‘Grey's Anatomy' star Sarah Drew says dad's advice helped beat panic attacks
Sarah Drew is widely known for her role as Dr. April Kepner in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Published May 25, 2026
Grey’s Anatomy alum Sarah Drew revealed she overcame panic attacks during her first pregnancy thanks to a life changing piece of advice from her father.
Drew, who played Dr. April Kepner for more than a decade, recalled being six months pregnant and overwhelmed by fears of motherhood.
“I was worried I was going to screw up… I was worried that I wasn’t going to have the necessary selflessness,” she told Fox News.
Seeking guidance, she wrote to her father, a pastor, who urged her to embrace “aggressive gratitude.”
Drew explained, “You’re replacing the scary and the dark with, ‘I’m grateful that there is oxygen in my lungs. I have a roof over my head…’ All of a sudden, your brain chemistry starts to shift.”
She now calls gratitude “the greatest combatant of fear in my life,” a practice she continues as mother to son Micah and daughter Hannah.
Drew previously spoke about panic attacks while filming Shonda Rhimes-created show's harrowing season 6 finale, describing nightmares and trauma from the mass shooting storyline.
Today, she says gratitude has rewired her response to fear, transforming panic into resilience.
