Finding Light After Suffering
- Kathy Griffin is on her first major comedy tour since the pandemic, beating lung cancer, going through a divorce, and getting “canceled” by her industry for one of her controversial artistic choices gone a little too far.
- ‘Life on the PTSD-List,’ which stems from Griffin’s famed ‘Life on the D-List,’ is a reference to some of the darker moments she has experienced with all she has endured. PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, and Griffin has been vocal about the terrifying panic attacks she has experienced throughout her mental suffering.
- If you are unable to manage stress and anxiety on your own and need some guidance in finding some coping techniques, a mental health professional can help. In the meantime, SurvivorNet’s mental health guide can hopefully begin to steer you on your journey.
Dubbed “Life on the PTSD-List,” which evolved from her famed “Life on the D List” set, the self-titled Mayor of Zero F**ksville, 63, just announced extended dates through the end of 2024 after kicking off in February. A whopping 47 shows and counting.
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Speaking about her 2017 move posing in a photo holding a mock head of the former president, Griffin said:
“Six years I was out of work because of that… All about a picture, a picture I took making fun of the president, which you’re supposed to do as a comic.”
“I stand by Kathy! Last genuine comic. I think she’s a genius. 😘,” one fan wrote on her post of the above quote.
“Making a joke is one thing. What she did was NOT funny,” another person countered. “She deserved being cancelled. And I am NOT a Trump supporter.”
“I loved her for it even more,” a third person wrote.
Kathy Griffin’s Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Kathy Griffin revealed her stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis via social media in August 2021.
Thankfully, she shared that the cancer had been contained to one part of her lung, but she had to undergo surgery to have half of her left lung removed shortly after sharing the news.
Griffin, a non smoker, then revealed she was cancer-free in December 2021, but she still had a ways to go in her recovery. After the surgery, her voice was altered by an intubation tube giving her a “Minnie Mouse meets Marilyn Monroe” type of voice, as she described it to her followers at the time.
In February 2022, the Grammy award-winning comedian shared that her scans were clear, and she expressed just how overjoyed she was about her scans by shimmying while skinny-dipping in her Malibu, California pool.
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“6 month lung cancer scan is CLEAN!!! No more #cancer!!!” she wrote, “And yes, i’m skinny dipping in the pool while shaking my boobs and butt.”
Then in June, Griffin surprised fans with a video showing how far her voice had come throughout her recovery.
“Oh my gosh, I haven’t heard your voice this clear and beautiful for a time! So happy for you my love!!!” a supporter expressed.
Lung Cancer in Smokers vs. Non-Smokers
However, though Griffin was gaining her life and livelihood back, she was unfortunately still suffering. As many survivors know, sometimes there is a delayed response in the emotional weight of a cancer journey.
Griffin announced in December that she was divorcing Randy Bick, who she married in 2020 after a longterm partnership.
The Chicago native has also become a mental health advocate, sharing how much stress and PTSD she has suffered over the years, facing debilitating panic attacks. Thankfully, she appears to be making progress on combatting them.
Learning About PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in general, is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Complex PTSD, or CPTSD, according to the Cleveland Clinic, can result from experiencing chronic (long-term) trauma. CPTSD involves stress responses, such as:
- Anxiety
- Having flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoiding situations, places and other things related to the traumatic event
- Heightened emotional responses, such as impulsivity or aggressiveness
- Persistent difficulties in sustaining relationships
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is the main treatment for complex PTSD
If you feel you are experiencing any of these symptoms, such as after a cancer diagnosis or treatment, it’s important you talk to your doctor. A patient navigator can also help connect you with a mental health professional who can offer important treatment.
Griffin says that when she feels a panic attack coming on, she copes by taking a walk outside by the ocean to calm down. She also reassures herself that the attack will pass and “it won’t last forever.”
A Guided Meditation for the SurvivorNet Community
Bravely sharing continuous updates on what she was going through, the actress fought every day for her mental and physical health, consistently posting activities such as weight-lifting and boxing, which are good ways to release any negative energy and give your body and mind a boost as you cope through life challenges.
Hopefully this serves as inspiration to find what works for you — and whatever it is, stick with it.
Coping With Anxiety
According to the Anxiety Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting nearly 40 million adults 18 years and older.
Anxiety can arise through factors including genetics, personality, brain chemistry, and life circumstances. Despite being highly treatable, only about 37% of people receive treatment for anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of anxiety include feelings of irritability, fatigue, and nervousness. People struggling with anxiety also have trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and rapid heart rate which leads to hyperventilation. Therapy and medication are the two most recommended forms of treatment for individuals with anxiety, and treatments vary depending on the type of anxiety an individual has.
Managing Anxiety During High-Stress Times
Dr. Marianna Strongin, a clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy, has been helping the SurvivorNet community by sharing coping mechanisms and a structured way to think about handling issues like anxiety.
“The way that I define anxiety is that it’s an internal question that we simply can’t find the answers to,” Dr. Strongin previously told SurvivorNet, noting that one of the main causes of anxiety is uncertainty about life.
The first step for coping during stressful circumstances is understanding one’s anxiety. To do this, Dr. Strongin suggests checking in with oneself everyday to see where the anxiety is manifesting and what questions are causing the anxiety. From there, it’s important to answer those questions and reassure oneself with positivity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Scott Irwin, a psychiatrist and director of supportive care services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “Talk therapy really is the way to deal with these emotions.”
While waiting to speak with a mental health therapist, SurvivorNet’s mental health guide can hopefully begin to steer you on your journey. Confiding in a friend or family member about any feelings you are struggling with is also important.
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