According to Brie Bart, comedian Kathy Griffin, whose career faced a significant setback in 2017 due to a controversial photo shoot depicting a severed head resembling then-President Donald Trump, has opened up about her struggles with PTSD and her coping mechanisms. Griffin shared with Vulture that she practices a form of yoga, specifically the “cat-cow” poses, to help deal with her PTSD.
During the cat-cow poses, Griffin makes animal noises, explaining, “It’s when I get on all fours like a kitty cat and then I arch my back and I am instructed by my teacher to say the word meow. I feel like a fucking fool, but I do it.” She continues by describing the cow pose, where she moos. Griffin humorously acknowledges the unconventional nature of these exercises but emphasizes their effectiveness in managing her PTSD symptoms, including vomiting during PTSD attacks.
In the interview, Griffin reveals that her PTSD is partly a result of being investigated by the Department of Justice following the controversial photo shoot. The investigation led to serious consequences, including being placed on the No Fly List, bomb threats causing the cancellation of her tour, and a six-year period of isolation where her phone did not ring. Griffin also faced health challenges, including a lung cancer diagnosis in 2021, which resulted in the removal of half of her lung.
Despite the hardships, Griffin maintains a sense of humor about her experiences, remarking, “But apparently if you’re put under investigation by the Department of Justice, and the president wants you to be charged with conspiracy to assassinate the president, and you’re put on the No Fly List, and then your tour is canceled because of bomb threats, and then your phone doesn’t ring for six years, and then you get cancer and lose part of your voice ’cause half of your lung is gone, you gotta laugh about it.”
Griffin expresses gratitude for the positive turn in her career, noting that she has received opportunities to perform again, including a sold-out show at the Mirage in Vegas. She is set to embark on her “My Life on the PTSD-List” tour, reflecting on her tumultuous experiences with humor and resilience.
