Photo: (realitytea.com)
For the first time on Jersey Shore, Pauly D calling out "CABS ARE HEEERE!" was not announced in pure joy. Struggling with chronic anxiety and stress that reemerged upon moving back into the shore house, Vinny left Seaside to take care of his emotional health from home. "I need to get myself better, every day I'm suffering," he said in the episode, choosing to deal with the issue head on. "I'm doing what's best for myself; the options are just not available for me here."
Vinny has dealt with anxiety issues since he was a child, and over time has found ways to minimize its effect on his personal life. It's not always easy, and sometimes it means having to remove himself from the situation (not to be confused with "The Situation"). Vinny advises that by no means should someone be embarrassed about reaching out for help. "We all have times when we feel stressed or anxious, but if those feelings are interfering with your life--school, work, relationships--then you need to reach out for help," he said.
+ WATCH: More from Vinny on his experience dealing with anxiety.
Vinny certainly isn't alone. It is estimated that almost 1 in 5 Americans are affected by anxiety issues--making them the most common mental health condition. When it comes to stress, over half of college students say they were so stressed that they couldn't function at some point during the last year.
Vinny has joined MTV and The Jed Foundation's Half of Us campaign to help others who are dealing with similar issues. Here are some tips to help you or a friend feel better:
Vinny's Tips on Dealing With Stress and Anxiety:
1. Don't wait to get help. If you woke up and your foot was hurting, you’d get help before it got so bad you couldn’t walk. It’s the same with emotional stuff--it’s better to look into the problem early before it gets out of hand.
2. Talk--for your sake, or a friend's. If you are worried about a friend because they are acting differently or seem extremely stressed, anxious, sad or irritable, then don’t ignore that. Talk to them about how they are feeling, listen without judging them and encourage them to get help. Getting support from friends, family or a professional can really improve your life.
3. Drinking to cope can only make things worse. It’s no secret that the cast likes to have a good time, but it’s important to realize that drinking when you are dealing with chronic stress or anxiety can make things worse. Vinny decided to take a break from the party scene to focus on feeling better…and he's glad he did.
More tips! Visit vinny.halfofus.com to learn more about Vinny's story, get info on anxiety and stress, and to find more ways to speak up and get help.
actTAKE ACTION!
More Tips from Experts & Vinny
Visit vinny.halfofus.com to learn more about how to help yourself or a friend struggling with anxiety or stress.
