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Will Friedle tells PEOPLE that managing his anxiety has gotten easier as he grows older while attending the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Doc Meets World
“I never tell people you get over it because you never do, but you learn to cope with it in such a way where it just becomes a nuisance,” he says
The actor previously said he had his first panic attack while filming 1999’s H-E Double Hockey Sticks
Will Friedle is learning to live with anxiety.
The actor, 49, tells PEOPLE that managing his anxiety has gotten easier as he grows older while attending the Tribeca Festival premiere of Doc Meets World on Saturday, June 6 at Spring Studios in New York City.
“I never tell people you get over it because you never do, but you learn to cope with it in such a way where it just becomes a nuisance,” Friedle says. “I think that’s really important. It comes with age.”
“I was first hit with this stuff when I was 23 and I’m going to be 50 this year, so eventually you just kind of wear it like an itchy blanket,” he admits.
Will Friedle attends the ‘Doc Meets World’ premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at Spring Studios on June 6, 2026 in New York City.
Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty
Doc Meets World follows Friedle and his former Boy Meets World costars Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong during their sold-out Kids Wanna Jump Tour. The trio, who launched the rewatch podcast Pod Meets World in 2022, reflect on their time in the ABC sitcom, their early experience with fame and their connection with fans in the documentary.
Friedle, who played Eric Matthews in all seven seasons of Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000, also speaks candidly about having anxiety and his severed relationship with his former costar Ben Savage.
During a post-screening conversation at the event with Fishel and Strong, Friedle answered a question from the audience about managing his anxiety.
“There are little tricks you can pick up that seriously help you. I always thought of it as something that was being done to me when it’s not,” he said.
Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong attend the ‘Doc Meets World’ premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at Spring Studios on June 6, 2026 in New York City.
Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty
Friedle shared the techniques he uses to ground himself, including structured breathing and redirection. The actor said he practices 5-6 breathing, which he described as, “Breathe in five, hold six, breathe out five.”
He also recommended counting down from 100 to zero by three. “If you can do that, you’re then using the analytical side of your brain and it kind of shuts down the feeling side of your brain. And next thing you know, it’s 30 seconds later and you’re good,” he said.
Lastly, Friedle said he gets “mad” at his anxiety. “I know it sounds so stupid, but just be like, ‘No, you’re not doing this today. I’m not allowing this right now. We’ll deal with this later, but right now we’re not letting this happen.’ And then you don’t spiral,” he explained, adding that eating well and exercise are also important.
“There are ways where you take it back and it gets better. The older you get, the better it gets. It just gets easier,” the actor said.
Back in January 2024, Friedle revealed that he had his first panic attack while filming 1999’s H-E Double Hockey Sticks.
“I’m in the middle of a take and I have my first panic attack. They used the take, so I can actually watch my first panic attack ever [in the final movie]. But I’m the only one who knows it,” he recalled on the Hey Dude… The 90’s Called!podcast.
“I thought I was dying,” he added of the moment. “You have to be dying because there is no other explanation for why, all of a sudden, your body and mind are doing this to you.”
Friedle said he “started to spiral” in the aftermath of his first attack and began taking medication.
Will Friedle in ‘Boy Meets World.’
Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
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Years earlier, in October 2018, he spoke about how anxiety has affected his career. During a New York Comic Con panel, he said he’s refrained from on-screen acting due to his anxiety, and instead, focused on voice acting.
“I was planning to do more on-camera work, but then I got hit with these anxiety attacks that prevented me from doing that. I was so thankful I had voice-over because I could still perform and act,” he said at the time.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
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