Whether you’re a fan of the Marvel Universe or simply admire honest conversations about mental health, Tom Holland’s story will resonate far beyond the big screen. Famously known for his portrayal of Spider-Man, Tom Holland has also become a prominent voice for the mental health community. Recently, Holland opened up about his struggles with anxiety, his journey towards self-awareness, and his commitment to sobriety. He’s now using his platform to shed light on the quiet conditions that millions of people face, reminding fans that anyone (even superheroes) can struggle with mental health.
Tom Holland’s Battle with Alcohol Use Disorder & Drive to Get Sober
Tom Holland has long been open about his struggles with alcohol abuse, admitting that he was once “enslaved to” and “obsessed with” drinking. He revealed to Men’s Health that he had trouble enjoying himself or having a good time without alcohol as his crutch. Each time he drank, though, he took it a little too far and ruined his next day. Over time, this became a detriment.
So, in 2022, Tom Holland tried out a challenge: Dry January. This started out as a month-long experiment to see if he had enough willpower to abstain from alcohol. However, he soon realized how deeply reliant he was on alcohol—and, crediting his strong will, extended his challenge through February.
Throughout that first month of January, Holland admitted: “All I could think about was having a drink. That’s all I could think about. I was waking up thinking about it… It just really scared me. I just was like, ‘Wow, maybe. Maybe I have a little bit of an alcohol thing’. So I sort of decided to punish myself and say, ‘I’ll do February as well. I’ll do two months off. If I can do two months off, then I can prove to myself that I don’t have a problem.”
Come the end of February, Holland was still struggling. During an episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, Holland said candidly, “I felt like I couldn’t go to the pub and have a lime soda. I couldn’t go out for dinner. I was really, really struggling, and I started to really worry that maybe I had an alcohol problem.” As such, he continued to push his goalposts further.
One month became six months of sobriety, and it was then that he realized he was done drinking for good. This brought about, what Holland claims, “the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”
“I could sleep better. I could handle problems better,” he said of sobriety. “Things that would go wrong on set, that would normally set me off, I could take in my stride. I had such better mental clarity. I felt healthier, I felt fitter.”
He revealed that he was “definitely addicted to alcohol,” and did not want to shy away from that fact. Rather, he chose to use that as an opportunity to highlight the struggles of addiction, the benefits of sobriety, and the fact that anyone—your family member, friend, or neighbor—could be struggling, too.
Tom Holland Speaks Out About Mental Health Stressors and Struggles with Anxiety
Speaking of silent struggles, Tom Holland recently brought another mental health concern to light: anxiety. His experience with anxiety was underlined, or really came to light, during the filming of a psychological thriller series, The Crowded Room.
Tom Holland plays Danny in this series, an anti-social teenager who is arrested for a crime that he may (or may not) have been involved in. His dream role, he admits it’s also one of the more vulnerable roles he’s played in his acting career. And he found himself struggling to separate himself from his character.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tom Holland explained, “I remember having a bit of a meltdown at home and thinking, like, ‘I’m going to shave my head. I need to shave my head because I need to get rid of this character… It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.”
But it was because of this experience that Tom Holland took a real look at his own experiences and internal struggles. He explained, “Learning about mental health and the power of it, and speaking to psychiatrists about [the role], has been something that has been so informative to my own life.”
Specifically, Holland learned how to recognize his triggers and identify sources of stress. And to him, social media stood out.
“I find Instagram and Twitter to be overstimulating, to be overwhelming,” the actor said. “I get caught up and I spiral when I read things about me online, and ultimately it’s very detrimental to my mental state.”
Tom Holland has since taken breaks from social media for the mental health benefits. And he wants to be clear, this wasn’t because he was having a “nervous breakdown,” as the media portrayed—it was him taking a healthy and necessary hiatus. Social media has the power to build an unhealthy comparison culture, to give unrealistic snapshots into a person’s life, and cause feelings of inadequacy, FOMO, depression, anxiety, and self-doubt.
During one of his social media breaks, Tom Holland pointed fans to the charity Stem4, which he sponsors with his Brothers Trust foundation. Stem4 offers evidence-based mental health apps to support young people struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and more.
Holland then said: “There is an awful stigma against mental health, and I know that asking for help and seeking help isn’t something that we should be ashamed of, but it is something that is much easier said than done.”
What We Can Learn from Tom Holland’s Story
Mental health and substance abuse problems can happen to anyone, no matter their background, success, or social standing. And Tom Holland wants us to know that, despite the stigma, asking for help and making positive change is important. Further, he recognizes the importance of mental health awareness and how educating others can help to reduce the stigma that prevents so many people from getting help.
After watching The Crowded Room, he hopes viewers are left more aware. “I hope that people will feel educated about the powers of mental health, the struggles, [and] our incredible abilities to survive.”
Behind the Spider-Man suit is a young man who is open, vulnerable, and ready to make a difference in the mental health community. Tom Holland is another celebrity we can add to our mental health advocate list. His story can be inspiring for fans young and old, looking to recover from struggles with anxiety, substance abuse, and even social media or screen addiction.
If you or someone you love is in need of mental health support or addiction treatment, please do not hesitate to reach out for help. You can always contact Turnbridge if you do not know where to turn. Turnbridge is a recognized mental health treatment providerspecializing in the unique needs of teens and young adults. Call us at 877-581-1793 to learn more.