Parenting with OCD and anxiety: Amanda Seyfried's story

Background

Actress Amanda Seyfried has recently opened up about her struggles with OCD and anxiety, which started during her childhood and continue to impact her life as an adult. In a candid interview with Allure magazine, Seyfried revealed that her experience with these disorders has changed the way she parents her two children.

According to Seyfried, her OCD manifests in obsessions and compulsions related to cleanliness and order. She has also struggled with anxiety, which she describes as a feeling of "imminent doom" that can be triggered by seemingly insignificant things.

As a parent, Seyfried has had to balance her own mental health needs with the needs of her children, but she sees her struggles as an opportunity to model resilience and self-care.

Quantifiable examples

One specific way that Seyfried's OCD has affected her parenting is in the way she prepares food for her children. In the Allure interview, she described spending "twice as long" as a non-OCD parent would on tasks like washing vegetables or sterilizing bottles. While this may seem like a minor difference, it can add up to significant amounts of time that Seyfried is unable to spend with her kids.

Seyfried has also had to learn to manage her anxiety when it comes to her children's safety. In a 2020 interview with People, she explained that her anxiety would sometimes make her reluctant to let her daughter play outdoors, even though she knew that fresh air and exercise were important for her child's well-being. To overcome this, she started practicing mindfulness and focusing on the present moment, rather than worrying about hypothetical worst-case scenarios.

Personal anecdotes

As someone who has lived with OCD and anxiety for most of her life, Seyfried has a deep understanding of the challenges that come with these disorders. In an interview with Health, she talked about how she copes with intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, saying, "I've learned to embrace my anxiety instead of running away from it, and it's made me a better, braver person."

She also talked about the importance of self-compassion and self-care, both for herself and for her children. In a 2019 interview with Parents, she said, "It's easy to feel like we're not doing enough, especially as moms. But it's important to take care of ourselves so we can take care of our children."

Practical tips

• Practice mindfulness: when you find yourself getting caught up in anxious or obsessive thoughts, take a few deep breaths and focus on the present moment.
• Break tasks into smaller steps: instead of trying to complete a big task all at once, break it down into manageable pieces and tackle them one at a time.
• Ask for help: it's okay to ask for support from family, friends, or mental health professionals when you need it.
• Model self-compassion: be kind to yourself, even when you're struggling. Show your children that it's okay to make mistakes and that taking care of your mental health is a priority.

Conclusion

Parenting with OCD and anxiety is not easy, but Amanda Seyfried's story shows that it's possible to overcome the challenges and come out stronger on the other side. By being open about her struggles, she is helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and encouraging others to seek help when they need it. As parents, we can all learn from her example and prioritize our mental health, both for ourselves and for our children.

3 key takeaways:

1. Managing OCD and anxiety as a parent requires self-compassion, mindfulness, and a willingness to ask for help.
2. Quantifiable examples of how OCD and anxiety impact parenting include spending more time on tasks, avoiding certain activities out of fear, and struggling to balance self-care with child care.
3. Personal anecdotes from Amanda Seyfried demonstrate the importance of embracing anxiety, practicing self-care, and being kind to ourselves and our children.