Willow Smith Opens Up About Her Fragile Mental Health
“It’s like a wobbly seesaw, but I’m ready to soar.”
During a relaxed chat on BBC Radio 1’s YUNGBLUD Podcast, 20‑year‑old Willow Smith let us in on a side of herself that’s rarely seen. She told listeners, “My mental health is in a very fragile state, but I think it’s about to grow in a really awesome way.” The pop‑star is slowly turning a period of anxiety into a launchpad for personal growth.
Re‑entering the Music Scene
- “I had a lot of fear for years—feeling invisible and unsafe in the industry.”
- “I stepped away, but now I’m checking back in. The old memories and emotions keep popping up.”
- “During a Jimmy Fallon appearance, I had a flashback that sent me looping back to 9‑year‑old me—
- “I felt like everyone was saying, ‘You’re just a brat! Why aren’t you grateful?’”
From “Tantrum” to “Anxiety Attack”
Willow says, “They never noticed it was an anxiety attack; they just called it a tantrum.” She’s learned a few tricks to cope now:
- Take a moment. Pause, breathe, and give yourself a mental timeout.
- Practice a quick meditation: “Hey, I’m not a 9‑year‑old—I’m a grown woman.”
- Re‑train your mind, so the crash, instead of a tantrum, feels like a manageable alert.
With humor and honesty, Willow shares that she’s now on a path to turning panic into progress. By acknowledging her past anxiety and embracing new coping tools, she’s rewriting her story—one relieved breath at a time.
