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You’ve probably heard someone casually toss around, “Ugh, that’s giving me PTSD!” like it’s just another quirky internet phrase. But real post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is no joke. It's a complex, deeply serious mental health condition — and it affects way more people (including famous ones) than you might think.
PTSD can look like nightmares that won't quit, anxiety that won't let up, flashbacks that hijack your brain, and a numbness that makes you feel like you're watching life through a foggy window. It's not just something that happens to veterans, either. About 3.5% of U.S. adults live with PTSD each year, and one in 11 people will experience it at some point.
And yes, that includes your favorite celebrities. So let's break it all down — what PTSD actually is, why talking about it matters (especially during PTSD Awareness Month), and which famous faces are helping to smash the stigma.
What is PTSD?
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, like assault, accidents, natural disasters, war, or abuse. It can hit you right after the trauma or sneak up months (or even years) later. According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD symptoms typically fall into four categories:
- Intrusive memories (flashbacks, nightmares)
- Avoidance (dodging reminders of the trauma)
- Negative changes in thinking and mood (hopelessness, feeling detached)
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions (being easily startled, having angry outbursts)
But it’s not always just caused by one thing, as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Kelsey Rehome-Peymann, MA, LPCC., explains: “PTSD doesn't have to be about just one specific event. It can be. However, it can also be about a wide variety of micro-experiences that are traumatic in nature.”
Everyone experiences PTSD differently, and symptoms can change over time — maybe getting better for a while and then worsening, making PTSD a complex and confusing condition. But the good news is that effective treatments and lots of support are available.
Some of the most famous faces you know have struggled with PTSD and have shared their experiences to help break down the stigma. “When celebrities share about their mental health conditions, it makes having mental health issues more common and acceptable,” says Rehome-Peymann.
Different types of PTSD
Not all PTSD looks the same. Besides "classic" PTSD, there’s Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), usually caused by repeated or long-term trauma (like ongoing childhood abuse, domestic violence, or chronic neglect). C-PTSD can bring deep feelings of shame or guilt, trouble trusting others, and intense emotional regulation issues
There's also Secondary PTSD, which can happen to people like healthcare workers, first responders, or loved ones of trauma survivors who are indirectly affected.
Common misconceptions about PTSD
Let's bust a few myths while we're here:
Myth: Only soldiers get PTSD.
Truth: Anyone who experiences trauma can develop PTSD.
Myth: PTSD shows up right away.
Truth: Symptoms can take weeks, months, or years to appear.
Myth: You have to "get over it."
Truth: PTSD isn't something you just "snap out of" — it's a serious condition that deserves real treatment and compassion.
Bottom line: PTSD isn't about weakness. It's a human response to inhuman experiences.
PTSD Awareness Month
Every June, PTSD Awareness Month shines a much-needed spotlight on this condition. PTSD still carries far too much stigma, misunderstanding, and silence, and this month is all about flipping the script.
It officially started back in 2010 when the U.S. Senate named June 27th as PTSD Awareness Day, and it grew into a full month of action by 2014. The goal? Shine a massive, unapologetic spotlight on what PTSD actually is, encourage more people to seek help, and push for better treatment options (because "just deal with it" is not a care plan).
During PTSD Awareness Month, mental health organizations, therapists, advocates, and everyday people work hard to educate the public on PTSD and its many faces, sharing their stories, highlighting new treatments, fundraising for more research, and encourage those who might be struggling to reach out, without shame or judgment.
Celebrities have been a huge part of this shift. When big names like Lady Gaga, Gabrielle Union, and Prince Harry open up about their PTSD, it does more than trend on Twitter. It humanizes the experience. It reminds people that trauma doesn’t discriminate. And it creates room for so many others to feel seen, understood, and supported.
PTSD is a natural response to trauma — not a sign of weakness. Rehome-Peymann recommends working with a licensed professional if you’re struggling. “Managing current symptoms of PTSD is important before diving into healing or processing through your trauma,” she adds.
Celebrities with PTSD
Although it can be hard to watch, seeing famous people struggle can kind of “even the playing field,” says Rehome-Peymann. It makes regular people feel less alone and might empower them to reach out for help.
“Fans see a celebrity they admire and find inspiration from and think, ‘If that celebrity has mental health issues and can do all the things they do, maybe so can I,’” she adds.
Whoopi Goldberg
Witnessing a mid-air collision between two planes in 1978 left actress and co-host of The View, Whoopi Goldberg, with a lingering fear of flying.
