Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney rose to global fame with her striking role as Cassie Howard. However, the actress has frequently opened up about her struggles with panic attacks and anxiety. In a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sweeney shared her experience of dealing with panic attacks amid her hectic schedule. To cope, she tried to stay away from her phone and took time off. Seeking relief from constant worry, she retreated to her home in the Pacific Northwest for two weeks. It was her family whose presence brought her some peace during that time. Although that briefly helped, she admitted, “I still can’t get my mind to shut up, and I don't sleep.”
Sweeney’s career has been bright, with shows like The White Lotus and Euphoria earning her multiple Emmy nominations. Yet, her anxiety began long before stardom, when she moved to a new middle school in Washington state. At that time, her anxiety was linked to “horrible stage fright,” as she told USA Today. “I usually throw up before having to go on stage and do a talk show or anything like that,” Sweeney said. “I get really nervous.”
Alongside her open discussions on mental health, Sweeney expressed her desire to become a young mother, as reported by TeenVogue. “I want to have a family, I’ve always wanted to be a young mom, and I’m worried about how this industry puts stigmas on young women who have children and looks at them in a different light. I was worried that, if I don’t work, there is no money and no support for kids I would have,” she said.
The actress is active on social media, sharing glimpses of her personal life with fans. However, she admitted that social media can be toxic. Addressing the issue, she once said, “The fact that I am second guessing and having anxiety over posting a picture is sickening.” She added, “People need to be nicer on social media, because it is really fucked up.” Sweeney once posted a tearful Instagram message after receiving derogatory comments on Twitter about her looks. In the post, she highlighted the detrimental side of social media that can affect mental health. “Apparently I am trending on Twitter right now for being ugly,” she told her followers. “And I would never actually do this, like ever. But I think it’s really important for people to see how words actually affect people.”
In a 2024 interview with People, Sweeney praised her dog, Tank, for helping her during tough times. “My dog, Tank, really is so important in my own self-care process,” she said. “Whether it is just playing with her, taking her to the dog park or taking her on a walk, it just lets me take a moment and unplug from everything else.”
Sweeney is once again in the spotlight as Cassie in the long-awaited third season of Euphoria, which premiered in April 2026. The season sees the character navigating adulthood with a significant time jump. The HBO series has returned with a tremendously intensifying plot and characters.
