News

Carson Daly Opens Up About His Struggle With Anxiety

By  | 

Carson Daly has been in the spotlight for quite some time. From his early days hosting the popular music countdown show on MTV, “Total Request Live,” to his new jobs as anchor on The Today Show and announcer on “The Voice”, Carson has dealt with one major issue throughout his entire TV career: Anxiety.

Carson talked openly about his struggles with Generalized Anxiety Disorder on The Today Show earlier this week. When someone suffers from this mood disorder, feelings of excessive fear and worry can interfere with their functioning in daily life. By sharing his personal experiences with anxiety, Carson wanted to help shatter the stigma associated with mental illness.

Carson said he has been dealing with anxiety ever since he was a young child.

“I was a worrywart kid. I was always worrying,” he said. “My father died when I was 5. I had an ulcer when I was in high school. I’ve been nervous my whole life.”

Ever since then, the symptoms of the disorder have followed him into his profession. Carson told The Today Show that he distinctly remembers his first panic attack. It caught him off guard as he was preparing to go on air with his show, “Total Request Live.”

“I had a hard time breathing. I was terrified for no apparent reason,” he said.

Unfortunately, the debilitating symptoms of anxiety only got worse from there. As a California native, transitioning to the hectic, fast-paced life in NYC was no easy task. In fact, one anxiety attack was so severe that it landed him in the hospital. Carson recalls feeling like there was a tightness that was taking over his body. He wanted to make sure that this sensation wasn’t caused by a heart attack.

Aside from work, Carson also said that he sometimes experiences panic attacks in places where he would least expect.

“I’ve had heightened anxiety and mild panic attacks at the playground with my own children and wife there,” he said. “The feeling was so gripping and terrifying that literally I had to leave and excuse myself.”

Another reason Carson decided to disclose his diagnosis in public is to help people realize that there is no easy fix for alleviating anxiety. He told viewers that cognitive therapy and muscle retention relaxation have helped him cope with his symptoms.

Although anxiety will always be a part of his life, Carson continues to succeed in his career and lead a productive lifestyle.

“I really wear the way I am like a badge of honor,” he said. “This is who I am and I’m proud of it.”

Creative copywriter with a passion for editing, storytelling, and blogging. Follow me on Instagram @Neds385

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *