Finding Peace Amid Anxiety: Insights from a Singer, Psychologist, and Author

Sara Bareilles has recently been recovering from a prolonged episode of severe anxiety.

The acclaimed singer, songwriter, and Broadway performer has dealt with anxiety for many years. After feeling stable enough to discontinue her antidepressant medication Lexapro, a close friend’s passing triggered a significant emotional decline.

“I felt like I had fallen through the floor and couldn’t find my way back up,” Bareilles shared during a panel discussion at a wellness event in Brooklyn.

She appeared alongside Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in a conversation about living with anxiety. The discussion was moderated by Dan Harris, host of the '10% Happier' podcast, who candidly recounted his own experience with a panic attack on live television.

“If you search for ‘panic attack on television,’ my incident is the top result,” Harris noted with a touch of humor.

While none of the panelists suggested they had fully overcome anxiety, they offered valuable strategies that have supported their journey toward managing it.