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Amanda Seyfried is opening up about her long journey with obsessive-compulsive disorder and how it has shaped her life and career.
In a recent interview with Vogue, the 40-year-old actress shared that she was diagnosed with a very severe form of OCD when she was just 19. At the time, she was living in Marina del Rey while filming 'Big Love.' Her condition became so overwhelming that her mother took time off work in Pennsylvania to stay with her for a month and help her cope. After undergoing brain scans, Seyfried began taking medication, which she continues to take every night to this day.
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Image Courtesy: Amanda Seyfried/ Instagram
OCD is a mental health condition marked by intrusive thoughts and fears that can lead to repetitive behaviours. These patterns can disrupt daily life and cause significant stress, something Seyfried experienced firsthand at a young age.
Amanda Seyfried on Dealing With OCD
While dealing with OCD early in her acting career, Seyfried said professional rejection did not affect her as deeply as it might have affected others. She viewed it as part of the industry. However, she was careful to avoid anything that could worsen her symptoms, including heavy drinking, drug use, or staying out late. This cautious approach set her apart from many of her peers.
She admitted that she often made plans only to cancel them later, choosing not to participate in nightlife scenes. Looking back, she believes those decisions helped protect her mental health and credits her OCD with steering her away from situations that could have been harmful.
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Image Courtesy: Amanda Seyfried/ Instagram
Amanda Seyfried Candidly Shared About Her Treatment
Amanda Seyfried has spoken openly about her treatment before. In a 2016 interview, she shared that she has been taking Lexapro since her diagnosis and has no intention of stopping. She explained that she is on a low dose and sees no reason to risk her stability, emphasising that using medication should not carry stigma.
She also expressed strong views about how mental illness is perceived. Seyfried believes mental health conditions should be treated with the same seriousness as physical illnesses. Just because mental illness is not visible does not mean it is not real, and if treatment is available, she feels it should be embraced without shame.
By continuing to speak openly, Amanda Seyfried hopes to help normalise conversations around mental health and encourage others to seek the support they need.
