Comedy actor Melissa Villasenor opened up about her departure from "Saturday Night Live" in a recent podcast interview with Matt Wilstein of the Daily Beast.

Villasenor, 35, was a cast member on the popular late-night sketch show for six seasons, playing a host of characters including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gwen Stefani, and Kristen Wiig.

The Los Angeles native began as a featured cast member on "SNL" in 2016 and joined the main cast in 2018. While seven other cast members left following the show's 47th season –Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney, and Pete Davidson were among the notable departures – there were questions as to why Villasenor had moved on.

"It was my decision. I gave myself a lot of time in the summer to think on it and kind of play it out in my head," Villasenor told Wilstein on the "Last Laugh" podcast.

Villasenor noted that the main reason for her exit was her mental health.

"Last season, I had a couple of panic attacks. I was struggling. I always felt like I was on the edge of a cliff every week. And I was like, 'I don't want to be doing that to myself anymore," she said.

Villasenor said she didn't have any bad feelings toward the cast or its creator Lorne Michaels.

"And 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. 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."

She continues later in the interview saying, "And it was super hard because I love Lorne [Michaels]! And I am so grateful for all of them for having me."

After leaving the 82-time Emmy-award-winning show, she continued to finalize work on her new self-help workbook, titled "Whoops...I'm Awesome" which hit shelves on Monday. The book describes itself as a "workbook with activities, art, and stories for embracing your wonderfully awesome self."

Villasenor has also enjoyed the leisure time, telling the Daily Beast that she "almost feel reborn or something, because I have all this free time."

"So I'm enrolling in classes, almost like a little kid. I'm taking guitar lessons and Spanish lessons. I signed up for a pottery class!" Villasenor said.

Villasenor started her comedy career at age 15 when she performed stand-up at the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp.

She is known for her impressions and even performed them on Season 6 of the hit reality series, "America's Got Talent," before landing a cast member role on "SNL." She also hosts a YouTube series, entitled "Laughing with Myself," and an Instagram art account.