Kit Harington On Facing Anxiety After Game Of Thrones Ended: 'My Life Was Hinging'

Kit Harington, popular for portraying Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, continues to openly discuss his mental health journey post the conclusion of the iconic series. In an upcoming episode of The Hidden 20% podcast set to release on January 17, Harington candidly talks about his struggles with alcoholism, social anxiety, and mental health challenges following the end of Game of Thrones in 2019. In the conversation with host Ben Branson, previewed by The Times, Harington reveals his previous attempt at a rehabilitation programme and the support he found in an American clinic, leading to his ADHD diagnosis. Despite the immense fame from GoT, Harington also shares the emotional toll it took on him.

As per Deadline, Harington reflected on his turning point. He said, “I realized that my life was hinging on this. Luckily, it was the right place at the right time. I managed to forge a new life from there.” Recounting his experience, the Eternals star shared that he initially “entered rehab drunk, sobered up in there and went, ‘F**k this, not you guys in a circle. No, thank you.” He opted for a second rehab, where he was made aware of his ADHD. However, he attempted to manage the issue independently, but it proved challenging after four years.

In a conversation with podcast host Ben Branson, Kit Harington shared that he is now “sober and present,” focused towards his two-year-old son and six-month-old daughter, whom he shares with Game of Thrones co-star and wife, Rose Leslie. Harington expressed the challenges of maintaining focus, admitting, “My head wants to go to every other thing in the room at once.” He also reveals facing occasional impatience during playtime with his children.

Further, Harington admitted that he “tried to project this image (Jon Snow) of utter sophistication and coolness” despite secretly feeling “terrified about everything.” This internal conflict eventually fell as the show concluded. During the conversation, the actor highlighted the danger of falling into the rabbit hole of online feedback, where he came across both criticism and praise.

Recent reports suggest that Kit Harington might return for a Game of Thrones spin-off series centred on Jon Snow’s life. Although the show was confirmed years ago, there are no updates on its development. In the coming years, the Game of Thrones team plans to launch several spin-off shows. While House of the Dragon is gearing up for its second season, other shows in the pipeline include A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Night, Nine Voyages, 10,000 Ships and an animated series titled The Golden Empire.