Photo: Emma McIntyre/GettyMelissa Villaseñoris getting candid about her mental health and the way in which it impactedher decisionto leaveSaturday Night Liveafter six seasons.On Monday’s episode ofThe Last Laughpodcast, the comedian, 35, revealed that she decided to leave the long-running late night show after it took a major toll on her mental health.“It was my decision,” she shared. “I gave myself a lot of time in the summer to think on it and kind of play out in my head if I go back… At the end of the day, it was about my mental health.““Last season, I had a couple panic attacks,” she continued. “I was struggling, and I always felt like I was on the edge of a cliff every week. I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that to myself anymore.'“Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via GettyVillaseñor, who is the author of the new bookWhoops… I’m Awesome, added that she struggled as an introvert in the cast but “it’s not like the show was mean towards me or anyone.““It was just how I handle things. I think I’m an introvert,” she explained. “When I’m in a big group of a lot of amazing people, and everyone’s speaking over everyone else, I think I tend to get small. I get nervous, like, where do I fit? What am I supposed to do? That’s how I was in high school, too.““And so I think that’s what caused it. And I was like, I think I’m OK,” she added. “I feel like there’s nothing else that I feel like, oh, I need to be sharing this, I want to do this on the show. I think I’m ready. There was just something telling me, I think I could part ways.“Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyVillaseñor — who was perhaps best known forher portrayalofRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezon the series — admitted that it was still “super hard” to leaveSNL.“I loveLorne [Michaels]! And I am so grateful for all of them for having me. And I shared with them that this was my kid dream,” she said. “This is all I wanted as a kid. So I’m going to carry that forever in my heart, that I got to experience that in my life.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Villaseñor was one ofsevenSNLstars to exitthe series before its season 48 premiere.Emma McIntyre/Getty; Patrick McMullan via Getty; Theo Wargo/GettyAidy Bryant,Kate McKinnon,Pete DavidsonandKyle Mooneykicked off the cast exodus in May with announcements of their departures at the end of season 47.PEOPLE later learned in September thatAlex Moffatand featured comedianAristotle Athariwould also not be returning.SNLwill return on Oct. 29 withJack Harlowas both host and musical guest.If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty
Melissa Villaseñoris getting candid about her mental health and the way in which it impactedher decisionto leaveSaturday Night Liveafter six seasons.On Monday’s episode ofThe Last Laughpodcast, the comedian, 35, revealed that she decided to leave the long-running late night show after it took a major toll on her mental health.“It was my decision,” she shared. “I gave myself a lot of time in the summer to think on it and kind of play out in my head if I go back… At the end of the day, it was about my mental health.““Last season, I had a couple panic attacks,” she continued. “I was struggling, and I always felt like I was on the edge of a cliff every week. I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that to myself anymore.'“Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via GettyVillaseñor, who is the author of the new bookWhoops… I’m Awesome, added that she struggled as an introvert in the cast but “it’s not like the show was mean towards me or anyone.““It was just how I handle things. I think I’m an introvert,” she explained. “When I’m in a big group of a lot of amazing people, and everyone’s speaking over everyone else, I think I tend to get small. I get nervous, like, where do I fit? What am I supposed to do? That’s how I was in high school, too.““And so I think that’s what caused it. And I was like, I think I’m OK,” she added. “I feel like there’s nothing else that I feel like, oh, I need to be sharing this, I want to do this on the show. I think I’m ready. There was just something telling me, I think I could part ways.“Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyVillaseñor — who was perhaps best known forher portrayalofRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezon the series — admitted that it was still “super hard” to leaveSNL.“I loveLorne [Michaels]! And I am so grateful for all of them for having me. And I shared with them that this was my kid dream,” she said. “This is all I wanted as a kid. So I’m going to carry that forever in my heart, that I got to experience that in my life.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Villaseñor was one ofsevenSNLstars to exitthe series before its season 48 premiere.Emma McIntyre/Getty; Patrick McMullan via Getty; Theo Wargo/GettyAidy Bryant,Kate McKinnon,Pete DavidsonandKyle Mooneykicked off the cast exodus in May with announcements of their departures at the end of season 47.PEOPLE later learned in September thatAlex Moffatand featured comedianAristotle Athariwould also not be returning.SNLwill return on Oct. 29 withJack Harlowas both host and musical guest.If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
Melissa Villaseñoris getting candid about her mental health and the way in which it impactedher decisionto leaveSaturday Night Liveafter six seasons.
On Monday’s episode ofThe Last Laughpodcast, the comedian, 35, revealed that she decided to leave the long-running late night show after it took a major toll on her mental health.
“It was my decision,” she shared. “I gave myself a lot of time in the summer to think on it and kind of play out in my head if I go back… At the end of the day, it was about my mental health.”
“Last season, I had a couple panic attacks,” she continued. “I was struggling, and I always felt like I was on the edge of a cliff every week. I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that to myself anymore.'”
Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty
Villaseñor, who is the author of the new bookWhoops… I’m Awesome, added that she struggled as an introvert in the cast but “it’s not like the show was mean towards me or anyone.”
“It was just how I handle things. I think I’m an introvert,” she explained. “When I’m in a big group of a lot of amazing people, and everyone’s speaking over everyone else, I think I tend to get small. I get nervous, like, where do I fit? What am I supposed to do? That’s how I was in high school, too.”
“And so I think that’s what caused it. And I was like, I think I’m OK,” she added. “I feel like there’s nothing else that I feel like, oh, I need to be sharing this, I want to do this on the show. I think I’m ready. There was just something telling me, I think I could part ways.”
Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Villaseñor — who was perhaps best known forher portrayalofRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezon the series — admitted that it was still “super hard” to leaveSNL.
“I loveLorne [Michaels]! And I am so grateful for all of them for having me. And I shared with them that this was my kid dream,” she said. “This is all I wanted as a kid. So I’m going to carry that forever in my heart, that I got to experience that in my life.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Villaseñor was one ofsevenSNLstars to exitthe series before its season 48 premiere.
Emma McIntyre/Getty; Patrick McMullan via Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty
Aidy Bryant,Kate McKinnon,Pete DavidsonandKyle Mooneykicked off the cast exodus in May with announcements of their departures at the end of season 47.
PEOPLE later learned in September thatAlex Moffatand featured comedianAristotle Athariwould also not be returning.
SNLwill return on Oct. 29 withJack Harlowas both host and musical guest.
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
