Actress Jennifer Esposito has detailed a years-long health crisis that led to severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and an eventual stay in a psychiatric ward, ultimately concluding with a diagnosis of celiac disease.
Esposito, 53, who starred in the ABC comedy "Samantha Who?" from 2007 to 2009 and later on "Blue Bloods," described on Maria Menounos' “Heal Squad” podcast how unexplained physical and mental health issues began to manifest during her early acting career in New York City. The debilitating symptoms forced her to halt her professional life.
"I had a whole life beginning in the city, and I was a young actor and I had to stop everything," Esposito said.
As doctors struggled to identify the cause, Esposito reported experiencing profound depression and suicidal ideation. She was prescribed various medications and at one point was recommended for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
"They brought me to a psychologist, like they had me on every medication," Esposito recalled. "They wanted to give me shock treatment at one point because I wasn’t responding. I’m very sensitive to medication. It was a really bad time."
Esposito began to suspect a connection between her symptoms and her diet and nutrition. Her health reportedly worsened while she was working on "Samantha Who?," leading to alarming physical changes, including hair loss and her fingernails detaching. She also described a tooth falling out mid-scene.
Miscategorized conditions included multiple sclerosis and irritable bowel syndrome, with one therapist suggesting stress as the cause, a suggestion Esposito characterized as "gaslighting."
"We don’t ever treat the actual underlying issue. We treat symptoms in this country, in America," Esposito stated, reflecting on her years of seeking help through conventional and alternative methods, including holistic healers and a vegan diet.
During this period of intense illness and desperation, Esposito recounted a significant car incident where a piece of wood smashed through her windshield. Soon after, she received a call from a doctor who diagnosed her with celiac disease. The doctor reportedly told her, "I’m not sure how you’re alive."
Esposito's case was reportedly severe, with her liver beginning to fail. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where gluten intake triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine, hindering nutrient absorption and potentially causing a wide range of symptoms beyond digestive issues.
Following her diagnosis, Esposito eliminated gluten from her diet, but her recovery was arduous due to her body's compromised state. She experienced extreme vitamin D deficiency, developed sun sensitivity with welts, and her nervous system was so overstimulated that even normal sensory input caused trembling.
About two months after her diagnosis, while under the care of a medical expert studying her severe case, Esposito experienced extreme distress during an appointment and pleaded to be admitted to the hospital, stating, "Doctor, you got to keep me here because I’m jumping out of my skin. I’m going to jump out the window."
This statement was interpreted as a threat of self-harm, and within 30 minutes, she was admitted to a psychiatric ward under the alias "Betty Franklin." Esposito described the seven hours spent there as "excruciating" as she continued to seek help for her mental state.
After her release, Esposito took a more active role in managing her health, emphasizing the importance of gut health and a gradual recovery process. She now lives outside the United States and reports no longer experiencing panic attacks, having adopted a slower pace of life focused on enjoyment and mindfulness.
Looking back, Esposito views her celiac diagnosis as a life-saving event that altered her path, preventing potentially more severe long-term health consequences. She expressed gratitude for her current clarity and well-being and her ability to use her experience to help others.