Why Amanda Seyfried Credits Her 'OCD' Diagnosis For Saving Her From Making Dark 'Choices'

Amanda Seyfried is reflecting on the silver lining behind her OCD diagnosis. 

The actress got honest about being diagnosed with the disorder at a young age and how it played a huge role in shaping her choices as she grew up. 

Seyfried has recently been under the spotlight, from her viral reaction to losing a Golden Globe award to her statements on Charlie Kirk, which resulted in backlash from the public. 

In a candid interview, 40-year-old Seyfried reflected on her formal OCD diagnosis, which came when she was 19.

While most rising stars her age were diving headfirst into the Hollywood party circuit, Seyfried’s neurodivergence acted as an unexpected barrier, keeping her far away from the pitfalls of early-2000s club culture.

Seyfried credits her condition with saving her from the self-destructive choices that consumed many of her contemporaries, such as her “Mean Girls” co-star Lindsay Lohan.

Given that her OCD made her hyper-aware of triggers, she purposefully avoided drugs, heavy drinking, and staying out late, often making social plans only to cancel them at the last minute to stay within her comfort zone. 

"I guess I did make choices… I didn’t enter that realm of nightclubs," she said to Vogue, adding, "I gotta give credit to my OCD." 

Now, the star remains a staunch advocate for mental health treatment and has continued her nightly Lexapro routine to this day. She sees the medication as a vital tool and sees no reason to abandon it.

She also famously compares the invisibility of mental illness to physical ailments by noting that just because it isn't a "mass" or a "cyst" doesn't mean it shouldn't be treated with the utmost seriousness.

While her OCD provided a protective barrier against the typical Hollywood party scene, it didn’t shield Seyfried from the unpredictable antics of her favorite co-stars.

Reflecting on the filming of the 2010 film “Dear John,” Seyfried shared a bizarre and slightly gross memory of working with Channing Tatum. 

Despite the heavy, romantic nature of the film, the duo spent their off-camera time engaged in a relentless prank war.

According to The Blast, the actress revealed that the humor once took an NSFW turn when Tatum decided to use her as a makeshift fire hydrant during a beach scene, standing so close that she didn't realize at first that he was actually peeing on her leg.

“He peed on my leg once without me knowing. He peed on my leg on the beach. And I didn't realize at first, and then I was like, 'Oh, that's why he's standing so close to me. What the..?'" she recalled. 

While Seyfried has mastered the art of professional boundaries over her career, the 2026 Golden Globes proved that even a seasoned pro can’t always hide a split-second of raw emotion.

Although she didn’t take home a trophy this year, the actress became the night's biggest talking point after her reaction to losing Best Actress to Rose Byrne went viral. 

As Byrne’s name was called for her performance in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” cameras caught Seyfried flashing a brief, exaggerated grimace before quickly transitioning into a supportive smile and standing ovation.

As reported by The Blast, the moment instantly divided the internet, with some criticizing her and others cheering her for a refreshingly honest and hilariously relatable reaction. 

Body language expert Judi James quickly stepped in to defend the star, suggesting that Seyfried’s facial gymnastics were likely a comedic take on modern awards-season etiquette. 

While her candid reactions have made her a viral sensation, Seyfried recently found herself at the center of a much more serious storm involving the late political activist Charlie Kirk.

After Kirk’s shocking assassination, Seyfried sparked a massive backlash by commenting, "he was hateful," on an Instagram post detailing his controversial rhetoric. 

The remark led to a wave of cancellation attempts, with critics accusing the Emmy winner of justifying a gruesome murder. 

However, Seyfried fired back at the black-and-white thinking of her critics and urged her followers to remember the “nuance of humanity” and at least “agree that “the country is grieving too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings,” per The Blast.

Despite the intense scrutiny, Seyfried made it clear that she had no intention of retracting her words or apologizing for her stance. 

In a fiery interview with “Who What Wear,” the actress doubled down on her opinions and insisted that her assessment was rooted in documented reality rather than blind provocation. 

"I’m not f-cking apologizing for that," she said, according to The Blast. She also noted that her comments were based on "actual footage and actual quotes" regarding Kirk’s controversial takes on abortion, immigration, and racial issues.