Chris Evans Spills All On How His Marvel Stint Helped Him Deal With Feeling Anxious

Hollywood leading man Chris Evans has accomplished more in the film industry than most actors would ever achieve since his movie debut in the television film "The Newcomers" over two decades ago. He not only starred as the Human Torch in the blockbuster "Fantastic Four" series, but his seven-film tenure as Steve Rogers/Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe cemented his place in the hearts of superhero fans.

The actor has worked hard to get to where he is now, honing his skills with each new role he landed. However, while pursuing a career in the film industry, the actor struggled with having feelings of anxiety. He now credits his Marvel fame with assisting him in overcoming the inner demons that had previously plagued him and explained how he has a new outlook on life.

Evans said to MTV News that he, like other people, has various anxieties and worries, describing such thoughts as "living outside of the moment, studying the past, and thinking about the future."

While this has made him feel overwhelmed at times, particularly during his early days of struggling in the acting industry, earning his long-term role in Marvel was the game-changer that allowed him to better deal with his anxiety over the events in his life.

Evans said: "So over ten years of making these movies and being forced to do big-stage sort of things, you realize that a lot of the fears you had never really do come to fruition."

When things happen that are out of his control, he doesn't become caught on them; instead, he mentally moves on and lets them fade away on their own.

"And look even if they do, I've had some things that haven't always gone the way I wanted to, when you choose to not dwell on them, to look for them, to read or absorb them, they do disappear," he added.

Evans further predicates that the battle against anxiety is won and lost in the mind. To be on the winning side, one must first recognize that it is within their power to calm the mental storm and redirect it into more constructive activities.

"You know, you do have the opportunity every day to construct the reality in front of you, and that starts with being present and in your own mind and understanding how to stop your mind from making noise," the actor continued.

He adds that his long-term feature with Marvel gave him no option other than learning how to bring his mind to a state of serenity as part, and in the end, understanding that those feelings of anxiousness were mostly self-made.

"So, in a weird way, it's [Marvel] been my classroom. You know, this acting landscape has kind of forced you to hone some ability in terms of stilling your mind. And in turn, you realize that a lot of the fear that breeds anxiety, never really happens, and it's your own making," the "Gifted" star claimed.

Evans' openness about his struggles provides a lifeline to others who suffer from anxiety in a society where stigmatization is rampant, exacerbated by inaccurate media portrayals.

Although the struggle may seem intimidating, the actor's narrative helps to put things in perspective on how mental illnesses such as anxiety do not automatically entail a life of misery and continual fear about succeeding in one's endeavors.

Overall, Evans emphasizes the negative consequences of withdrawing into oneself when experiencing anxiety attacks and suggests an alternative strategy in such situations.

Evans opined: "Depending upon how you're looking at the world if you make your world small, your pain can feel loud and big. But if you recognize that you are timeless, and that your thoughts are not you, and that you're bigger than all of it, the pain melts away."

Evans just made a big-screen comeback in a Pixar film based on the renowned "Toy Story" franchise. Dubbed "Lightyear," the actor played Buzz Lightyear, a Star Command Space Ranger who plays a vital part in overthrowing the reign of a band of robots commanded by the enigmatic Emperor Zurg, who had taken over his planet.

The animated film debuted theatrically on June 17 and has gone on to receive critical praise for its animation, voice acting, score, and overall entertainment value. Up next, Evans will appear in the Netflix action thriller "The Gray Man," spearheaded by the Russo brothers and based on the 2009 novel of the same name.

He will also feature in Dexter Fletcher's "Ghosted" alongside Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Mike Moh, and Amy Sedaris. Fans will see the action star portray Gene Kelly in an untitled film, in addition to a role in the action-comedy "Red One" and a collaboration with Scarlett Johansson in "Project Artemis."

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