Mental Health Advice from Jonah Hill’s Therapist: ‘Stutz’

There’s a fantastic movie on Netflix about the actor Jonah Hill’s therapist (“Stutz”). The movie dives into Jonah Hill’s struggles with mental health along with how his therapist, the eponymous Stutz, got into therapy, along with the key tenets that underpin his approach with patients. They talk at length about physical and mental health, and how intertwined the two are. 

Jonah Hill talking to Stutz

Stutz’s two main takeaways:

Physical health is the foundation of mental health.

There is no such thing as a “perfect state”

Physical health is the foundation for mental health.

At one point in the movie, Stutz goes through a mock patient intake conversation. The patient, or would-be patient, comes in talking about how depressed they are, how they can’t sleep, how anxious they are. Stutz asks them about their lifestyle habits, and the answers are predictable.

“Are you eating right?”

“No”

“How much are you drinking?”

“Too much”

“When’s the last time you went to the gym?”

“I can’t remember”

He goes on to say that physical health is the foundation for all else. If you’re eating like crap, drinking every night, getting terrible sleep and smoking cigarettes, feeling anxious and depressed is no surprise. In fact, it’d be surprising if you were in a good mental state. Anxiety and depression are likely to creep into your mind and body even if you’re not genetically predisposed to either. Add in a traumatic event that may be at the root of the destructive behavior, and you’ve got a recipe for mental difficulties. 

Of course, changing lifestyle habits overnight is a recipe for backsliding into the very habits you’re trying to change, so take it slowly. If you’re drinking a lot, drop the drink for just one night the first week. The second week, take two nights off from drinking, or one night without alcohol and one night of reduced intake, and build from there. 

There is no perfect state

Stutz outlines three givens in everyone’s life: Pain, Uncertainty, and Constant Work

No matter who you are, how much money you have, how seemingly perfect your life is from the outside, you cannot avoid these things. Life will bring you pain and uncertainty. Life will demand constant work from you. Embracing these facts leads to a lot less anxiety and mental abrasion.

With treatment modalities like EMDR, we can tap into the brain’s built-in ability to heal itself, but we must accept that there will likely always be difficult thoughts and mental states to deal with. And that’s okay. EMDR therapy can help, as can other methods of treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy.

Remember, no matter how difficult things feel, you have agency. You have power to change what you can control. Therapy can help immensely, especially if your symptoms are rooted in a traumatic event, but do what is in your power to do. One of those things is getting as physically healthy as your body can manage so that your physical health improves mental health. Whether that’s one yoga session a week or strength training five days a week, getting off the couch will help. Listen to your body and take it slow, build resilience over time.

While you build yourself up physically, check out our comprehensive guide on what EMDR is and how it works. And if you’re curious about how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) stacks up against EMDR? Read up on EMDR vs. CBT.

Anxiety Relief and “The Snapshot”

Stutz talks about something call the snapshot. 

What is the snapshot? The snapshot is the picture of your ideal future state, an image in which you’ve accomplished all of your dreams, the perfect place to be.

For someone with OCD or anxiety, part of the snapshot is likely a mental illness-free mind. No symptoms = perfect life, or at least a start on one. But one of the keys to inching closer to a resilient, healthy mind is to destroy the snapshot, to embrace the fact that no matter what you do, there will always be more work to do, and above all, to realize that that’s okay.

For OCD sufferers in particular, the snapshot can be particularly detrimental. It’s good to recognize that any immediate suffering is not forever, and that things can and will improve, but don’t measure yourself or your mental state to that snapshot. Prioritize your physical health, make good choices, but try not to constantly assess.

How to Stay Present for Mental Health

One of the ways to force yourself to sit in the present, imperfect moment is to meditate. It’s not the only way, of course. Physical activity is another fantastic way to force your mind into the present. But meditation is a time-tested, mental health organization approved method to complement other therapeutic methods. 

Check out our guide on EMDR vs. mindfulness meditation to see how each works and how they can work together to form a comprehensive approach to mental health improvement.

I recommend everyone give the movie a watch, and in the meantime, here are more takeaways from Stutz.

Be kind to yourself, and find a balance that works for you. Remember, improving your physical health improves mental health, so ensure that you take care of your body, and the mind will follow. 

Suffering from anxiety or depression?

As an EMDR therapy-focused site, we have a ton of content that breaks down how EMDR can help with specific mental disorders.

Depression is one of the most common modern ailments. If you’re wondering can EMDR help with depression? The answer is yes. Read up on our guide to find out how.

Following close behind and often co-occurring is anxiety. For anyone who hasn’t experienced a panic attack or long stretch on unyielding anxiety, it can be easy to dismiss as just a bit of stress. Those who’ve experienced serious anxiety, or those who’ve had someone close to them go through an anxiety disorder, know better.

If you’re wondering: can EMDR help with anxiety? It can. We dive into how.

Additional Mental Health Resources from EMDRHealing

• Curious about EMDR therapy? Check out our guide on how to self-administer EMDR therapy from home
• Read up on our comparison of EMDR vs. Mindfulness Meditation
• Ready to find an excellent online therapist? Use our 15% off BetterHelp promo code