relax is a yahoo life wellness series in which experts, influencers, and celebrities share their approaches to wellness and Psychological healthfrom self-care rituals to setting healthy boundaries to the mantras that keep her afloat.
Antonia Gentry may not have the same mental health struggles as her character Jenny on the hit Netflix series Jenny and Georgiabut depicting a teen struggling with self-harm and panic attacks can have a negative impact on her well-being.
“I think it’s very common for a lot of actors to experience the physical effects, as well as the mental effects, of whatever character they play,” the 25-year-old told Yahoo Life. “As an actor, when you find humanity in the characters you play, you discover things about yourself as well. It was very difficult to remind myself that I was really okay, and to separate my real life from my work life in that regard. I underestimated it, especially since I had to go through Doing that every day and then coming home wondering why your body was spending – it’s because you’ve been crying 12 hours a day.”
The actress is currently working with Joyba bubble tea In their “Real Talk, Real Tea” campaign in partnership with Born This Way Foundation by Lady Gaga. Joyba encourages individuals to earn Be there testimony Through a free online mental health course that provides the skills to support peers dealing with mental health struggles.
When it comes to her mental health, Gentry makes sure she prioritizes connecting with friends, especially considering how far her job takes her away from home.
“A lot of my friends live in different parts of the world and different parts of the country, and so it’s really important for me to connect with them no matter where we are,” she explains. Currently, she is visiting her parents in her hometown, now that she has stopped filming. “Otherwise, I’m calling my mom every day, or pissing off my boyfriend when I’m gone — like, can you respond?”
The only thing Gentry will not find out is playing sports of their choice. “I’m not a huge fan of aerobics,” she laughs. “All my friends can attest to that. I have a lot of friends who love working out and swear by it. I have moments where I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m going to go to yoga or I’m going to do Pilates. ‘ And I feel good for a while, but then I feel bad again. And I’m like, “Why am I doing this? I’m forcing myself to do this. But I like to get out of the house. I like to go for walks. … But in terms of a ritual practice thing, I still have to commit to something.”
Gentry works on her mental wellness by journaling. “I’d read out loud the things that overwhelm me, whether it’s negative thoughts about myself or things I feel insecure about, and when I read them out loud I hear how stupid they sound,” she explains. “It feels very real, and those feelings, emotions, and judgments you bring to yourself are often very hard to overcome, but I’ve found that a good routine is saying it out loud, and hearing how small it is compared to everything else things can be. It really helps me to The feeling that you are bigger than the problem. It helps me feel that I can take on the strength to overcome my fears.”
the candy jar The actress is well aware of the social media criticism, but tries to take it in stride.
“I’m very aware that people are going to be stubborn, no matter what,” she says. “As long as I remind myself of what I believe in, and as long as I try to make sure I represent myself on my platform in a way that I think is responsible, I know I’m doing better. I know there are a lot of impressionable people out there who look up to me and I don’t take that lightly at all.”
In her daily life, she says she values her quiet time, and does her best to find moments when she can be as anonymous as possible, despite a career where there are a lot of eyeballs on her.
“I think that’s something that’s not underestimated, because I’m a very introverted person,” she adds. “It’s a strange feeling knowing you’re part of something so huge and has affected so many people in so many different ways. It’s gratifying when you meet fans of the show or fans on the street, but you start to feel like you can never relax — and you always have to be. I like to have a few moments where I don’t have to worry about that.”
