Gabrielle Union has bravely opened up about her 30-year battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a survivor of rape.
The star of Bring It On shared a video on Instagram in which she opened up about her mental health problems after being sexually assaulted when she was 19 years old.
In her memoir, the 49-year-old actress chronicles PTSD. All of this time, living with anxiety and panic attacks has never been easy.
There are times when my anxiety is so bad it reduces my life. Is it possible to leave the house or making a left hand turn at an uncontrolled light to fill me with fear?
Anxiety may turn my anticipation about a party or fun event Ive been anticipating (Met Ball) into pure agony, according to she, along with a video of herself on the red carpet during this years Met Gala.
Everyone learns and feels uncomfortable and that''s okay. I need you to try to fix myself, she adds.
Union said she shared her personal experiences so that others who suffer from anxiety know they aren''t alone or being extra.''
I see you, I FEEL you, and there is so much love for you. Always. Love and light good people out there. Be good to each other out there, she said.
In her memoir Were Going to Need More Wine, Union first discovered her sexual assault. She described trauma as therapeutic.
In her 2017 memoir, author suggests that understanding youre in pain is the first step, and then finding help. The internet community is full of individuals who are learning the exact same thing.
In 2018, the actress discussed her PTSD during a social media campaign with The Child Mind Institute.
I am here to tell you that I am a PTSD survivor, thriver, bad ass, and the MF-er I didn''t let it stop me, she said at the time.
In 2014, Union married Dwyane Wade, a retired NBA player, and her daughter Kaavia James, who was born in 2018, with three other children.
