Heather Locklear’s daughter Ava Sambora says star helped her cope with anxiety: ‘She never judged me’

The 23-year-old daughter of the actress and guitarist Richie Sambora penned an essay describing how her mom helped her face crippling anxiety.

“My mom has shown me kindness in so many ways,” Sambora wrote. “I struggle with anxiety, but about a year ago it was very debilitating. I live almost an hour away from her, and when I would have anxiety attacks, she would drive over and visit me. Any time of the day, she would stop what she was doing and come to comfort me.”

“When I would insist she did not have to, she would stay on the phone with me late into the night, until I was calm enough to sleep,” Sambora continued. “She did everything she could to help me get through those difficult months, from taking me to every doctor’s appointment to giving me tons of books on managing anxiety.”

Sambora said that even though anxiety can be difficult for others to understand, Locklear was always supportive and provided a safe space for her.

“My mom always made me feel heard,” said Sambora. “She never judged me and made sure I didn’t feel alone. This was so important to my mental health and helped me continue on with my life. I was also a full-time college student when this happened, and my mom’s kindness made me feel comfortable enough to open up to others about my mental health. She helped me see that it was possible for others to relate to me and understand my experience.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders and can affect many adults at some point in their lives. While anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, anxiety disorders specifically can result in excessive, consuming worry and fear, impacting job performance, school work, as well as personal relationships.

— FOX News