US actor Chase Stokes has said he suffers short-term memory loss following injuries on the set of Outer Banks.
The 33-year-old actor is known for starring in the Netflix teenage drama series as John B, which follows two groups of teenagers as they search for a lost treasure in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The show, which premiered in 2020, came to an end this week after releasing its fifth and final season.
Three concussions while filming
Stokes revealed that he has poured his “blood sweat and tears” into making the programme, including having three concussions while filming.
He told Men’s Health: “This is a show that I’ve quite literally poured my blood, sweat, and tears into over the years, but I wouldn’t have traded those blood, sweat, and tears to make that character come alive for anything.
“The last two years, I’ve started to notice memory retention issues becoming a little bit more prominent.
“I’ve had days where I’ve looked at my materials the night before, and I’m feeling pretty good about it, but then I’ll get in the car and go to work, and I’ll be like, ‘Shit, I don’t remember the chunk of dialogue from last night’.
“Also, I’ll hear something or I’ll be told something, and then very shortly after forget it. It’s almost like a short-term memory loss type of situation. It’s scary.”
Treatment and body dysmorphia
Stokes said he is finding new ways to remap and train the neuroplasticity in his brain, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) treatment, which he said helped “tremendously”.
According to the NHS website, it is a non-invasive procedure that works to stimulate specific areas of the brain to help treat various mental health conditions and certain neurological disorders.
The actor also revealed that he “struggled with body dysmorphia” following criticism online.
“The internet falls in love with the blond-haired boy with the six-pack abs and then wonders why I don’t always look like that,” he said.
“I’ve gone through a lot of scrutiny and a lot of condescending stuff over the years about my body, and it’s really messed with my mental health at times.
“It’s been nice to not have that constant comparison and contrast because that character has been put to bed.
“Now, we get to start fresh, and we get to build something that is really cool and entirely different.
“And you don’t have to worry about the aesthetics.
“You can just focus on the work and the art and making sure that you’re showing up well for the job.”
Stokes stars in the upcoming Nascar drama series, Thunder Road, as rear tyre changer Ronnie Whitlock. He is also known for appearing in Stranger Things, Daytime Divas and Tell Me Your Secrets.
