Our on-screen heroes have human imperfections in reality, and Game of Thrones alum Kit Harington isn’t shying away from it. Harington has talked in the past about his addiction, even though they weren’t as visible to the public eye. He says that towering fame had caused him to struggle mentally, and also be victim to alcoholism.
In a Hidden 20% podcast, Harington narrated his mental health issues that developed while working on Game of Thrones. In 2019, he checked himself into rehab for his struggle with alcohol. He also learnt that he suffered from ADHD while recovering from his troubles. Harington says that he tried to “deal with it (him)self,” and naturally, failed at mitigating his diagnosis. He got more candid about the state of his mind during this period in the podcast.
Harington singles out his near-superstardom that came by way of Game of Thrones. The show ran for 8 years, and is a big part of his life. It seems that Harington has struggled through it quite a lot. He said that while he accepted the fame from his performance, he became a little “terrified of everything.” His struggles worsened by the end of the show, which is when he decided to seek help. Harington likens his situation to be like that of a “rabbit hole,” where thoughts spiral to no end.
Harington has been nominated for almost all TV awards for his performance as Jon Snow, an easy fan favorite. The show enjoys a cult-like status today, despite its rather disappointing last season. Harington also found a life partner in co-star Rose Leslie, and has two children. He is now on the road for the better, saying that he’s “present.” The show’s fandom is also anticipating news on a possible Jon Snow spinoff, which is still very nascent.