Some have disclosed that they have Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and some have not. Some experienced trauma prior to 1980, the year that PTSD first became a diagnosis, before this it was recognized using trends such as ‘shell shock’, ‘combat fatigue’ or ‘traumatic neuorsis’, ‘battered woman syndrome’ and ‘rape trauma syndrome’ but often symptoms were ignored.

Politicians and Civil Rights Leaders

1 Martin Luther-King

Civil rights leader.

Harrassed, frequently beaten and sent death threats prior to his murder.

2 Nelson Mandela

Former president of South Africa.

A political prisoner for 27 years, he was jailed for ‘terrorism’, treated brutality and experienced near-starvation during the apartheid years in South Africa. Mandela was against violence and became the first black president of South Africa.

3 Bill Clinton

Former US President.

Child abuse, violent and alcoholic uncle. Secondary domestic violence.

4 Abraham Lincoln

Former US President.

Almost drowned at age seven, his mother died 2 years later, his older sister another 10 years later, and his first love died before they could marry. Three of his four children died in childhood, and he is described as experiencing long-term clinical depression and PTSD before his murder in 1956.

Athletes

5 Joe Simpson

Climber and author.

Simpson was a world-class climber when a climbing accident almost killed him. Seriously injured, with no emergency rescue available, and his climbing partner believing he was dead, Simpson somehow crawled down the mountain and survived. His book Touching the Void was the first of five climbing books he has written.

6 Monica Seles

Tennis player.

Seles was stabbed in the back by a rival’s fan during a match in 1993, at the height of her career. Her autobiography describes how her PTSD left her afraid to go back on the court with her back to the crowd, and how her injury affected her ability to play. Her attacker was not jailed so she also remained in fear of further attacks. She regained her health and athletic form, and overcame her PTSD avoidance enough to play professionally again.

7 Sheldon Kennedy

Ice hockey player in NHL.

Canadian athlete Sheldon Kennedy never fully reached his potential and remained silent until his autobiography Why I Didn’t Say Anything (2011), which revealed his coach’s frequent child sexual abuse. Kennedy raised $1 million for Canadian Red Cross sexual abuse programs.

Comedians, Artists and Musicians

8 Axl Rose

Musician, Guns N Roses.

Child sexual abuse.

9 Billy Connoly

Comedian.

Child sexual abuse (incest).

10 Marilyn Manson

Musician.

Child sexual abuse, his album and single “Smells Like Children” reflects this theme.

Lyrics may be triggering.

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/stars-whove-spoken-abuse/story?id=18122368

http://m.ranker.com/list/famous-survivors-of-child-abuse/celebrity-lists

PTSD Self Help: Transforming Survival into a Life Worth Living, p205. A. E. Huppert (2014).

The Everything Guide to Overcoming PTSD: Simple, Effective Techniques for Healing and Recovery, p91-94. Romeo Vitelli (2014).

Monica: From Fear to Victory. Monica Seles and Nancy Ann Richardson (1996).

Related Links

More info: http://traumadissociation.com/ptsd

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