Podcast Summary: The Squeeze – Episode Featuring Anna Cathcart: "The Habit Of Anxiety"

Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of The Squeeze, host Taylor Lautner engages in an in-depth conversation with actress Anna Cathcart, best known for her role in Exo Kitty. The discussion centers around Anna's lifelong battle with anxiety, her journey through therapy, and how she balances her mental health while navigating the challenges of a burgeoning acting career. Throughout the episode, Anna shares personal anecdotes, coping strategies, and insights aimed at fostering a broader conversation about mental wellness.

Early Experiences with Anxiety

Anna Cathcart opens up about her early encounters with anxiety, tracing her struggles back to childhood.

• On the Onset of Anxiety: "When I was nine, really weirdly gained this like really intense debilitating fear. Incredibly irrational and incredibly debilitating at its peak." (02:10)

  Anna describes an intense fear that manifested at a young age, leaving her feeling isolated and misunderstood by peers.

• Separation Anxiety: Anna recounts her severe separation anxiety, which became particularly overwhelming during her transition into first grade.

  "In grade one happened, I, like, cried every single day going to school." (12:43)

  This period marked the beginning of her long-term struggle with anxiety, influencing her daily life and interactions.

Therapy and Overcoming Childhood Fears

Anna delves into her therapeutic journey, highlighting the pivotal role therapy played in her healing process.

• Initial Resistance to Therapy: "At 9, I was like, don't you dare tell my friends. Moms. Don't tell my friends." (17:00)

  Despite her young age, Anna faced internalized stigma about seeking help, viewing therapy as something shameful.

• Impact of Therapy: "Seeing therapy as a doctor's appointment helped me reframe it." (26:56)

  Therapy provided Anna with frameworks to understand and manage her anxiety, likening it to physical health care.

• Ongoing Relationship with Anxiety: Anna reflects on how anxiety has evolved over the years, becoming a habitual presence in her life.

  "It's just how I'm used to existing. But, there's hopeful that you can get through those stages and you'll get better." (13:56)

Managing Anxiety in College

Transitioning to college presented new challenges for Anna, as she balanced her studies with the pressures of an acting career.

• Desire for Normalcy: "I really wanted to have a normal life, to be in spaces where people around me are my age." (07:56)

  College offered Anna a semblance of the traditional student experience she yearned for, allowing her to grow alongside her peers.

• Navigating Recognition: "Sometimes I get recognized at school pretty often, and it can be tough." (08:41)

  Balancing fame with academic life introduced unique stressors, necessitating new coping mechanisms.

Coping Strategies and Tools

Anna shares various strategies that have helped her manage anxiety, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and support systems.

• Journaling and Self-Reflection: "Journaling has been huge... it can be whatever you want it to look like." (36:20)

  Writing provides Anna with a safe space to process her thoughts without external judgment.

• Supportive Relationships: "I'm very lucky to have people in my life to talk to." (36:20)

  Close relationships, particularly with her sister, offer Anna the emotional support necessary to navigate her anxiety.

• Reframing Anxiety: "It's just something that I go through. Other people feel it too, just less." (40:23)

  Anna emphasizes distinguishing anxiety as a transient feeling rather than an intrinsic part of her identity.

Season 2 of Exo Kitty

Shifting focus to her acting career, Anna discusses the impact of Exo Kitty on her mental health and personal growth.

• Transition from Hobby to Career: "This show really brought that crazy transition of like child to adult career." (52:36)

  Taking on a lead role at 18 introduced her to the rigors of professional acting, reshaping her perception of her passion.

• Balancing Gratitude and Stress: "You're allowed to be stressed out. This is really tough and this is hard." (52:36)

  Anna grapples with societal expectations to constantly feel fulfilled by her career, learning to acknowledge her stress without guilt.

• Character and Personal Growth: "Season one was so impactful... It helped me just be fine to not know what's going on." (54:57)

  Portraying her character has mirrored her own journey, fostering deeper self-awareness and acceptance.

Lemon 7: Rapid-Fire Q&A

In the "Lemon 7" segment, Anna answers seven fun and introspective questions, offering listeners a glimpse into her personal preferences and mindset.

1. Movie or Song Title Describing Current Mental Health: "You need to calm down by Taylor Swift." (56:26)

2. Openness About Struggles: "I would say pretty open... especially my sister. I will tell her everything all the time." (56:59)

3. Top Three Social Media Accounts to Follow:

   • Dog-related accounts for a mood boost.
   • We the Urban for positive and validating quotes.
   • Zendaya’s account, whom she admires deeply for her resilience and style.

4. Favorite Form of Self-Care: "Journaling is like majorly up there. Reliable." (59:37)

5. Most Misunderstood Thing: "I'm seen as a very cheery, perky, happy, sunshiny person... but I can be quite cynical at times." (59:49)

6. Most Positive Impact on Mental Health: "Definitely my big sister... I don't know who I would be without her." (62:19)

7. Moment to Revisit and Advice to Younger Self: "To give little me a hug and say that you are gonna not feel this way one day." (62:54)

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Anna expressing gratitude for the platform The Squeeze provides, allowing her to share her experiences and potentially aid others facing similar struggles. The conversation not only sheds light on the pervasive nature of anxiety but also underscores the importance of understanding, support, and effective coping mechanisms in the journey toward mental wellness.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Anna Cathcart: "When I was nine, really weirdly gained this like really intense debilitating fear." (02:10)
• Anna Cathcart: "Seeing therapy as a doctor's appointment helped me reframe it." (26:56)
• Anna Cathcart: "Journaling has been huge... it can be whatever you want it to look like." (36:20)
• Anna Cathcart: "It's just something that I go through. Other people feel it too, just less." (40:23)
• Anna Cathcart: "You're allowed to be stressed out. This is really tough and this is hard." (52:36)
• Anna Cathcart: "I would say pretty open... especially my sister. I will tell her everything all the time." (56:59)
• Anna Cathcart: "To give little me a hug and say that you are gonna not feel this way one day." (62:54)

Timestamps

• 02:10: Anna discusses the onset of her intense fear at age nine.
• 12:43: Anna recounts experiencing severe separation anxiety in first grade.
• 17:00: Anna opens up about initial resistance to therapy and societal stigma.
• 26:56: Anna compares therapy to treating a broken bone, emphasizing its necessity.
• 36:20: Anna highlights journaling and supportive relationships as key coping mechanisms.
• 40:23: Anna talks about distinguishing anxiety as a feeling, not her identity.
• 52:36: Anna reflects on balancing gratitude for her career with the stress it brings.
• 54:57: Anna shares how portraying her character in Exo Kitty has influenced her personal growth.
• 56:26: Anna chooses "You Need to Calm Down" by Taylor Swift to describe her current mental state.
• 56:59: Anna speaks about her openness in discussing her struggles, especially with her sister.
• 59:37: Anna lists journaling as her favorite form of self-care.
• 59:49: Anna explains how people often misunderstand her as solely cheerful.
• 62:19: Anna credits her big sister as having the most positive impact on her mental health.
• 62:54: Anna wishes she could comfort her younger self during her peak anxiety moments.