When it comes to being a dad, sees anxiety as his superpower. “I think [anxiety] makes it better because your focus is less on yourself and more on your kids,” Reynolds, 47, told costar during a joint interview published on Wednesday, May 29. “I know you know that too.
” Now that he’s welcomed four children with wife – the couple share James, 9, Inez, 7, Betty, 4, and a 15-month-old who’s name has not been revealed — Reynolds confessed that he’s happy to have experienced a certain degree of mental health struggles so he can be a guiding light for his little ones. “Now I love that I have anxiety, I love that I’ve had anxiety,” he continued. “Because when I see my kids experiencing some of that, which is probably genetic, I know how to address it in a way that is compassionate, that actually allows them to feel seen.
I know that I can’t just fix it. And I can communicate all that stuff to them and with them. I’m always grateful for it.
” This isn’t the first time Reynolds has opened up about his anxiety. He’s often been candid about his mental health over the years, something he has credited to his family. The actor told in July 2021 that as a parent, he’s focused on modeling certain “behaviors” to create “space” for emotions like sadness, anxiety or anger.
“Part of that is to destigmatize things and create a conversation around [mental health]. I know that when I felt at the absolute bottom, it’s usually because I felt like I was.