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Jake Paul is being called out for saying anxiety 'is created by you'

Please do not take health advice from Jake Paul.

Amanda Yeo

on February 18, 2020

Jake Paul is being called out for saying anxiety 'is created by you'

Please do not take health advice from Jake Paul. Credit: Eric Espada/Getty Images

Controversial YouTuber Jake Paul seems to think he has the cure for anxiety all figured out. Pretty much everyone else disagrees.

"remember anxiety is created by you," the 23-year-old high school dropout tweeted on Monday to his 3.7 million followers, many of whom are children. "sometimes you gotta let life play out and remind yourself to be happy & that the answers will come. chill your mind out. go for a walk. talk to a friend." The tweet was deleted several hours later.

Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions that require treatment by medical professionals. Said treatment typically includes therapy or medication. It does not include reminding yourself to "be happy."

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Credit: @JakePaul via Twitter

Thousands have responded angrily to Paul's tweet, some of whom have dealt with anxiety themselves and encountered similar dismissive advice. The post garnered over 17 thousand responses before it was deleted.

Though exercise can sometimes help alleviate symptoms of mild anxiety, it is by no means a cure. The belief that anxiety is "all in your head" and can be solved by choosing to think positively is a persistent barrier to people who need help, preventing them from seeking help and others from giving it.

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Paul has extensive reach and influence with over 19.7 million subscribers on YouTube, and is particularly popular among children. It isn't unlikely a young person would read his tweet and conclude their anxiety is their own fault, and that they need to deal with it alone.

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In another now-deleted tweet a few hours later, Paul clarified that he meant "your anxiety can build up if you let it." This only made things worse, as he seemingly continued to blame people with anxiety for their own condition.

Then, not content to stop digging, Paul also claimed that his original tweet was "spreading more awareness about anxiety." As numerous people on Twitter have pointed out, sharing dangerous misinformation is not "spreading awareness," and Paul should not be allowed to take credit for others trying to undo his damage.

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Paul is no stranger to being shouted down on the internet. The YouTuber has previously been criticised for racist remarks and promoting luxury mystery box subscriptions to his predominantly young followers, among other controversies.

Unfortunately none of these incidents have ever stopped him from continuing to do thoughtless harm, so it's unlikely this incident will either.

If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing anxiety, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. For international resources, this list is a good place to start.

UPDATE: Feb. 18, 2020, 8:27 a.m. GMT This post has been amended to show an image of Jake Paul.

Topics Mental Health Celebrities

Amanda Yeo

Assistant Editor

Amanda Yeo is an Assistant Editor at Mashable, covering entertainment, culture, tech, science, and social good. Based in Australia, she writes about everything from video games and K-pop to movies and gadgets.