On the ‘Heart of the Matter’ podcast with journalist Elizabeth Vargas, the ‘Shazam’ star confessed that he struggled to deal with certain things for most of his life, reported Page Six. However, Levi realized that she ‘was struggling with these things’ when she got quite old.
“I’ve struggled with these things for most of my life. I didn’t realize I was struggling with these things until I was 37, about five years ago, and had a complete mental breakdown.” the actor confessed.
In addition, Levi admitted that he turned to “sex, drugs, alcohol or things to distract him or numb him from the pain,” Page Six reported. However, the actor added that although alcohol consumption provides “temporary relief”, it amplifies the “anxiety tenfold”, causing a “vicious cycle”.
“The irony is that alcohol can give you temporary relief, but then the next day it amplifies that anxiety tenfold. So you’re running for more, and it just becomes a vicious cycle,” Levi said.
Levi confessed that he began to struggle with mental health disorders growing up with his mother, who suffered from borderline personality disorder, accompanied by his father, who was a devoted “perfectionist”, according to reports.
“I was an embarrassment to the family. I mean, there was a lot of vitriol, a lot of screaming,” the actor said.
Later in the podcast, Levi revealed that he ended up in a psych ward after suicidal thoughts took over and was having “active thoughts of ending” his life, according to reports.
“I was having very active thoughts of ending my life. It wasn’t the first time I’ve had them. I’ve been in dark places in my life before, but I guess I had people around me at the time,” said the ‘American’ actor. Underdog’.
Levi reportedly participated in “life-changing and life-saving intensive therapy,” which helped him control his intrusive thoughts and help him cope with his mental health. He revealed that people’s ‘minds… are easily hijacked’ if not kept in check.
“Our minds are so powerful, but they’re…so easily hijacked if we don’t really say, ‘Oh wait…I’m doing it again. I’m starting to bad-mouth myself again. I’m starting to be harsh or critical of myself. I’m starting to judge where I am in my life, “said the actor.
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