GH’s Maurice Benard & Alicia Coppola On When Trauma Leads To Faith

The former Lorna Devon from Another World, Alicia Coppola, was a guest on General Hospital’s Maurice Benard’s video podcast, State Of Mind, and the tales that emerged from their discussion will leave you shocked, moved, saddened, and inspired. The forthright actress opened up about her personal experiences, sharing the traumatic event that changed her and gave her faith.

Alicia Coppola: When Life Spirals

Having collaborated with Coppola’s husband, Anthony Michael Jones (Father Coates), on his Daytime Emmy-winning Sonny confessional scene in 2002 and being a fan of her work as the bad girl turned good, Lorna, on the now-defunct NBC soap, Another World, Benard had some inside knowledge of Coppola’s past going into the interview. Her father’s cancer diagnosis when she was 12 years old was the biggest catalyst, and it only got worse from there.

The actress revealed her struggles when Benard questioned her about mental illness. “I have always been very anxious and prone to, what I call, my episodes, where I would have fits where I would spiral,” she acknowledged. “When I was actually in college, and I only realize this now that I’ve had time to reflect on it, I felt like my life was spinning out of control because my father was ill but not yet gone. He was perpetually in the process of dying.

She listed a few of her anxiety’s numerous side effects. “I recall counting the steps to my class at NYU, and if I was off by one step, I would return to my apartment.” She went on to describe additional causes and effects. “I wouldn’t see you again if I had a panic attack while I was with you. I wouldn’t eat that food or drink that drink again if it caused me to experience a panic attack. I had to sit and watch the kitchen if I went to a restaurant. I was terrified of getting sick and of hypothermic needles.

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Her fear made her feel very alone. “For about a year, I suffered from agoraphobia. When I was a sophomore entering my junior year, I refused to leave my apartment. I struggled mightily to leave my apartment. The actress’s overarching concern was with feeling secure. “I only frequented’safe’ places while I lived on East 10th Street between Broadway and University. And consume only “safe” foods. And stick only to “safe” people. I was very anxious.

Coppola made an effort to rationalize her irrational feelings. “I believe that because I didn’t address the events in my life. I was aware that my father was ill, she admitted. When she points to her head, she says, “This all knew, but this didn’t, and I started getting headaches.” Her feelings quickly manifested as physical symptoms. “I began to experience stomach aches, and I quickly lost control. It took me some time to work through that and realize that my body was coping with a world that was not giving me the cooperation I wanted. I still experience those moments occasionally. I didn’t want my father to pass away.

When Angels Step In

The adored actress admitted, “I have pretty much spent my entire life in therapy.” When I think I’ve moved past something, something else in my life will re-traumatize me. Coppola remembered having a “aha” experience. She admitted, “I remember my Another World audition, and I was an absolute nasty piece of work. I was confused as to why they had me wait in a room with so many people. What is happening? I need to board a train headed home. Are we actually doing this? She recalled, “Someone asked me, ‘Are you difficult?'” “And I responded, ‘No, I’m not challenging.

I am a really sweet girl whose father just died, and I got so much going on in me.’” She went on to explain, “Because my dad died in January, and I got the gig in April. That’s one of the things that truly made me believe in God. I think my father knew that I needed an outlet because if I didn’t have that outlet, I wouldn’t have existed.”

So Much More With Alicia Coppola

The actress talked about her childhood, growing up on Long Island, being close to her brother, and stepping in to be a parent figure when her father grew ill. She shared how acting became her emotional release when she had nowhere else to go. She talked about working with Another World greats Linda Dano (ex-Felicia), Victoria Wyndham (ex-Rachel), and Charles Keating (ex-Carl) and shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes that fans will love.

The actress covered her move from New York to Los Angeles, making ends meet when acting roles became lean, meeting her future husband, starting a family, and tackling infertility and postpartum depression. She reveals the moment when she thought the best solution might be to step into traffic and what stopped her. Through it all, she maintained her faith and strived for a way to touch others and open hearts and minds. Learn about her latest project, And You Are? with Jane Seymour. Check out the full episode here. There is so much more!

Fans can follow Alicia Coppola on Instagram. To follow State Of Mind and subscribe, go to YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Fans can now purchase inspirational merchandise for Benard’s State Of Mind. Check it out.