Kelly Ripa opens up about her struggles with social anxiety

Kelly Ripa opens up about her struggles with social anxiety

Kelly Ripa has been making viewers smile on daytime television for more than two decades, but in her new book Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories, the 51-year-old reminds fans that you don't always know when someone is struggling with mental health. Ripa reveals in her memoir the behind-the-scenes struggles she faced with social anxiety disorder that bordered on depression throughout her career, according to excerpts shared by Entertainment Tonight.

Although she's known for her signature bubbly demeanor, the talk show host has long struggled with mental health issues, Ripa shares. "I have a severe case of social anxiety disorder and I tend to say unpleasant or inappropriate things when I'm under pressure," she writes in the book, according to ET. "People think that because I'm an extrovert on TV, I'm one in real life too. Surprise. That's why they call it acting."

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The first-time author was a soap opera star long before she was tapped to co-host Live With Regis and Kelly, so she knows a thing or two about acting. Regardless, her admission is a reminder that so many people — celebrities and otherwise — put on a brave face despite the feelings they may be holding on to.

In the book, Ripa recounts a conversation she had with a therapist in the past, sharing, "I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning," ET reports. "I almost always wake up crying when I think about going to work. I feel like I'm in physical pain. My hair hurts. I have no energy at all. I'm very easily distracted. When I'm playing with my kids I feel like I've forgotten to do something at work, and when I'm at work I feel like I've forgotten to do something for my kids. I cry in the shower. I cry myself to sleep. I cry afterward “Sometimes I want to cry in the middle of the show. Sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe.”

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Although Ripa mentions several "self-diagnosed" mental health disorders in addition to social anxiety, the mother of three appears to find solace in therapy, which she has attended for over a decade. "I had spent ten years focusing on my marriage, my work life, my childhood, and all the things I wanted to fix about myself," she writes in the book, according to ET.

Ripa's story likely resonates with others who have experienced similar mental health struggles, which are remarkably common despite still being surrounded by shame and stigma. Social anxiety disorder is a clinical diagnosis in which everyday social interactions can cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment, according to the Mayo Clinic. It affects around 15 million (or seven percent) of American adults, reports Mental Health America. The vast majority (more than 75 percent) first experience social anxiety in childhood, and the disorder has no specific cause.

Despite being so common, mental illnesses are difficult to treat. Many are misdiagnosed and people often have difficulty accessing care and resources such as therapies. Luckily, there are some free mental health services available for those who are struggling, because no one should ever have to go it alone.

Props to Ripa for using her public platform to share her honest experiences with mental health. We hope that others who hear her story will feel a little less alone in what they may be experiencing.