Famous actress became deaf in her 20s while working on popular movie series.

In a candid and heartfelt conversation, Shailene Woodley bravely opened up about a difficult time in her life. The 32-year-old actress shared that during her early twenties, she was facing a serious and debilitating health crisis that baffled doctors.

This health crisis coincided with the height of her career, as she starred in the popular Divergent franchise between the years 2014 and 2016. Shailene revealed that during this time, she was not only dealing with hearing loss, but also a range of other symptoms including hypothyroidism, fainting, food sensitivities, PTSD, and trauma responses.

Although she didn't disclose the exact nature of her illness, Shailene shared that she was in a difficult position and her health was deteriorating rapidly. "It got to the point where I was losing my hearing. I couldn't walk for more than five minutes without having to lay down for hours and hours and hours," she revealed. "And everything I ate hurt my stomach."

As she sought out medical help, Shailene found herself faced with conflicting diagnoses and treatments from different doctors. She also turned to alternative healing methods, drawing from her background in herbalism. However, it took nearly a decade for her to fully recover and regain her health.

"It was a long journey. About a decade of unwinding and healing and getting healthy," she shared. Shailene also revealed that during this time, her illness had a significant impact on her mental health. "If everything I'm eating is hurting my stomach, I'm now suddenly afraid of food," she said. "And then going into the mental f***ery that can happen with that – of body dysmorphia and confusion about identity and feeling safe in my own capsule. In my own skin and what that meant."

Shailene's journey to recovery also led her to become more introspective and to address past traumas that had affected her body. "It forced me to really take a deep look and become introspective, alongside the physical healing," she explained. "And that was the path for me – acknowledging the mental side of the healing process and looking at real traumas and PTSD that I had experienced at various times in my life."

During this difficult time, Shailene also faced challenges in her career. She revealed that she had to turn down opportunities and roles in order to focus on her health. "I haven't spoken much about this yet publicly, and I will one day, but I was very, very sick in my early 20s," she shared, adding that she had to say no to many opportunities in order to prioritize her health. "Because of that, I said no to a lot of opportunities because I needed to get better, and those jobs ended up going to peers of mine who I love."

But now, Shailene is happy to report that she is in a much better place. "I'm so happy to be able to say that I am very healthy," she said with a smile. "I'm not on any medication anymore, my hormones are balanced, and everything is pumping in the way that it should." Shailene hopes that by sharing her story, she can inspire others to prioritize their health and well-being.

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