Trigger Warning: This post discusses medical PTSD and trauma. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that can develop in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a life-threatening or traumatic event. Struggling with PTSD can be incredibly lonely and isolating. As such, it’s important to know that others are going through similar experiences. Many celebrities and famous people with PTSD have spoken out about their experiences to help others feel less alone.
Mental illnesses, including anxiety disorders, substance use disorder, postpartum depression, PTSD, and others are still incredibly stigmatized. This stigma is an enormous barrier to seeking help. Seeing that others have experienced similar struggles, and have recovered, is one way of reducing that stigma. Here are 35 celebrities and famous individuals that have discussed their personal struggles and healing journey with PTSD.
Table of Contents
Singers with PTSD:
1. Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger has spoken openly about the grief and trauma he underwent after his girlfriend of 49 years, L’Wren Scott, died by suicide in their apartment.
2. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga struggled with PTSD years after she was repeatedly raped when she was 19 years old. This sexual assault incident resulted in multiple hospitalizations for chronic pain and mental anguish.
She has discussed how she wasn’t able to truly face her trauma and recover until years later, because her life got turned upside down after becoming famous. She explained that “I all of a sudden became a star and was traveling the world going from hotel room to garage to limo to stage, and I never dealt with it, and then all of a sudden I started to experience this incredible intense pain throughout my entire body that mimicked the illness I felt after I was raped.”
She eventually underwent talk therapy and took medication, and consistently uses her platform to raise awareness of sexual assault, PTSD, and mental health.
3. Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande has been open about the trauma she experienced after there was a terrorist attack at her concert at Manchester Arena in 2017, that saw 22 people killed.
In 2018, she told British Vogue that she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to talk about the horrific incident “and not cry.”In 2019, she further opened up publicly about her trauma, sharing photos of her brain scan on Instagram, showing evidence of PTSD.
After explaining that “therapy saved my life”, she donated $2 million to offer free therapy to her fans.
4. Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini, a famous country singer, has openly discussed her struggles with PTSD after watching her classmate die in a school shooting in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has talked about how sometimes loud noises at her concerts can trigger her.
At the 2023 CMT Awards, she said:
“I wanted to personally stand up here and share this moment because, on August 21, 2008, I watched Ryan McDonald, my 15-year-old classmate at Central High School, lose his life to a gun in our cafeteria,”
“Tonight’s broadcast is dedicated to the ever-growing list of families, friends, survivors, witnesses, and responders whose lives continue to forever be changed by gun violence.”
5. Chris Brown
Chris Brown was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD while undergoing treatment for substance use. He has said his PTSD stems from his violent past.
6. Lily Allen
Lily Allen, a British singer, tweeted in response to online trolls about how she suffered with PTSD after her third child was stillborn in 2010.
7. Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette has described her first few years of fame as incredibly traumatic. She said her sudden and unexpected rise to fame left her struggling with panic attacks and depression, and that “It’s taken a lot of work and therapy to just not be suicidal”.
8. Mel B
Mel B, a former Spice Girls singer, opened up about her PTSD diagnosis after suffering from domestic abuse.
9. Sara Evans
Sara Evans, an American country singer, was hit by a car when she was 8 years old. She was unconscious for nearly two days after being thrown 80 feet off the road. She said that she struggled with severe PTSD and anxiety for years afterward, and was further traumatized by her parents’ divorce four years later.
10. Matt Gresham
Matt Gresham, an Australian singer featured on The Voice (Australia), was diagnosed with PTSD after his best friend died by suicide in August 2018. He explained that for nine months after his friends death, he was unable to leave his house without having a panic attack.
11. Brandy
Brandy Norwood, also known as Brandy, is an American singer and actress. She has stated that “I’ve dealt with depression in the most severe … like severe depression. I’ve dealt with trauma. I’ve dealt with PTSD. I’ve gone through a lot and I had to overcome a lot, but I had to overcome everything that I’ve overcame by doing the work,” turning to therapy, prayer, journaling and meditation.
12. Demi Lovato
In her documentary, Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, she shares her struggles with substance use, and her diagnosis of PTSD and other mental illnesses. She explained that she has intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares due to her trauma.
13. Sinéad O’Connor
Sinéad O’Connor was open about her mental health struggles for years prior to dying by suicide in 2023. She often discussed her experiences with bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts. In her 2021 memoir, she discussed the physical abuse she faced from her mother as a child.
“You can never predict what might trigger the (PTSD). I describe myself as a rescue dog: I’m fine until you put me in a situation that even slightly smells like any of the trauma I went through, then I flip my lid.”
