I Am Extremely Lucky, Says Josh Peck On Overcoming Stress And Finding Gratitude In The Spotlight

In a video interview with Variety, Josh Peck on overcoming stress in the spotlight mentioned that he was incredibly lucky and he managed it well.

From an early age, causes close to his heart have been supported by Josh Peck. And as his career and personal life continue to thrive, his philanthropic roots haven’t been forgotten by the actor.

As a kid, money for his school’s American Heart Association fundraiser was raised by Peck, going door-to-door in his 16-floor New York City apartment building.

Josh Peck On Overcoming Stress In The Spotlight

In a video interview with Variety, he shared, how his mental health affected his overall physical health as he advocates for the organization’s call to action regarding chronic stress management.

Peck says that a fair amount of stress was caused for him as a child, being raised by a single mother who was constantly working hard to make ends meet.

At the time, his feelings were not recognized as stress by him. He says that it presented itself as ambition or a desire to perform, be it at school or, obviously, he started working from a really young age, as he had begun acting at age 13.

As a teenager, Josh Peck used overeating for stress management. He said that for a lot of people, trying to numb themselves with food is their first foray into escapism.

When he was 21, a film he was “incredibly proud of” was being promoted by Peck, and his career seemed to be flourishing. However, he recalls feeling self-centered stress about “what’s next” and how to navigate his career.

He mentioned that he recalls experiencing self-centered stress, wondering about what comes next and how to navigate through it.

Instead of handling his stress at the time, Peck admits to “drinking too much and going out too much.” He adds, “I think there was a certain level of trying to get out of my head so I didn’t have to deal with it” or maybe I wasn’t aware of how to manage stress.

At the age of 36, Peck, who has remained sober since 2008, reveals that stress manifests in various physical symptoms for him. These include a racing heartbeat, flare-ups of TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), or sudden awakenings in the middle of the night.

He shares, “When the whole world’s asleep, I’m just alone here stuck with my thoughts. My health has been impacted by stress, primarily by depriving me of joy.

American Heart Association

Josh Peck on overcoming stress in the spotlight highlights that the American Heart Association plays a vital role in providing resources, strategies, and solutions for coping with stress, which can significantly impact heart health in a negative way.

The organization emphasizes that managing chronic stress can promote a healthier mind and heart, making it easier to maintain positive habits such as eating well, getting sufficient sleep, and exercising regularly.

The actor explained that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., but it also is one of the rare things we can mitigate with education and different treatments.

Views On How To Manage Stress By Josh Peck

In addition to relying on his family for support, Peck emphasizes the positive influence of his friends. He believes that having a support network of friends is beneficial because when one person is having a bad day, others can step in to help them through it, and vice versa.

Sharing advice he received on stress management, Peck recalls a good friend who said, Every morning, I wake up and remind myself that someone is going to have a good day today, and I might as well be that someone.

For anyone facing stress, Peck offers the advice of recognizing that they are not alone in their struggles.

He encourages individuals to understand that experiencing stress is a normal part of the human experience, and it is essential to talk about it openly to understand how to manage stress. He assures them that there are people who can relate and offer support.