How Ryan Reynolds' Anxiety Transformed Him into a More Present Father: Shifting Focus to Family

Why Ryan Reynolds Believes Anxiety Has Helped Him Become a Better Dad

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively with their children. Michael Tran/FilmMagic

When it comes to being a dad, Ryan Reynolds views anxiety as a strength. He believes that it helps him focus more on his kids than on himself. Reynolds, 47, shared this perspective with his Deadpool & Wolverine costar Hugh Jackman during a joint People interview on Wednesday, May 29. Jackman agreed, acknowledging the positive role anxiety plays in parenting.

Now that Ryan Reynolds has welcomed four children with his wife Blake Lively, he shared that he is glad to have faced mental health struggles. This experience allows him to be a guiding light for his kids - James, 9, Inez, 7, Betty, 4, and their 15-month-old whose name has not been revealed.

Reynolds expressed, "I now appreciate my struggles with anxiety. It helps me understand and support my children when they face similar challenges. I can show them compassion and make them feel heard, knowing that I can't simply fix everything. I am thankful for this perspective."

Reynolds has been open about his anxiety before, sharing his struggles with mental health over the years. He credits his family for this openness. In a July 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, the actor mentioned that as a parent, he focuses on displaying certain "behaviors" to allow room for emotions such as sadness, anxiety, or anger.

He aims to normalize discussions around mental health and reduce the stigma attached to it. Reynolds believes that talking about one's struggles can help others feel less alone in their own experiences. By creating a dialogue, he feels that it can provide a sense of liberation for those facing similar challenges.

During a chat with CBS’ Sunday Morning in 2022, Reynolds revealed that he has been dealing with anxiety since he was young. He mentioned that a different side of him seems to take control when he starts to feel a panic attack approaching.

Looking back on a tough mental health episode before appearing on Late Night With Dave Letterman in 2015, Reynolds admitted that he felt as though he was on the verge of “dying” just before going on stage.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Us Weekly 2410 Hugh Jackman

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Before the curtain would open, I used to stand backstage feeling incredibly nervous. I would tell myself, 'I'm going to die. I'm literally going to die here,' I thought. 'The curtain will open, and I'll just be a mess, a symphony of vomit or something terrible will happen.'

However, for Reynolds, taking the stage is the way to overcome those difficult moments.

"When the curtain opens, it's like a switch flips for me," he shared. "It's as if this little confident version of myself takes over and reassures me that everything will be fine. My heart rate slows down, my breathing becomes steady, and I transform into a more composed individual. After the interview, I often think to myself, 'I wish I could always be that self-assured guy!'"

Years later, Reynolds has discovered how to harness the benefits of his anxiety to further his career.

During their interview with People, Reynolds explained how those with anxiety tend to constantly think about the future. He described the experience of always worrying about what could happen and creating stories in your mind. This mindset even affects his work on movies like Deadpool & Wolverine, where he critiques his own performance as if he were an audience member.

In response, Jackman shared with Reynolds how his approach to discussing anxiety and mental health with his children has evolved as they have grown older. Jackman, who has two children named Oscar and Ava with his estranged wife Deborra-lee Furness, emphasized the importance of adapting his conversations based on his kids' maturity levels.

I used to be a bit old-fashioned in my thinking. I used to believe that if I was feeling anxious, I shouldn't burden others with it. For example, if I had an important event like an opening night or hosting the Oscars, I would distance myself for three weeks leading up to it. Then, someone pointed out to me that my kids might not understand why I was acting this way. They might think I was upset with them or they had done something wrong.

Jackman shared that being open about his feelings has actually helped him deal with stressful situations better.

Yesterday, I had to make a phone call that made me a bit nervous. I told my son beforehand that it was going to be uncomfortable for me. After the call, he asked me how it went, and I told him I felt much better.

Editor's P/S:

Ryan Reynolds' candor about his struggles with anxiety is a refreshing departure from the stigma often associated with mental health issues. His belief that anxiety can be a strength in parenting is particularly poignant, as it highlights the importance of empathy and understanding in supporting children's emotional well-being. Reynolds' journey towards embracing his anxiety is a testament to the transformative power of open dialogue and the value of seeking support in overcoming mental health challenges.

Hugh Jackman's experience mirrors the growing recognition of the need to adapt discussions about mental health to children's developmental stages. By acknowledging his own anxieties and explaining how he copes with them, Jackman creates a safe space for his children to express their emotions without judgment. Their conversations demonstrate the crucial role parents play in destigmatizing mental health and fostering resilience in their children.