‘The Bachelor’: Colton Underwood Says He Struggles With Sharing Too Much Of His Private Life
Colton Underwood is used to being in the public eye. He made his reality TV debut on Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette, and went on to star in The Bachelor right after. Today, fans of the show are still acutely interested in the former football player’s love life.
Underwood recently did an Instagram Q&A during a flight he was on and fans asked him about his relationship with his season winner Cassie Randolph, his anxiety, and how he handles fame.
“What has Cassie taught you about yourself?” asked one fan
“So much. Overall she makes me better,” responded Underwood. “She challenges me in many ways, but she’s also my human form of anti anxiety medicine. She has taught me patience and reminds me to choose kindness daily. Even in moments I might not want too.”
In his response, Underwood could very well be referring to a recent feud he found himself in the middle of with another member of Bachelor Nation, Rachel Lindsay. Maybe Randolph helped Underwood to nip the disagreement in the bud before it got any uglier.
Colton Underwood answers questions about his anxiety
Ever since he was the bachelor, Underwood’s been pretty open about his struggle with anxiety. During Mental Illness Awareness Week this year, he posted a photo and caption about his mental health.
“Mental health is an everyday thing for me. After my season of the bachelor I was crippled with social anxiety, I lashed out at people I loved and people who loved me because I was frustrated with myself. The simple task of going out for dinner made me anxious. Thank God for my friends, family and therapist for being patient with me. I still battle anxiety on a daily basis so I feel like everyday is mental health day. Make sure to check on your strongest friends and family today and everyday,” he wrote.
During the Q&A he hosted on his stories earlier this week, Underwood answered a question about “what kind of anxiety” he has.
“Social anxiety. I get overwhelmed around large groups of people and shut down,” Underwood responded.
Another fan asked the reality star for tips on how to best handle anxiety.
“Find what works for you. Full disclosure I still have anxiety attacks and get social anxiety when I go out sometimes,” he responded. “My advice: take three deep breaths, close your eyes and remove yourself from the situation that got you feeling that way.”
Colton Underwood is still figuring out what to keep private and what to share
Other fans asked Underwood about how he’s adjusted to becoming a reality TV celebrity.
“How do you balance what is public and what is private?” asked one fan.
“I struggle with this. I probably share too much at times, but I’m an open book. I make mistakes, I mess up and say stupid things…But I learn from them,” he responded. “I try to share as much as possible, but I also love being present in the moment and enjoy the company. I’ve made great friends in LA and all across the country and try to spend quality time with them.”
Another fan asked how he handles “being critiqued all the time/everyone weighing in on your life?”
“Sometimes I let it affect me more than I should. Other days I let it go in one ear and out the other. I’m human, once again depends on my mood and of the battle is worth fighting. There are certain triggers,” Underwood responded along with a winking emoji.
Read more: Colton Underwood Reveals He Wasn’t Honest With Producers While Filming His Season of ‘The Bachelor’
