Zendaya On Anxiety & How She's Stepping Up Her Mental Wellness In Self-Isolation

I don't know which anxious Black woman needs to hear this but you're not in this thing alone, sis.

According to the internet, almost a quarter of Black women in the U.S. have experienced anxiety disorder, and both me and Euphoria actress, 23-year-old megastar Zendaya can totally relate. In a recent interview with InStyle, she opened up about how she's staying balanced during the quarantine, and according to her, the most important step in her mental wellness routine is practicing gratitude.

"I genuinely don't know how I'm doing. [laughs] It's been an interesting few months, to say the least. But I've been trying to remain not just positive but grateful. I'm grateful for my health and for the fact that I can quarantine safely. I know that I'll be OK financially once this is over, but for a lot of people that isn't the case. So anytime I start complaining, I just stop."

In the interview, Zendaya got real about the first time she encountered anxiety, which she revealed first surfaced in grade school before a big test:

"My anxiety first started when I was younger and I had to take a test at school. I remember panicking, and my teacher had to walk me out of the room and say, 'Calm down, deep breaths.' I don't think it really came up again until I was about 16, when I was working and there was a project I had turned down. That was kind of my first time dealing with the internet, and it made me feel sick. I deleted everything and stayed in my room. Live performing really gave me anxiety too. I think a lot of it stems from the pressure I put on myself, wanting to do my best and not make a mistake. I definitely don't have it under control yet. I don't have the key, so if anybody does, let me know!"

Although Zendaya doesn't claim to have the answers to managing anxiety, she's picked up a few coping methods along the way:

"I do find that talking about it is helpful, and that can often mean calling my mom in the middle of the night. Sometimes I make her sleep on the phone with me like a frickin' baby. [laughs]"

For Zendaya, staying sane in self-isolation has been less difficult with the help of frequent phone calls with family and indulging in her newfound hobbies. Along with painting and working on her fitness, Zendaya says that she is also working on developing her musical talents during this time:

"I painted for a week, and then I tried working out for a week, but I burned out on both very quickly. I did buy a piano in an attempt to learn how to play, though. I've taught myself one song so far. It's a song I wrote that is only three chords, so not that exciting, but I can play it. [laughs]."

To read Zendaya's full interview, click here!

Featured image by DFree / Shutterstock.com