“It’s still hard,” Goldberg told Piers Morgan in a CNN interview. “The people on the plane were aware they were in some danger,” she adds.
“I’m a visualist, so if I see it, it lives in my brain, so I always see it.” A Virgin Atlantic course that helps people work through their flying fears helped Goldberg with some of the PTSD symptoms she experienced. Still, she traveled by private bus for years, only flying when she absolutely had to.
Lady Gaga
The musical and pop culture icon has been open about her struggles with mental health, including what she refers to as a “total psychotic break,” after her trauma resurfaced.
“I was raped repeatedly when I was 19-years-old. I also developed PTSD as a result of being raped and not processing that trauma,” she told Oprah on the Apple TV+ mental health docuseries The Me You Can’t See.
Each person who struggles with PTSD experiences the symptoms differently, which can make the condition difficult to understand, explain, and find validation for what they’re going through. This unique experience can lead to feelings of isolation and a lack of understanding from others.
Lady Gaga has described feeling both physical and emotional pain when experiencing PTSD triggers. “First, I felt full-on pain, then I felt numb, and then I was sick for weeks after,” the singer said.
Gabrielle Union
After being sexually assaulted as a teenager, Union has battled PTSD for over 30 years and says it can turn her excitement for events into “pure agony.”
“Living with anxiety and panic attacks all these years has never been easy. There’s times the anxiety is so bad it shrinks my life. Leaving the house or making a left-hand turn at an uncontrolled light can fill me with terror,” Union shared in a 2022 Instagram post.
“No, it’s not like being nervous, and everyone experiences and deals with anxiety differently, and that’s OK,” she adds.
Union says she goes to therapy and speaks openly about her experiences in the hope that other survivors of trauma feel less alone.
Ariana Grande
After the tragic bombing at her 2017 Manchester concert, Ariana Grande was diagnosed with PTSD and says the trauma still impacts her daily life.
"It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss," Grande shared in a British Vogue interview. She later posted images of her brain scans on Instagram, showing the physical effects of trauma, writing, "Hilarious and terrifying... not a joke.”
Grande has credited therapy, meditation, and reaching out for help as major parts of her healing journey, and she often uses her platform to encourage young fans to prioritize their mental health.
Keira Knightley
After skyrocketing to fame as a teenager and enduring years of intense paparazzi harassment, Keira Knightley says she developed PTSD so severe she needed to step away from acting.
"“I did have a mental breakdown at 22, so I did take a year off there and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder," she told The Hollywood Reporter. “I literally felt like I was worthless.”
Knightley took a two-year career break to focus on therapy and recovery, speaking candidly about how intense public scrutiny and early trauma had shaped her mental health struggles.
Prince Harry
After serving in Afghanistan and losing his mother at a young age, Prince Harry has spoken openly about his struggles with PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks.
"I was willing to drink, I was willing to take drugs, I was willing to try and do the things that made me feel less like I was feeling," he revealed in The Me You Can't See. He described suffering flashbacks, severe anxiety, and emotional shutdowns that affected his relationships.
How famous people have sought treatment
When it comes to healing from PTSD, many celebrities have been refreshingly open about the treatments that helped them reclaim their lives — these treatment plans are tailored to the individual and their PTSD. Traditional therapy options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are often at the top of the list. Prince Harry has spoken about using EMDR to process deep-seated trauma tied to his mother’s death, while Gabrielle Union and Lady Gaga have both credited regular talk therapy with helping them manage anxiety and PTSD symptoms over the long haul.
Medication is another tool that some celebs have leaned on — including antidepressants like SSRIs and anti-anxiety medications — often combined with therapy for a more holistic approach. But healing journeys aren’t one-size-fits-all, and more stars are also exploring alternative therapies outside the traditional therapy room.
Psychedelic-assisted treatments, for example, are gaining major traction. Prince Harry has shared that he experimented with psilocybin therapy (magic mushrooms) to work through grief and trauma in a clinical, therapeutic setting. Meanwhile, MDMA-assisted therapy — where patients use MDMA ("ecstasy") during guided therapy sessions — is showing promising results for treating PTSD, and several celebrities have voiced their support as research continues.
Ketamine therapy is another emerging option that’s helping people who haven’t responded to traditional treatments. Public figures like Chrissy Teigen have discussed trying ketamine infusions to manage depression and trauma symptoms when nothing else worked. Some stars also credit medical cannabis with easing PTSD-related insomnia, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts — showing that healing can be a mix of traditional and alternative approaches, depending on what works best for the individual.
