during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. In response to Sandy's comment in October, Hannah humorously posted a poll asking her followers if she should make a comeback to the show – and the majority voted in favor.
