Shailene Woodley Felt Like She Was in “Constant State of Fight or Flight” When Dealing With Illness in Her 20s

Shailene Woodley Felt Like She Was in “Constant State of Fight or Flight” When Dealing With Illness in Her 20s

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds, I can’t help but empathize with Shailene Woodley‘s real-life journey through her health struggles. Her story resonates deeply, not because we share the same profession, but because we both have fought our own battles – hers against an invisible illness, mine against a level boss in a video game.


Shailene Woodley shares more details about the challenges she faced during her health struggles in her late teens and early twenties.

The actress graced the SHE MD podcast, led by Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi. During the chat, she talked about her latest series, Three Women, and shared some personal challenges she faced in the beginning of her career, including a private health issue.

When questioned about expanding on her earlier statements that she was “seriously ill” during the filming of the Divergent movies, she stated that she doesn’t feel compelled to disclose her specific diagnosis as it is private information, but she would be open to discussing her experiences in greater detail.

She explained that her condition had deteriorated to a point where she was experiencing hearing loss. Walking for more than five minutes left her needing to rest for extended periods, sometimes even hours on end before she could sleep. Food caused discomfort in her stomach, and it seemed like a complex mix of problems, various diagnoses, and conflicting advice from different doctors.

The actress from “Big Little Lies” shared that her health issues stretched over approximately ten years, with periods of recovery and setbacks. She mentioned that persistent abdominal discomfort ultimately made her fearful of eating.

Later, I found myself grappling with the complex issues related to body dysmorphia, identity confusion, and feeling secure in my own space, my own body. This was a journey of understanding what this sense of self should be. It was a challenging process that, over time, resulted in a physical transformation. I’m pleased to say that I am now in excellent health. I’m grateful for this and also for the opportunity it gave me to reflect deeply on myself.

Reflecting on my past gaming adventures, I’ve come to understand that it wasn’t just my injuries that required healing, but also the emotional scars from the genuine traumas and PTSD I’d carried with me from various points in life. These burdens had a profound effect on both my physical well-being and my emotional state.

As a dedicated fan, I found myself utterly puzzled when the actress from The Fault in Our Stars confessed her perplexity. She’d been meticulous about her diet and maintained an active lifestyle, yet she couldn’t fathom why her body was reacting strangely. Additionally, she shared her personal struggles with her reproductive health, but despite numerous visits to doctors, a consistent diagnosis seemed elusive.

She mentioned that everyone she consulted was providing inconsistent advice, which led her to embark on a personal quest: ‘Alright, I can’t trust these people leading me because they seem to be figuring things out as they go,’ she explained. ‘So, I might as well take charge and educate myself about various topics from my own perspective, focusing on a holistic approach.’

Currently, she’s free from any medications, and her body has regained its optimal health. All systems are functioning as expected.

She explained that what brought her there, in addition to the tangible factors, was recognizing that I had been in a persistent ‘fight or flight’ mode. In other words, my body was on high alert, constantly reacting out of fear and wondering if a threat was present.

In a 2021 feature article for The Hollywood Reporter, Woodley shared her struggles with health problems that prevented her from taking on certain acting roles.

Boy, I really paid the price for neglecting myself,” I admitted. “Looking back, I endured way more than necessary because I stubbornly refused help and self-care. The self-imposed burden of not wanting to appear weak or needy only amplified my physical turmoil throughout those years.

Although she has completely recuperated from her health issues now, when she earlier conversed with THR, she disclosed that she was nearing the end of it and was almost back to her usual self. However, the experience left a lasting impression on her due to how others viewed her during that period.

The Divergent star remarked, ‘It’s fascinating to endure something so overwhelmingly physical while at the same time attracting so much scrutiny over my decisions, words, actions, and appearance. This experience left me feeling disoriented for a while. It’s as if I was incredibly isolated and lonely. People often struggle to empathize with pain that isn’t visible, such as emotional or mental distress, especially when it’s silent and hidden.’

Three Women is debuting every Friday on Starz until the Nov. 15 finale.

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2024-09-25 02:25