“I manage very well because I’ve been taught brilliant skills. There was a lot of therapy. It’s about focusing on the things that bring you peace as opposed to what makes you feel unstable”.
14. Sia
Sia, an Australian singer and songwriter, has spoken openly about her several mental and physical health diagnoses, including addiction and PTSD.
In her twenties, her boyfriend was killed in a hit and run. She described that his death contributed to her difficulties with drug and alcohol addiction as she tried to cope with her grief. In the midst of her addictions, she attempted suicide, writing the song “Breathe Me” on the same night.
In 2020, Sia discussed how for years she believed that she had bipolar disorder, but had actually been misdiagnosed. In reality, Sia was struggling with complex post traumatic stress disorder due to several traumatic events, including childhood trauma from her parents, being sexually abused as a child, and her boyfriend’s death.
15. Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is an iconic singer and actress. However, after forgetting the lyrics to a song while performing in New York’s Central Park, she did not perform live again for almost 30 years. She said that “I was so traumatized, I couldn’t perform in front of a paying audience for close to 30 years”. She developed an extreme fear of performing, which she eventually overcame through therapy and medication.
Actors with PTSD:
16. Shia LaBeouf
In 2018, Shia LaBeouf openly discussed an event from his childhood where he heard his mother being raped. It wasn’t until years later as an adult that he was diagnosed with PTSD and dealt with his trauma.
17. Abigail Breslin
In 2022, Abigail Breslin discussed how she was in an abusive relationship for nearly two years. She explained that she was beaten on a regular basis and locked into rooms among other things.
“My C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) is much better than it was in the first two to three years after my abusive relationship, but I still have moments. I still occasionally have nightmares, and certain things still do trigger me. I am still healing.”
“The aftermath of abuse is a complicated and individual experience. I hope sharing more about my story at least helps some people feel a little bit less alone.”
18. Kiera Knightley
Kiera Knightley has spoken openly about how she had a mental breakdown at age 22 and was diagnosed with PTSD while struggling with her sudden rise to fame. She explained that criticism of her acting made her feel worthless, and at one point was unable to leave her house for three months. As a result, she took a year off from acting. After extensive therapy, she was able to start acting again.
19. Tracy Morgan
In 2014, Tracy Morgan, a Saturday Night Live comedian and actor, was involved in a horrific car accident that took the life of one of his close friends. He suffered from broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and PTSD from the crash. He has openly discussed how he struggled with survivor’s guilt, as well as flashbacks and anxiety every time he got into a car.
20. Darrell Hammond
Darrell Hammond, another Saturday Night Live alumni, grew up with childhood abuse and trauma. He struggled with debilitating flashbacks, self-injury, addiction, and misdiagnosis for years before being diagnosed with complex PTSD. underwent Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and documented his experiences in the film Cracked Up.
21. Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton has also struggled with the trauma of fame. After she was stalked and criticized online, she said that she felt helpless and like nothing she did would be good enough.
The negative attention toward her and her body online was difficult to cope with. And in 2017, she entered a legal battle with her ex-boyfriend Job Zacharias, who had tried to auction illicit videos of her online.
When discussing her struggles, she explained that “people feel so entitled to you and your body and your image. It’s a strange feeling. It’s strange”.
22. Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union struggled with PTSD after being sexually assaulted. She has spoken out about her assault, trauma, and recovery, including that she spent years working through it in therapy.
In 2021, Gabrielle Union published a book of essays titled You Got Anything Stronger?
23. Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson, an actress and daughter of Michael Jackson, has discussed her struggles with anxiety, paranoia, and trauma from growing up in the spotlight. She said that she has nightmares and avoids going out during the day to evade paparazzi. She has said that it affects her personal relationships, especially romatic relationships, and that “PTSD can affect pretty much every aspect of your life”.
She has been undergoing EMDR to help cope with her PTSD.
24. AnnaLynne McCord
AnnaLynne McCord an American actress best known for her role on 90210, explained that she was “experiencing constant PTSD” while filming the show. She said that was “on edge all the time”, eventually resulting in an emotional breakdown on set. She realized that she hadn’t processed her own sexual assault at age 18, by a friend in her Los Angeles apartment, which she then wrote about in a 2014 article.
She has since been open about the child sexual abuse she suffered, and being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID). She has started Togerher1Heart, an organization helping “women and children survivors of the sex trade”, and is working to end human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault.
25. Jameela Jamil
Jameela Jamil, famously known for her role in the Good Place, disclosed in a tweet how she almost died by suicide before undergoing EMDR to treat her severe PTSD. Previously, she had opened up about some of the traumatic experiences she has lived through, including anorexia, a car accident that left her bed-bound for a year when she was 17, anxiety, depression, and being raped in her 20s.
