Millie Bobby Brown has revealed that she experienced a three-month-long anxiety attack after a traumatic incident in which she was chased. The 22-year-old actress, best known for playing Eleven in Stranger Things, shared her struggle on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty.
Traumatic Chase Triggered Extended Anxiety
Brown explained that her anxiety manifests in long cycles rather than short episodes. 'My anxiety doesn't come on a Monday and maybe a Wednesday. Something big needs to happen and then it will probably last for two months, every day. So mine are cycles,' she said. 'One of my longest cycles must have been three months, and I got chased by somebody in a place, and it sent me into a three-month-long anxiety panic attack.'
She elaborated on the incident: 'I got chased by these people and it was really traumatising. It was very, very intense and very scary. I shut down for three months.' The actress noted that she would have full-blown panic attacks during red carpet events but felt unable to escape the cycle.
Healing Through Meditation in Japan
The breakthrough came during a trip to Japan, where Brown meditated with monks. 'Meditation has never been anything that's worked for me because of my mind and how I've not been able to shut out thoughts,' she said. 'Nobody knew who I was, and if they did, they didn't care in that moment. It was amazing and I will never forget the feeling.' She described the experience as a form of divine intervention, adding, 'I think that really healed me in a lot of ways. It healed a lot of me.'
Brown, who now goes by Millie Bonnie Bongiovi after marrying Jake Bongiovi—son of rocker Jon Bon Jovi—last year, said she needed to address her anxiety before starting a family. The couple adopted a baby girl in August and have kept their family life private. 'Anxiety is the worst thing ever and I knew I needed to heal and I needed to figure out my anxiety before starting a family,' she said. 'It was the most amazing experience. It took me out of the cycle.'
Coping Mechanisms and Past Lives Belief
Brown now has healthier tools to break anxiety cycles as they occur. She also reiterated her belief in past lives, claiming she was once a closeted gay soldier killed with a sword through the spine. Her Enola Holmes 3 co-star Louis Partridge expressed skepticism, to Brown's disappointment.
