- Ariana Grande shared a photo of her brain scan on Instagram stories, which revealed how post-traumatic stress disorder has impacted her brain.
- Grande revealed in 2018 that she suffers from PTSD as a result of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, which occurred while she was performing a concert there.
- Learn about the symptoms of PTSD, treatment, and how Grande is spreading awareness.
Whether it's the pain of a breakup, the loss of a loved one, or the struggles of mental health, Ariana Grande is no stranger to sharing her emotions with her fans. The Thank U, Next singer has been through a lot in her 25 short years of life, and despite her 150 million following on Instagram, Grande's latest story is here to remind us that she's only human.
Yesterday, Grande posted a photo to her Instagram stories with two side-by-side brain scans, comparing a "healthy brain" to a "PTSD brain." Several areas of the "PTSD" brain are highlighted, which caused Grande to text in her group "guys.... my brain." She added that the scans were "hilarious and terrifying" and "not a joke."
What is PTSD, exactly?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a collection of symptoms that develop after someone experiences or witnesses an extremely traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, car accident, or sexual assault, according to the National Center for PTSD. It's also extremely common in women. In fact, more than half of all women will experience at least one traumatic event in their life.
These types of events can take a serious toll on your brain. A study published in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience describes how patients with PTSD show increased cortisol (a stress hormone) and norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter) responses to stress, affecting the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex areas of the brain. As a result, those areas may light up during a brain scan such as an MRI.
It's unclear when or why Grande received the brain scan, but she has been outspoken about the events that triggered her PTSD in the first place. In May 2017, a suicide bomber attacked the Manchester Arena in England where Grande was performing, leading to 22 deaths and a number of injuries.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
After the terrorist attack, Grande "cried endlessly and barely spoke for two days," unsure if she would ever be able to perform again. Then, she started experiencing physical and mental symptoms.
"When I got home from tour, I had really wild dizzy spells, this feeling like I couldn’t breathe," Grande told Elle in a July 2018 interview. "I would be in a good mood, fine and happy, and they would hit me out of nowhere. I’ve always had anxiety, but it had never been physical before. There were a couple of months straight where I felt so upside down."
Dizziness, in addition to a number of physical responses like headaches and chest pain, are not listed in the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD, although nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, guilt, and mood problems are clinical signs to look out for.
Although Grande doesn't like to admit it, the traumatic events that occurred in Manchester triggered it all, the star told British Vogue in an interview. "It's hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. But, yeah, it's a real thing. I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well."
It still continues to take a toll on her. "Time is the biggest thing," she added. "I feel like I shouldn't even be talking about my own experience—like I shouldn't even say anything. I don't think I'll ever know how to talk about it and not cry."
How is PTSD treated?
The most common treatments for PTSD include medications, such as antidepressants, and trauma-focused approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy.
No stranger to therapy, Grande continues to work on her mental health and spread awareness about these painful, very real human experiences. She even channeled some of her pain in her recent album Sweetener with tracks like "Get Well Soon."
"It's work," she tells Elle about the ongoing process. "I'm a 25-year-old woman. But I've also spent the past handful of years growing up under very extraordinary circ*mstances. And I know how that story goes."
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Nicol Natale
Associate Editor
Nicol is a freelance Editorial Assistant at WomansDay.com and is a Manhattan-based journalist who specializes in health, wellness, beauty, fashion, business, and lifestyle. When Nicol isn't writing, she loves spending time with family and friends, trying new workout classes, and traveling.
