Ariana Grande Releases Pictures of Her Brain Scan

On April 13, 2019, actress and singer Ariana Grande, posted pictures of what is implied to be her brain scan on Instagram. It is said that she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and decided to share with followers what that looked like internally.

Grande has been diagnosed with PTSD for nearly two years, after a fateful event happened at one of her concerts in Manchester back in 2017.

On May 22, 2017, Grande was on her “Dangerous Woman” tour, performing in Manchester. As fans were leaving, 22-year-old suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, detonated a bomb. Along with himself, Abedi killed 22 people and injured over 100 others. Since then, Grande has been traumatized and was officially diagnosed with PTSD.

It has not been made clear when Grande had her brain scan done, but she posted three different images of brain scans on Instagram. The first one was labeled as a normal brain, the second was labeled as a brain with PTSD, and the third was unlabeled. However, her caption says “Guys…my brain,” insinuating that the third picture was in fact, her own brain.

This was not the first time Grande spoke about being diagnosed with this disorder. In 2017, “British Vogue Magazine” interviewed the young singer about the incident. She stated, “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. Time is the biggest thing. 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.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD is a “psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.” Grande witnessed the bombing first-hand, and has been altered in a negative way mentally since then.

Knowing the seriousness of the disorder, some of Grande’s fans have expressed their concern for her on social media.

One Twitter member wrote, “I just hope she doesn’t overwork herself and drain herself anymore mentally/physically.” In another tweet someone wrote, “Honestly she needs a break. [A] very long one. [J]ust to fully heal and take in everything that has happened to her.”

Grande saw the responses to her post, and shared an Instagram story in an attempt to put her fans more at ease. She posted that she was doing her greatest, despite her brain resembling “the world map.”

Written by Trinity Oglesby

Sources:

CNN: Ariana Grande shares brain scan and opens up about PTSD
The Washington Post: Ariana Grande, Who’s Talked About PTSD, Posts Image of Her Brain Scans on Instagram
Fox News: Ariana Grande shares ‘terrifying’ image of her brain scan displaying effects of PTSD
NBC: Manchester Arena Suicide Bombing: 22 Die at Ariana Grande Concert
American Psychiatric Association: What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of lindsay neilson photos via Flickr – Creative Commons License