'Shang-Chi' star Simu Liu shares he'll undergo therapy for his mental health
Since joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the greatest martial artist alive (Shang-Chi), Simu Liu has gotten a lot of recognition and opportunities for his acting career now more than ever.
However, it seems that it has not been all rainbows and butterflies as the Chinese-Canadian actor revealed that he is currently undergoing therapy for the sake of his mental health.
In an Instagram post on Sept. 3, Liu took the time to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
"Exactly one year ago, this little movie came out and completely changed my life," Liu wrote, accompanying the post with a picture of him at the film's premiere together with co-star Awkwafina and director Destin Daniel Cretton.
Liu shared that the since the film's release, his career has been "nothing short of the absolute best ride." However, after some reflection, he realized that the success he got from Shang-Chi also came with a massive cost.
"I was suddenly catapulted into a stratosphere I had no business being in, and was woefully unprepared to deal with the mental ramifications of a life lived in public," Liu detailed.
He continued, "I felt like I was riding the hell out of the learning curve, crushing all my talk show appearances and interviews, but I was also neglecting to spend the necessary time to check in with myself and prioritize my mental health."
From being an extra or a stuntman, the 33-year-old actor has now shot four films since his breakthrough in Shang-Chi and is currently working on his fifth one. But because of this, he could no longer find time for himself.
"I’ve barely had time to breathe because I’ve been so afraid of taking my foot off the gas. I was SO obsessed with the idea of taking up space and representing for my community that I worked nearly myself to exhaustion," Liu wrote.
While he's been incredibly proud of his achievements, he realized that he needed to change his lifestyle to better care for his mental health.
"So today on the anniversary of the release of Shang-Chi, I’m especially excited because I’m in therapy and prioritizing my health. I’m healing and well on my way to becoming something more than a superhero; I’m on my way to becoming a good man," Liu wrote.
Many of his fans and followers flooded his post with messages supporting his decision to take care of himself.
"Put on your oxygen mask on first before assisting others! Love you, brotha," Filipino-American singer AJ Rafael commented.
Director and producer Justin Wu commented, "There will always be the next project. Thanks for reminding us to be mindful of ourselves! Keep shining brother and take care of yourself! Lots of love!"