Captain America himself, Chris Evans has shared some personal stories of his struggles with anxiety and why it initially led to him turning down the role that has made him a household name in Hollywood.

While he had a few stints on TV in the early 2000s, his breakthrough role came with the hit comedy Not Another Teen Movie in 2001, then came his role as Jonny Storm/ The Human Torch in the Fantastic Four Franchise that took him to a new level in his career, but it was his role as the star-spangled Avenger that catapulted him to superstardom. However, it nearly never happened!

In a video for the YouTube channel Motivation Madness that Evans tweeted over the weekend, the actor detailed his struggle with anxiety that nearly prevented him from stepping into the suit of The First Avenger.

In the eight and a half minute video, the actor shares several person details dating back to his childhood and says his anxiety over the potential success of Captain America led him to say no the role earlier on.

He was afraid of a six-film commitment because is the films became a hit, he was fearful of losing his anonymity. As the actor shares, after he initially turned down the role he sought the assistance of therapy to deal with his anxiety.

“Maybe the thing you’re most scared of is exactly the thing you should do” Evans realized why that the fear started to make sense. The 36-year-old goes on to admit he did have self-doubt throughout the first couple of weeks of shooting as to whether he had made the right choice. Fate had its way and the good news is, he now proudly says he'd be kicking himself if he had turned down the role.

When asked what advice he'd give to his 12-year-old self, he says it would be just one word that helps with anxiety to this day.

“It might seem oversimplified, but it’s profound, I’d say, ‘Shhhh.’ It’s been a big thing for me, ‘Shhhh.’ It’s so funny how noisy my brain is. Everyone’s brain is noisy, it makes thoughts. The problem is, in most of our lives, the root of suffering is following that brain noise and listening to that brain noise and actually identifying with it as if it’s who you are. That’s just the noise your brain makes, and more often than not, it probably doesn’t have much to say. (Saying ‘Shhhh,’) it’s gonna help you.”

So often we place celebrities on pedestals not aware that they deal with the same everyday struggles that we "common folk" deal with. When actors like Evans share their struggles, we find the gap between us and celebrity status isn't as wide as we think. They really aren't much different than us.

We applaud Evans for sharing his story, because it may just give the courage to somebody going through similar circumstances to no longer suffer in silence and seek the help they need to move forward. By overcoming his own fear he has become a superhero both on-screen and off!

See Chris Evans return as Captain America in Avengers: Infinity War this coming May!