Shailene Woodley opens up about ‘scary’ mystery health issue on Divergent set

Shailene Woodley opens up about 'scary' mystery health issue on Divergent set

In this captivating narrative, we find ourselves immersed in the transformative journey of Shailene Woodley, a woman who has faced adversity head-on and emerged stronger, healthier, and more self-reliant. Her story is one of resilience, personal growth, and an unwavering pursuit of knowledge.


Shailene Woodley openly discussed a distressing, enigmatic health problem she encountered during her twenties while filming the Divergent series.

On Tuesday, the 32-year-old actress, slated to portray iconic musician Janis Joplin, joined the SHE MD podcast for a discussion with OBGYN Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi and influencer Mary Alice Haney. During their conversation, she opened up about her recent health issue.

Shailene openly discussed her experiences during the production of the widely-acclaimed sci-fi series, where she faced a variety of challenges such as hearing problems, an underactive thyroid, fainting spells, dietary intolerances, post-traumatic stress, and emotional triggers.

She shared details about her struggles, but didn’t specify the exact problem as she mentioned: ‘Indeed, I can discuss it in a roundabout way. I haven’t gone into detail about what it pertains to because it feels like a private matter that I’m not inclined to share publicly.’

In my twenties, I found myself in a challenging situation. My hearing began to deteriorate significantly, and I could barely walk for more than five minutes without needing to rest for extended periods. This forced me to sleep for hours on end. Food also caused discomfort in my stomach. It was a complex mix of health problems, various diagnoses, and conflicting advice from different medical professionals. Given my background in holistic healing and herbalism, I sought alternative solutions for managing my condition.

Shailene Woodley opens up about 'scary' mystery health issue on Divergent set

Later, Shailene clarified that she collaborated not only with independent healers but also with genuine doctors to investigate and address her problems thoroughly.

Over the course of approximately ten years, I embarked on a lengthy journey, one that involved untangling, healing, and fostering overall wellness. Along this journey, numerous aspects emerged as a result of the persistent physical discomfort I felt, which, quite frankly, left me apprehensive about food. If every meal I consumed seemed to aggravate my stomach, I found myself suddenly fearful of it.

Then, I found myself grappling with the complexities associated with body dysmorphia, questions about self-identity, feelings of safety, and what it all signified – who I was and how I should present myself.

The actress later shared that the problem managed to heal itself naturally, leaving her in good health today.

She continued: ‘I’m so happy to be able to say that. And also, it forced me to really take a deep look and become introspective.  

It seems that for me, the journey I took was likely the right one. Beyond just physical recovery, it also required addressing the mental aspects of healing. This entailed examining the genuine traumas and PTSD incidents from different periods in my life, without disclosing specific details about those events.

Shailene admitted that even though she’s been careful about her diet and workouts, the strain still had an impact on her physical well-being.

As an ardent enthusiast, I found myself perplexed, questioning: “Gosh, what on earth am I missing here? Why do I suddenly lose consciousness each month during my period? Why do I have hypothyroidism? Why does this whole list of conditions apply to me?

Shailene Woodley opens up about 'scary' mystery health issue on Divergent set
Shailene Woodley opens up about 'scary' mystery health issue on Divergent set

‘And one doctor, this is separate from the thing that I went through in my 20s, but specifically just talking about the reproductive and female cycle of everything. One doctor being like, “It’s probably endometriosis.” 

‘And another doctor going, “It’s probably this.” And another one going, “It’s probably that.” “You have a tilted uterus. You have a heart-shaped uterus. You have a uterus that’s…”‘

She mentioned that each expert she sought advice from offered varying viewpoints, leaving her with no choice but to become more independent in her decision-making process.

Shailene went on to say, ‘Therefore, I decided to take charge and delve deeply into various topics from a holistic perspective within myself. Now, I’m no longer reliant on thyroid medication or any medication at all. My hormones are now perfectly balanced, and everything is functioning as it should.’

“I think what ultimately took me there, along with the physical factors, was realizing that I had been in a perpetual state of ‘fight or flight.’ My nervous system was highly activated and mostly functioning out of fear, as if there was always a lion in the room.

As I moved forward through each moment, maintaining heightened vigilance due to my lack of familiarity with a relaxed nervous system and true self-security. Once I zeroed in on that aspect and committed myself wholeheartedly to the practice, my physical state started transforming and achieving equilibrium.

In an interview with The New York Times back in April 2020, Shailene initially shared her struggles, expressing that she had been extremely ill during her early twenties. However, she has not yet spoken extensively about this matter publicly, but plans to do so at a later time.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: “During my time juggling the intense filming of the Divergent series and pushing myself to the limit, I faced an extremely challenging, deeply personal physical issue that was downright terrifying.

Shailene Woodley opens up about 'scary' mystery health issue on Divergent set
Shailene Woodley opens up about 'scary' mystery health issue on Divergent set

2014 saw her taking on the lead role of Tris in the hit dystopian movie. The following year brought the sequel, Insurgent, and in 2016, she appeared again as Tris in Allegiant.

Originally planned for a 2017 premiere, the fourth film titled “Ascendant” was set to be the concluding part of a two-movie series based on “Allegiant.

It turned out that the fourth movie wouldn’t become a reality as a TV film, instead initiating a spin-off series; however, neither of these events transpired.

Shailene also talked about sex in her SHE MD podcast interview. 

She expressed: “Indeed, I’ve always considered myself quite sensual. This has been a part of me for a long time. Remarkably, during my journey of self-discovery and understanding my body, I was fortunate to have a companion who enjoyed dancing. I often refer to it as ‘dancing.’ To me, it’s about exchanging energy.

At times, the dance can be a swift and passionate waltz, while other moments it becomes a leisurely, soulful sway. At times, it’s lively and boisterous, yet at others, it’s gentle and quiet. I had someone who assisted me in understanding myself better because there was an ease and compatibility between us. I believe that I may have reciprocated the same support for him as well.

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2024-09-24 16:37

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