Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can impact almost anyone, so it’s no surprise to find out there are quite a few famous people and celebrities with PTSD who have also struggled with this mental health condition.
When reactions to stressful events do not improve over time, fear, anxiety, and other painful symptoms can make daily life extremely difficult, hence the name “post-traumatic stress.”
An estimated 5.2 million adults in the U.S. cope with PTSD each year.
The National Center For Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, an arm of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), has information on its website to help others better understand PTSD.
By bringing attention to this mental illness, Veteran’s Affairs hopes to reduce the stigma and educate people about the available treatment options for both veterans and non-military citizens.
Mental health experts aren’t sure why some people develop PTSD after experiencing trauma and others do not.
Many people think it is only something that affects veterans and those who have served in the military but it is much more widespread, and anyone can suffer from its effects.
Celebrities and Famous People With PTSD
For people coping with post-traumatic stress disorder, it’s reassuring to know they are not alone and many celebrities with PTSD and be able to overcome the symptoms and continue to live productive lives. Here are 7 of them.
1. Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is a famous actor with PTSD who witnessed two planes collide in midair as a child.
As a comedienne, actress, and talk show host, she’s required to travel frequently and has dealt with severe panic attacks when boarding planes due to the traumatic event she experienced.
Goldberg has made it public that she receives therapy for her condition and has found it helped her get through it.
2. Monica Seles
Monica Seles is a professional tennis player who has suffered from PTSD after being stabbed during a match in 1993.
In her autobiography, Seles describes her difficulty in overcoming her condition enough to get back on the court and play.
3. Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is the lead singer of the iconic rock band The Rolling Stones. Jagger has said he developed PTSD after his girlfriend, L’Wren Scott died by suicide in their home.
Doctors ordered the grief-stricken musician to avoid performing for 30 days to prevent his symptoms from deteriorating further. Fortunately for all of his, he overcame his struggle with PTSD and continued with his prolific career.
4. Darrell Hammond
Darrell Hammond is a famous Saturday Night Live comedian and impressionist who has spoken publicly about his diagnosis of PTSD.
Severely abused as a child, Hammond dealt with years of alcohol and drug abuse and self-harming.
He has since become an advocate for treatment and therapy and is living a sober lifestyle.
5. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was the first lady to President John F. Kennedy when she experienced her husband’s assassination firsthand.
While she was never officially diagnosed with PTSD, a recent biography about her life detailed her obsessive retelling of the event to anyone who would listen, her troubles sleeping, and the ongoing and crippling fear that she, too, would be a target like her husband.
6. Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette is a famous singer and songwriter who suffered from PTSD due to her quick rise to fame for the album Jagged Little Pill.
“It was an intense, constant, chronic over-stimulation and invasion of energetic and physical literal space,” she said in an interview.
Alanis claims that she’s still coping with these issues to this day but has found a way to manage working through her issues.
7. Barbara Streisand
Barbara Streisand is an iconic singer, actress, and celebrity with PTSD who didn’t perform live for 30 years after a single performance in New York’s Central Park where she forgot the lyrics to a song she was singing.
Streisand developed an intense fear of performance and only overcame it after receiving both therapy and medication for her condition.
Other famous people with PTSD include Lady Gaga, Shia LaBeouf, Ariana Grande, and Charlize Theron.
You Don’t Have to be a Celebrity With PTSD to Get Help
As mentioned previously, PTSD can affect anyone, but with proper help, it’s possible to learn how to manage the symptoms so that life doesn’t spiral out of control.
Unfortunately, people who suffer from PTSD are 9 times more likely to experience issues of drug and alcohol abuse and dependence.
The combination of addiction and a mental health condition like PTSD can complicate the symptoms of both issues and is referred to as a co-occurring disorder requiring dual diagnosis treatment.
Receiving a proper diagnosis for PTSD is an important first step in dealing with this treatable disease. It may seem like only famous people with PTSD have the means and access to get help, but this clearly isn’t the case.
There are a wide variety of resources for anyone wanting to find out more about post-traumatic stress disorder.
This condition is so prevalent that the month of June every year is recognized as PTSD Awareness Month. It’s important to take the opportunity to learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder and the many treatment options for those who are suffering from it.
Famous people with PTSD photo credits:
- Whoopi Goldberg by Mark Taylor
- Monica Seles by Kingkongphoto
- Darrell Hammond by Gage Skidmore
- Alanis Morissette by Profimedia.cz
Related:
June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month
10 Films About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
