Hollywood is an industry where one must work constantly to remain relevant and appealing. Hollywood veteran Idris Elba has felt the aftermath of this lifestyle more severely than his peers. The wonderful actor who also DJ’s as a side hustle, has been in therapy for the better part of last year thanks to this hazardous lifestyle.
Known best for his roles in Stringer Bell in The Wire, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor revealed that his professionalism has turned out to be detrimental for him, his health, and his family, leading him to turn to therapy to let go of his ‘unhealthy habits’.
Idris Elba Seeks Therapy To Cope With Industry Lifestyle
The Hollywood lifestyle isn’t for everyone, for beyond the glitz and glamour lies an intense struggle to stay relevant, relatable, authentic, and grounded. In a space dominated by anxiety, depression, and a constant need for validation, it’s no surprise that many celebrities struggle with their mental health. However, for Idris Elba, the case is a little bit different for he has become a workaholic to such a point that being away from work makes him uncomfortable and anxious.
While on the Changes with Annie Macmanus podcast, the Marvel star revealed his ‘workaholic condition’ led him to seek therapy last to last year,
“I’ve been in therapy the last… about a year now. It’s a lot right? In my therapy I’ve been thinking a lot about changing… like neuropaths being shifted. It’s not because I don’t like myself or anything like that. It’s just because I have some unhealthy habits that have really formed. And I work in an industry that I’m rewarded for those unhealthy habits. I’m rewarded for them. I’m an absolute workaholic. And that isn’t great for life, generally.”
While being a workaholic can be good for his career, Elba understands that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for overall well-being.
Idris Elba Is Working Hard To Maintain Healthy Work-Life Balance
In an industry that requires one’s constant attention and dedication, Idris Elba has been working hard to find a healthy work-life balance, not only for himself but also for the sake of his family. While on the podcast, he revealed his urge to find balance led him to seek therapy.
“Nothing that’s too extreme is good, everything needs balance. But I’m rewarded massively to be a workaholic. Those are pathways that I had to be like, ‘I’ve got to adjust.'”
Apart from his acting job, Elba also struggles because of his DJing career, leading him to spend hours in his home studio, which further takes away time from his family.
“I could work 10 days on a film, underwater sequences holding my breath for six minutes, and come back and sit in [the studio] and [feel relaxed], more so than sitting on the sofa with the family — which is bad right?”
Adding on, he stated that the need to return to the ‘normal’ has made him work hard in therapy for it cannot be just ‘work’ that makes him relaxed.
