Colton Haynes recently opened up about a problem he's battled for more than 15 years, which has also landed him in the hospital: Anxiety.
The 27-year-old Arrow actor and former Abercrombie & Fitch model posted a series of tweets about it late on Tuesday, after posting a link to a story about a Swiss medical study titled, "Mitochondrial Function in the Brain Links Anxiety With Social Subordination."
"For those of you who are suffering with intense anxiety...ur not alone," he said. "It's been a constant struggle for me since 5th grade. It's a battle."
"Anxiety had put me in the hospital a countless amount of times," he added. "Whether it be fainting, hyperventilating, or seizures...I've been through it. Just know ur not alone & it affects more ppl than you would ever know. We can overcome this. We can fight thru it & will."
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect more than 25 million Americans, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
"I've [quit] jobs because of anxiety, flaked on social events, family gatherings, birthdays, important movie/work tests. Its a serious problem," Haynes said. "Be there for those who struggle with anxiety & realize its a serious disorder. Its not a case of 'being dramatic'...its a life long struggle."
About 7 percent of Americans diagnosed with an anxiety disorder suffer from social anxiety disorder and around 2 percent suffer from agoraphobia, meaning an intense fear of open places. All are treated with psychotherapy and/or and medications.
"Anxiety has caused me to be extremely agoraphobic & livin in constant fear of leavin my house at times," Haynes said. "Ur not alone."
The actor has spoken briefly about his struggle with anxiety before. In a 2013 interview posted on Tomboy KC, a blog co-founded by Arrow co-star Katie Cassidy, he said he is "a big fan of avoiding crowds" because he is "socially anxious."