Over the past several years, Jameela has used her platform to raise awareness of mental health issues, including eating disorders, sexual assault, and the lack of access to affordable therapy.
26. Dorit Kemsley
Dorit Kemsley was on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when she was robbed at gunpoint by multiple intruders at her home. She was left with PTSD, and underwent Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a type of therapy to help process distressing memories. She has even filmed an EMDR session to provide more insight into the therapy for others.
27. Charlize Theron
When Charlize Theron was 15 years old, her mother shot her father in self-defense after he threatened to kill her. She has opened up about how this traumatic experience led her to hard drug use and other mental health issues, and has credited therapy with allowing her to build a great life.
28. Reese Witherspoon
In a candid interview, Oprah Winfrey revealed that Reese Witherspoon displayed symptoms of PTSD after the initial allegations against Harvey Weinstein were reported. Oprah said, “I remember Reese saying, ‘Oh god, this is just so upsetting. And someone mentions his name, I start tearing up. And every time I hear someone else speak, it just causes me to be upset and I haven’t slept in two days”. Later that month, Reese Witherspoon publicly revealed that she had been sexually assaulted by a director when she was 16 years old.
“I have my own experiences that have come back to me very vividly and I find it really hard to sleep, hard to think, hard to communicate a lot of the feelings that I’ve been having about anxiety, honest, the guilt for not speaking up earlier…[I feel] true disgust at the director who assaulted me when I was 16-years-old and anger at the agents and the producers who made me feel that silence was a condition of my employment.”
“And I wish that I could tell you that was an isolated incident in my career, but sadly it wasn’t. I’ve had multiple experiences of harassment and sexual assault and I don’t speak about them very often.
Other Celebrities with PTSD:
29. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah has discussed the trauma she experienced as a child, including suffering from physical abuse, and witnessing extreme violence between her grandparents. She has discussed how she was raped by a relative when she was nine years old, and was abused by multiple individuals for years. She now uses her platform and openly advocates for survivors of sexual abuse.
30. Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg, a co-host of The View, would have panic attacks every time she boarded an airplane for years after witnessing mid-air collision between two airplanes in 1978. She said that ever since then, she has had a fear of flying, and experiences flashbacks when on planes.
31. Prince Harry
Prince Harry has discussed his struggle with PTSD after losing his mother, Princess Diana, at a young age. He has undergone Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and spoken out about it publicly. EMDR helps individuals work through traumatic memories.
32. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jackie Kennedy struggled with PTSD after witnessing her husband JFK’s assassination. She hid her emotional struggles and suffered in silence. While never officially diagnosed with PTSD, a recent biography of her life detailed her struggles in the aftermath, including the crippling fear that she too would be attacked.
33. Monica Seles
At age 16, Monica Seles was a grand-slam winner and the world’s best tennis player. A few years later, at age 19, she was stabbed in the back with a 9-inch kitchen knife during a tennis match in Germany. Around the same time, she learnt that her father had terminal cancer.
In an interview, she explained that “when I stepped on the court… all my worries were gone. I didn’t have to think about anything when I was there. Suddenly, that was taken away.”
She has since spoken out about how these events led to years of PTSD and an eating disorder. She has also written a book chronicling her struggles with self-image and how she has learned to live in the moment and love herself.
34. J.D. Salinger
J.D. Salinger, a famous American author, including The Catcher in the Rye, struggled with PTSD. He was a World War II veteran, and witnessed extreme casualties, resulting in what was then called “battle fatigue”. In 1945, he was hospitalized for a nervous breakdown.
In his 1950 short story, For Esme – With Love and Squalor, J.D. Salinger provides an account of PTSD. At one point in the story, Sergeant X, the narrator, is haunted by a note he found in the book of a German official: “Dear God, life is hell”.
35. Kurt Vonnegut
Somewhat similarly, Kurt Vonnegut also wrote about his experiences in World War II. His book, Slaughterhouse-Five, was a quasi-autobiographical novel about the time he was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and imprisoned in a cement slaughterhouse in Dresden, Germany.
While he was never clinically diagnosed with PTSD, it is undeniable that Kurt Vonnegut was extremely traumatized by his wartime experiences.
PTSD is a recognized mental health condition and can be successfully treated. Getting help may be able to help prevent stress reactions from developing into PTSD, or help those who already have it. This can include reaching out to family and friends who can offer comfort, turning to your others in your community for support, or speaking with a health care professional.