It’s worth mentioning that many alternative PTSD therapies mentioned here aren’t approved by the FDA — particularly ketamine therapy — but if you want to have a conversation about these therapies with your therapist or doctor, go ahead.
Celebrity foundations for PTSD support and awareness
While sharing personal stories is powerful, some celebrities have gone even further — founding organizations that directly tackle PTSD, mental health stigma, and trauma recovery. These foundations don’t just raise awareness; they fund research, provide resources, and advocate for better mental health policies worldwide.
- Born This Way Foundation: Co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, this foundation focuses on supporting the mental health of young people and building a kinder, braver world. Gaga, who has spoken openly about her own PTSD after surviving sexual assault, uses the foundation to fund research on trauma, resilience, and the importance of mental health access for marginalized groups.
- Archewell Foundation: Launched by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Archewell champions mental health initiatives, trauma-informed care, and broader community well-being. Harry’s personal experiences with PTSD and his advocacy for therapies like EMDR and psilocybin therapy shape a lot of the foundation’s work, pushing mental health conversations into mainstream spaces where they belong.
- Bring Change to Mind: Gabrielle Union has worked closely with Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit started by actress Glenn Close to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Union, who has lived with PTSD for over 30 years, uses her voice to highlight how trauma affects Black communities and how crucial culturally sensitive mental health care is.
- Project Healthy Minds: Though not founded by one specific celebrity, this mental health tech nonprofit has gained major support from public figures including Carson Daly, who has shared his own experiences with PTSD and anxiety. Project Healthy Minds works to connect people with affordable, culturally competent mental health services — a game-changer for many survivors.
- Home Base Program: Based in Boston, Home Base is a nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of veterans, service members, and their families — PTSD being a major focus. NFL stars like Tom Brady have participated in fundraising and awareness campaigns.
- Headstrong Project: Headstrong provides confidential, cost-free, and stigma-free mental health treatment for veterans and their families struggling with PTSD and trauma. Jake Gyllenhaal has actively supported the Headstrong Gala and uses his platform to bring visibility to the cause, especially after his role in Stronger (about a Boston Marathon bombing survivor).
These foundations — and the celebrities behind or supporting them — are creating real momentum in how society talks about trauma. They’re not just inspiring others to seek help; they’re funding groundbreaking research, advocating for better treatments (including emerging therapies), and fighting to make mental health care accessible for everyone.
Because healing isn’t just personal — it’s cultural. And these initiatives are helping lead the way.
How celebrity stories help others
When celebrities open up about living with PTSD, they’re not just sharing personal details — they’re helping shape the conversation around mental health. Seeing someone in the spotlight talk openly about trauma reminds people everywhere that PTSD isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s something human. Something survivable.
Hearing public figures like Lady Gaga, Michael Phelps, or Prince Harry talk about their struggles makes therapy and treatment feel more normal — less like something you have to hide or explain. When stars openly share about going to therapy, trying alternative treatments like EMDR or ketamine therapy, or even just admitting they’ve had dark days, it gives permission for everyday people to do the same without feeling broken or "too much."
It also inspires hope in a way that feels real. If someone who seems to "have it all" can face PTSD and still live a full, powerful life, it helps break down that lie that trauma defines you forever. Recovery isn’t easy, and it isn’t linear — but celebrity stories show that healing is possible, even when it feels completely out of reach.
Rehome-Peymann says the best way to support your loved one struggling with PTSD is to embrace them with radical acceptance and patience. “Don't question or judge their perceived experience. Just because something might seem small or mundane to you doesn't mean it is that way for everyone,” she says.
Healing from PTSD is a journey, not a destination — and seeing public figures walk that path out loud makes it feel a little less lonely. Trauma isn't the end of the story — healing, connection, and thriving are all possible.
If you’re struggling: You're not broken. You're not alone. Support is out there, and recovery is absolutely possible. You can find PTSD testing, therapy resources, and more through NAMI and PTSD Alliance.
You've got this — and so much more.
Tassia O'Callaghan is an experienced content writer and strategist, having written about a vast range of topics from chemical regulations to parenting, for brands like Peanut App Ltd, Scary Mommy, Tally Workspace, and Fertility Mapper. She's an advocate for realistic sustainable living, supporting small businesses (author of A-Z of Marketing for Small Businesses), and equity across all walks of life. Follow her on LinkedIn or TikTok, or see more of her work on Authory or her website.