Why Kathy Griffin Wakes Up “Terrified” After Complex PTSD Diagnosis

Kathy Griffin is giving a glimpse inside the difficult days following her PTSD diagnosis. 

After publicly sharing she was diagnosed with an "extreme case" of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the comedian wrote in an April 18 TikTok video that she recently experienced an eight-hour "episode."

However, she said the attacks are "day by day," and some days she feels fine.

"My PTSD attacks me in mornings. So, every single morning, I wake up terrified to see if I'm going to be OK or not," Kathy said in another video. "It's the weirdest thing."

The 62-year-old detailed her symptoms by noting, "It hits me in my chest first, like my chest starts to tingle. Then it goes right to my stomach. Then it's like, 'OK, am I going to start vomiting today from anxiety or not?'"

However, Kathy has found ways to cope with her PTSD and anxiety attacks, sharing that one helpful trick is to get over-dressed and put on makeup for "almost no reason." 

"We're going to a farmers market today," she said in an April 16 clip, "and I like to sort of be over-dressed sometimes for stuff, because just getting ready gives you something to do. And I don't have to wallow in weird thoughts." 

The My Life on the D-List star went on to thank fans for their support, saying she's "grateful" for the reactions to her medical news.

"Thank you to the response about my #PTSD #Anxiety #PanicAttacks," she wrote on April 15 in a video caption. "This is all this is new to me. My life definitely changed 5 1/2 years ago as you guys know, but this last year and a half has been plagued with PTSD stuff."

Kathy—who was declared cancer-free in 2021 following a lung surgery—quipped, "It's funny. I don't have anxiety about performing, but I have anxiety about life."

PTSD typically involves "involuntarily and vividly" reliving a traumatic event, whereas complex PTSD has additional effects, including challenges with managing emotions and maintaining relationships, according to the U.K.'s National Health Service.

Read more about Kathy's experience here.