Ryan Reynolds Opened Up About How His Anxiety Helps Him Be a Better Parent

"Now I love that I've had anxiety."

Ryan Reynolds isn't afraid to get real about his history of mental health struggles—in fact, since becoming a father, he's proud of it. In a new conversation with his Deadpool & Wolverine co-star, Hugh Jackman, for People, Reynolds opened up about why he believes his experiences with anxiety actually make him a better dad.

"Now I love that I have anxiety," he said to Jackman. "I love that I've had anxiety, because when I see my kids experiencing some of that, which is probably genetic, I know how to address it in a way that is compassionate. I know how to address it in a way that actually allows them to feel seen in that anxiety. And I know that I can't just fix it. And I can communicate all that stuff to them and with them. So, I'm always kind of grateful for it."

Related: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Want to Instill "Self-Awareness" in Their Kids

Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, share four daughters—James, Inez, Betty and a fourth daughter, born in 2023, whose name has not been publicly shared. James, Inez and Betty were all given shout-outs by the family's close friend, Taylor Swift, in songs from her 2020 album folklore.

Reynolds, Lively and their eldest three children were spotted last night in Madrid in the VIP section of Swift's Eras Tour where the family could be seen dancing and singing along.

Reynolds has previously spoken up about this struggles with his mental health.

“I’ve had anxiety my whole life really and you know, I feel like I have two parts of my personality," he confessed in 2022 during an appearance on CBS’s Sunday Morning, adding that he used to panic before making talk show appearances.

“I remember I’d be standing backstage before the curtain would open,” he said. “And I would think to myself: ‘I’m gonna die. I’m literally gonna die here.'"

Related: Ryan Reynolds Revealed the Secret to His and Blake Lively's Marriage

Reynolds has also spoken about his and Lively's "self-aware" approach to parenting in the past.

“For me, the best time of my day is walking them to school and walking them back,” he told People last year. “I think as parents, we are so much better equipped to handle the rigors of childhood through our kids now than when I was a kid. It’s just totally different now. People are much more self-aware. And that’s the thing we sort of hang our hat on the most is self-awareness with our kids. Not be happy, not be anything, just be self-aware and welcome everything in.”

And apparently, this includes honest, open conversations about mental health.

For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on InStyle.