Jenna Ortega has spent years balancing a demanding acting career with challenges away from the spotlight. The actress recently reflected on childhood rituals that helped her recognize how her mind worked differently. Her candid account offers insight into how those habits continue to affect her daily life.
Jenna Ortega opens up about her lifelong OCD, childhood rituals and how she manages symptoms on set
Ortega was seven when she realized there was something different about the way her mind worked. In a new Vogue interview, she described waking before her siblings to complete a specific morning routine. “I had to open the bedsheet a certain way, and open the drawer one way, and brush my hair in a slow-paced way,” she recalled.
The actress now recognizes those childhood behaviors as an early manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. The condition continues to affect her life, and she said being tired, jet-lagged or anxious about an upcoming job can make her symptoms more noticeable.
When that happens, Ortega sometimes follows familiar routines. She repeats the phrase “take care” a specific number of times throughout the day. Other rituals include stepping onto a set with her left foot first, holding her breath and counting to 71.
Ortega has also tried to change how she approaches her OCD. She said treating it like a game “helps to take some of the pressure off.” Her efforts to manage her symptoms have included medication and working with a therapist, whom she still sometimes sees.
Despite the challenges, acting can provide a reprieve from her symptoms. Ortega explained that when the cameras are rolling, “you have to breathe.” She said that is another reason she likes her job.
Ortega has been open about her anxiety and mental health struggles while maintaining firm boundaries around her private life. She continues to keep many aspects of her personal life away from the public.
By discussing her childhood rituals, Ortega has offered a glimpse into how OCD has affected her over the years. Her experience also shows how she has developed different ways to manage her symptoms while continuing to navigate a demanding acting career.
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