Elizabeth Olsen, at the age of 21, experienced her first panic attack and feared she would "drop dead" during the episode.
The now 33-year-old actress was living in New York City at the time and went through six months of having these attacks "on the hour every hour." In an interview with Variety, she shared her experience, saying, "I didn't understand what anxiety or a panic attack was until I was 21. I remember I would get them on the hour every hour."
She recalled a specific moment on 14th Street when she was crossing 6th Avenue, feeling unable to proceed and standing against a wall, convinced that she might collapse at any moment. Olsen explained how her body would react strongly to any shift, such as going from cold to hot or feeling hungry to full, triggering a spiraling effect. Seeking medical advice, she was told that her symptoms might be related to vertigo.
To cope with her anxiety, the "WandaVision" star was connected with a professional who introduced her to "brain games" aimed at improving focus. Olsen shared that a friend who experienced panic attacks before she had learned these techniques from a neuropsychiatrist or psychologist.
The exercises were similar to an acting exercise she had done previously, where one makes constant observations about the person in front of them and tries to establish a connection. Olsen described how she would walk down the street and start verbally naming everything she saw as a way to redirect her thoughts and break free from the spiraling anxiety.
The approach proved effective for Olsen, who expressed her preference to avoid medication. However, she carried some medication with her as a safety measure. She explained, "That was a helpful tool. But it just became a practice that got me out of it.
I didn't want to be on medication, but I had medication in case I felt like I was having an emergency." Olsen acknowledged that her experience was surprising, as she was not an anxious child and had always been loud and confident.
