Ryan Reynolds Believes That His Anxiety Has Made Him A ‘Better’ Father

As the release of Deadpool & Wolverine approaches, fans are brimming with excitement for the long-awaited team-up on the silver screen. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, after building anticipation through posters, teasers and trailers, are now engaging candidly with their fans. They have opened up about their 17-year friendship and bromance and discussed topics ranging from dealing with anxiety to other personal insights.

Ryan Reynolds admits coping with anxiety

In an exclusive People cover story, the Deadpool & Wolverine stars spoke about how they talk to their kids about dealing with the issue of anxiety. Jackman began by asking his co-star, “Oh, mate, you’ve been pretty open with your anxiety struggles, which I really applaud you for. Do you find being a dad makes it better or worse?”, to which Reynolds explained that it has helped him to guide his children.

“I think it makes it better because your focus is less on yourself and more on your kids. I know you know that too,” Ryan said.

Admitting that he has anxiety issues, the 47-year-old emphasised that he has seen his children experiencing the same (probably genetic) and he knows how to address them in a compassionate way. “I know how to address it in a way that is compassionate, that actually allows them to feel seen. I know that I can’t just fix it. And I can communicate all that stuff to them and with them. I’m always grateful for it,” the actor added.

Reynolds also explained that he has learned to channel his anxiety in a positive direction at work. “My job benefits greatly. People who have anxiety are constantly thinking about the future. So anxiety creates that ecosystem of awareness that I wouldn’t otherwise have,” he said.

The Logan star revealed that he has recently started opening up about his moments of anxiety. “I used to be a little bit old-school. I thought, ‘Don’t burden them if you are anxious’. And then someone said to me, ‘But your kids don’t know that you’ve got the Oscars. Maybe they’re thinking you’re mad at them or they’ve done something,” he said, further revealing how he spoke to his son about feeling uncomfortable and felt much better.

During this time, the two also shared a couple of hilarious moments, as Jackman joked about how people come to him to talk about Reynolds. “And I say shut up I’m not interested, but they keep talking about you,” he said leaving his co-actor in splits.