'Stranger Things' Star Wishes He Had 'Therapy' At 13 When The Show First 'Came Out And Blew Up'

Finn Wolfhard opened up about the emotional toll of early fame, revealing he struggled with anxiety and panic attacks during "Stranger Things."

During a recent interview, the actor revealed she wished he'd gone to therapy after the show launched him into stardom.

Finn Wolfhard, now 22, has described leaving the show as a "Toy Story 3 moment" and is excited to begin a new chapter with his upcoming film, "The Legend of Ochi."

Wolfhard, best known for his role as Mike Wheeler in "Stranger Things," recently talked about the overwhelming experience of being a child star.

The actor was only 13 when the hit sci-fi series catapulted him and his co-stars Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp into global stardom after its 2016 debut.

Looking back, Wolfhard shared that while he doesn't have regrets, he does recognize how unprepared he was for his sudden popularity.

Reflecting on how he coped with stardom at such an early age, he admitted to People Magazine that he would have liked to have more tools to help him process the life-changing moment.

"I don't think I'd ever go back and do something over, but maybe I would go back to when the show first came out and blew up, and I would directly put myself into therapy," Wolfhard said. "But it was so crazy and overnight, that there was not really any time to think about that."

The Canadian actor also acknowledged that navigating fame in his teens was a trial-and-error journey, and even with more tools, he might have made different missteps.

"I would end up probably making a mistake in a different way anyway," he added. "I think childhood, and life in general, is about trial and error."

Wolfhard has never shied away from speaking about the mental toll fame took on him as a very young actor.

In a 2023 interview with GQ magazine, he reflected on the emotional challenges he faced behind the scenes, revealing he began experiencing panic attacks and anxiety around age 15.

Caught in the fast-paced momentum of a skyrocketing career, Wolfhard admitted he "did not talk about anything because I just was having this crazy whirlwind career, so there was no time, or at least we didn't feel [there was] at the time."

While the world saw a teen living the dream, Finn said the reality was far more complex. "Everyone was like, 'Look at him, he's fine. He's having the best time,'" he recalled.

Wolfhard then noted, "But in reality, I was probably also developing, and things were happening in my brain, and anxieties were forming and things that I didn't realize that I had to bury because of how I had to feel at work."

In an interview with Variety, Wolfhard reflected on a significant turning point in his life. Speaking about his final day on the set of "Stranger Things," he admitted the emotions ran high.

"It was incredibly emotional, obviously," Wolfhard said of the final season.

The actor continued, "It's the last 10 years of my life. Also, for the creators, the Duffer Bros. started when they were 30, and now they are 40. Everyone had a long journey and shared it together. My whole childhood was there."

The actor likened the experience to a beloved animated classic, saying, "It was sort of the 'Toy Story 3' moment of leaving your toys behind. It was really special."

Wolfhard revealed that the final season of "Stranger Things" was no small feat.

He noted: "We had a long last year. We shot sort of 'Lord of the Rings' style with a year-long shoot. It was a great way to go out and very intense. I feel like it couldn't have ended better."

Now stepping into new territory with a new film, "The Legend of Ochi," Wolfhard sees this moment as a fresh start.

"['The Legend of Ochi'] is the first movie that I've been promoting since, so it feels like post-graduation or something. I am excited for everything to come out," he said.

The fifth and final chapter of "Stranger Things" has officially wrapped filming, with the highly anticipated episodes set to debut in 2025.

After nearly a decade of storytelling, the beloved Netflix sci-fi series prepares to bow out with what co-creator Ross Duffer calls a "satisfying conclusion."

In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Duffer reflected on the show's journey and the people who brought it to life.

"We've been telling this story for nearly a decade now," he wrote. "Many of our cast members joined us when they were kids, just ten or eleven years old. It wasn't just a show for them — it was a defining part of their childhood."

He expressed deep appreciation for both the cast and crew, many of whom have been with the show since day one.

Duffer then emphasized the team's commitment to delivering a powerful finale: "Everyone involved was determined to bring this story to a satisfying conclusion. They poured their hearts and souls into it, and we couldn't be more proud of what they've accomplished."