Shazam’s Zachary Levi has revealed he had a ‘complete mental breakdown’ five years ago and had thoughts of ending his life.
The actor, 41, said that he has ‘struggled with’ anxiety and depression for most of his life but he didn’t realise the extent of his problems until he hit rock bottom forcing him to seek treatment in a ‘psych ward’.
Speaking on the Heart of the Matter podcast, he said: ‘I’ve struggled with this stuff most of my life. I didn’t realise that I was struggling with these things until I was 37, about five years ago and I had a complete mental breakdown.’
‘I was having thoughts of ending my life’: Shazam’s Zachary Levi, 41, revealed he had a complete mental breakdown which forced him into a ‘psych ward’ (pictured in 2021)
During the chat he recalled how he had moved to Austin, Texas and was struggling to focus on ordinary tasks such as unpacking and even settling on a place to eat, which resulted in him having a panic attack while out in his truck.
He said: ‘I drove around probably for 10 minutes not knowing which place to eat because I didn’t know which place was the right place to eat as opposed to just saying, “Zach, just go eat some food”.
Adding: ‘It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if you go to that pizza joint or that Chinese place or whatever. Just go get some food. If you’re hungry, go get some food.’
![Sad: During the chat he recalled how he had moved to Austin, Texas and was struggling to focus on ordinary tasks such as unpacking and even settling on a place to eat, which led him to a panic attack while out in his truck (pictured in the movie Shazam)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/06/24/09/59469941-10949087-image-a-3_1656060918844.jpg)
Sad: During the chat he recalled how he had moved to Austin, Texas and was struggling to focus on ordinary tasks such as unpacking and even settling on a place to eat, which led him to a panic attack while out in his truck (pictured in the movie Shazam)
He continued: ‘I’m sitting in my truck, and vividly, I remember I was holding onto the wheel and I was just shaking back and forth, that like almost trying to shake myself out of what it was going on, and I’m just weeping. I’m just crying. I’m like, ‘God, help me.’
The Tangled voiceover star said he was grappling with suicidal thoughts, made particularly tougher because he’d moved away from his ‘support structure’, so he took himself to hospital.
He candidly admitted: ‘I was having very active thoughts of ending my life’.
![Honest: The Tangled star was grappling with suicidal thoughts, made particularly tougher because he'd moved away from his 'support structure', so he took himself to hospital (pictured in 2021)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/06/24/10/59470161-10949087-image-a-18_1656061893234.jpg)
Honest: The Tangled star was grappling with suicidal thoughts, made particularly tougher because he’d moved away from his ‘support structure’, so he took himself to hospital (pictured in 2021)
‘It wasn’t the first time I had had them. I had been in dark places in my life before, but I guess in those moments I had people around me.
He continued: ‘I had foolishly, I mean, I think I made the right choice in moving to Austin. I don’t think I did it exactly the right way’.
‘I didn’t realise I was running away from so much, but I moved out here and I didn’t have anybody’.
![Big Break: The actor found fame in the comedy series Chuck (pictured in character with co-star Yvonne Strahovski in 2010)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/06/24/10/59470171-10949087-image-a-9_1656061656344.jpg)
Big Break: The actor found fame in the comedy series Chuck (pictured in character with co-star Yvonne Strahovski in 2010)
‘I didn’t have a support structure. … So, in this particular moment, I’m out here in this wonderful city, but basically by myself, and the darkness surrounds me again. The lies are whispering into my ear and the failure that I felt that I was enough to be like, ‘Zach, it doesn’t feel like you’re going to make it out of this.’
At the suggestion of a ‘dear friend’, Zachary sought treatment at a psych ward, where he underwent three weeks in ‘intensive life-changing, life-saving therapy.’
And these days, the Chuck actor manages his mental health issues with diet, exercise, and good sleeping habits, as well as his faith.
He said: ‘Prayer and meditation are very important, which are also somewhat synonymous, I think, in some ways. Sometimes my prayer is meditation. Sometimes I’m just there and allowing God to take over what that time is.’
The full podcast episode will be released on July 28.
![Happier: these days, the Chuck actor manages his mental health issues with diet, exercise, and good sleeping habits, as well as his faith (pictured with Shazam 2 co-stars (L-R) Asher Angel, Helen Mirrn, Zachary and Jack Dylan Grazer)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/06/24/10/59470255-10949087-image-a-19_1656061924252.jpg)
Happier: these days, the Chuck actor manages his mental health issues with diet, exercise, and good sleeping habits, as well as his faith (pictured with Shazam 2 co-stars (L-R) Asher Angel, Helen Mirrn, Zachary and Jack Dylan Grazer)
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