'It’s been an issue for many many years': Kumail Nanjiani admits his work as an actor resulted in anxiety

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kumail Nanjiani has spoken up on dealing with “untenable” anxiety over the years. During a recent appearance on the 'Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum' podcast, the 45-year-old detailed how his work as an actor and comedian resulted in a lot of stress and anxiety.

“I do have anxiety and it’s been an issue for many many years,” he shared, adding “It was a few years ago actually where I realized this is untenable, this is too much anxiety. I realized that I had associated work with stress and nerves and anxiety.” 

Kumail Nanjiani said he did stand-up comedy when his anxiety started 

Nanjiani said that his anxiety started when he did stand-up comedy, explaining that his heart would start racing before walking on stage. “I sort of associated that body feeling with my work and it was really hard for [wife Emily V Gordon] and it was really hard for me and my work suffered,” he admitted, noting that it pushed him to find a therapist.

“I started seeing a therapist and learned the ways to really let things go and I’ve realized that when I’m relaxed, I’m better at my job, I’m better at acting, I’m better at stand up, I’m a better husband, all that stuff,” he said.

Kumail Nanjiani struggles with anxiety despite meditating everyday

Nanjiani said that although he meditates every day and goes to therapy every week, he still struggles with it and understands that he’ll always have to manage his mental health. “Anxiety is a constant thing that you have to work on,” he said, adding “Anxiety comes back, you have to know how to see it, understand it and deal with it.”

Besides, the actor also revealed how the negative reviews to his 2021 Marvel film 'Eternals' affected his mental health, as per The Guardian.

"The reviews were really bad," Nanjiani recalled, adding "I was too aware of it. I was reading every review. I was checking too much. This thing had become too much in my head. This was also right after the pandemic so we’re coming out after this crazy thing and I’m like okay this is going to be the coming out party. I worked hard for this.”

Despite loving the movie and being proud of how it came out, Nanjiani said the “trauma” from the bad reviews ultimately took a toll on him.

“It was really hard, and that was when I thought it was unfair to me and unfair to [my wife] Emily, and I can’t approach my work this way anymore. Some s--- has to change. So I started counseling. I still talk to my therapist about that. I do have trauma from it,” he shared.

"I realized I can't be so results based in my work anymore because I can't really control it," he said, adding "I can control my experience. I can control how I am to the people around me. I can control what I learn from it. I can control how I work. I can't control what people are gonna think of it."