After unexpectedly losing her younger brother in 2023, actress Hayden Panettiere’s life changed drastically. In her first interview since the tragedy, the 35-year-old opened up about the sudden death of her 28-year-old brother, Jansen, from an undiagnosed heart condition. “He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him. When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul,” she told People magazine.
Panettiere had been making a career comeback after struggling with substance and alcohol addiction and going through a highly-publicized breakup. She expressed that she would never be able to get over the loss of her brother and that he would always be beside her.
The actress had been clean and sober after attending rehab in 2020 and undergoing trauma therapy in the following year. However, the intense grief she experienced led to a setback both mentally and physically.
The increased media attention following her brother’s death triggered Panettiere’s recurring agoraphobia—the fear of places or situations that might cause panic or embarrassment. She described seeing paparazzi pictures of herself coming out of Jansen’s funeral as shocking.
Panettiere revealed that stress took a toll on her body within days after her brother’s death. She said she tried various diets but nothing seemed to make a difference as her body seemed to be protecting itself from the world.
Kenneth J. Doka, senior vice president for grief programs at The Hospice Foundation of America, explained that grief can manifest physically in various ways. He emphasized that stress is detrimental to one’s health and can even be deadly for older individuals.
Doka stated that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to treating grief because it is not solely associated with death but any significant loss affecting an individual. Therapy and grieving strategies tailored to each person can help them overcome their grief.
Meanwhile, Panettiere took matters into her own hands by working with a personal trainer who helped improve both her physical fitness levels and mood through exercise-induced endorphins.
The actress now has a different perspective on life after experiencing such a tragic loss. While time may heal wounds, it also forces individuals to confront reality more deeply.
Panettiere is currently preparing for the release of her new film ”Amber Alert” which will hit theaters on September 27th.
