Jennifer Esposito details past health crisis and celiac diagnosis

Actress Jennifer Esposito has shared details regarding a severe health crisis during her early career that led to misdiagnoses, severe depression, and a psychiatric hospitalization. Speaking on Maria Menounos’ ‘Heal Squad’ podcast, the ‘Blue Bloods’ star described how unexplained physical and mental symptoms derailed her life while she was working in New York City.

Esposito recounted experiencing debilitating symptoms, including hair and nail loss, and even having a tooth fall out during a scene while filming the ABC comedy ‘Samantha Who?’. She noted that doctors initially struggled to identify the cause, leading to her being prescribed various medications and even facing the possibility of shock treatment. She described the experience of being told her symptoms were merely stress-related as ‘gaslighting’ and criticized the tendency to treat symptoms rather than underlying issues.

Her health struggles eventually led to a diagnosis of celiac disease, which she credits with saving her life after years of suffering and being told her liver was failing.