Kathy Griffin, 63, has fiercely climbed her way back to the comedy scene and life in the spotlight after beating lung cancer during the pandemic and working hard to manage crippling anxiety along with it — all while going through a recent divorce.
The “My Life on the D-List” star has proved to be levels above her self-mocking title as she tours the country with back-to-back comedy shows, wearing luxury fashion labels and even flying private to a recent show in Ohio, not to mention frequent TV appearances and a new PETA campaign.
My four adopted pups and I are here with @peta for a major wake-up call ☕🐶 There are around 70 million homeless animals in the U.S. at any given time and we must do our part to change this. Please always adopt and never buy dogs 📢 pic.twitter.com/L3QTytUDyn
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) May 29, 2024
The two-time Emmy and Grammy winner, born in Oak Park, Illinois, has been chronicling her highs and lows on social media throughout her personal health challenges, and her highly loyal fan base has been thrilled to see her thrive.
“Feeling Fergalicious with my Carolina Herrera dress and Salvatore Ferragamo purse and shoes, honeeeyy!!” Griffin wrote on Wednesday, dressed to the nines and twirling in a video before heading out to do TV press for an upcoming comedy show.
“And bought and paid for with her own money!” one supporter wrote, giving kudos to the star, while actress and pal Sharon Stone approved of her look with a fire emoji.
A third supporter cheekily commented: “FABULOUSNESS OVERLOAD *** REMAIN CALM.”
While Griffin’s never been ashamed to show her appreciation for fashion and luxury, Griffin is also equally as comfortable showcasing herself in pajamas and no makeup.
“Just a nice lil chat before I have to do a local TV hit for my show in #Sacramento,” Griffin wrote in a video earlier that day showing herself getting ready. “Thank you for keeping me company. It means a lot!”
“I’ve been through hell and back, people!” she said during an appearance on The View in March to promote her extended tour dates, including a special announcement that she will be performing at New York City’s world-renown Carnegie Hall on Oct. 26.
Griffin’s Lung Cancer Journey
Kathy Griffin first revealed her stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis via social media in August 2021.
Thankfully, she shared that the cancer had been contained to one part of her lung, but she had to undergo surgery to have half of her left lung removed shortly after sharing the news.
Griffin, a non smoker, then revealed she was cancer-free in December 2021, but she still had a ways to go in her recovery. After the surgery, her voice was altered by an intubation tube giving her a “Minnie Mouse meets Marilyn Monroe” type of voice, as she described it to her followers at the time.
In February 2022, Griffin shared that her scans were clear, and she expressed her joy by shimmying while skinny-dipping in her Southern California pool.
“6 month lung cancer scan is CLEAN!!! No more #cancer!!!” she wrote, “And yes, i’m skinny dipping in the pool while shaking my boobs and butt.”
Then in June, Griffin surprised fans with a video showing how far her voice had come throughout her recovery. Once worried that she would never get her voice back and be able to perform, she has now surpassed those fears as she hits the stage night after night.
Working Through PTSD
Though Griffin was gaining her life and livelihood back, she was unfortunately still suffering. As many survivors know, sometimes there is a delayed response in the emotional weight of a cancer journey.
Griffin announced in December that she was divorcing Randy Bick, who she married in 2020 after a long-term partnership.
The Chicago native has also become a mental health advocate, sharing how much stress and PTSD she has suffered over the years, facing debilitating panic attacks.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in general, is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Complex PTSD, or CPTSD, according to Cleveland Clinic, can result from experiencing chronic (long-term) trauma. CPTSD involves stress responses, such as:
- Anxiety
- Having flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoiding situations, places and other things related to the traumatic event
- Heightened emotional responses, such as impulsivity or aggressiveness
- Persistent difficulties in sustaining relationships
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is the main treatment for complex PTSD
Griffin says that when she feels a panic attack coming on, she copes by taking a walk outside by the ocean to calm down. She also reassures herself that the attack will pass and “it won’t last forever.”
A Guided Meditation for the SurvivorNet Community
She fought every day for her mental and physical health, consistently posting activities such as weight-lifting and boxing, which are good ways to release any negative energy and give your body and mind a boost as you cope through life challenges.
If you feel you are experiencing any of these symptoms, such as after a cancer diagnosis or treatment, it’s important you talk to your doctor. A patient navigator can also help connect you with a mental health professional who can offer important treatment.
Getting Back to the Life You Had Before Cancer
Although cancer can be life-altering for many, just know that there are ways to combat the stress. Take comfort in knowing that the mental and physical symptoms you are feeling may not last forever.
Like Griffin, it’s important to reclaim your sense of self. Even if you are unable to fully do the activities you once did, start small and incorporate activities into your life that bring you joy.
Watch: Survivors Share Stories of Resilience
Dr. Marianna Strongin, a clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy, has been helping the SurvivorNet community by sharing coping mechanisms and a structured way to think about handling issues like anxiety as you’re trying to navigate through daily life challenges.
“The way that I define anxiety is that it’s an internal question that we simply can’t find the answers to,” Dr. Strongin previously told SurvivorNet, noting that one of the main causes of anxiety is uncertainty about life.
Managing Anxiety During High-Stress Times
The first step for coping during stressful circumstances is understanding one’s anxiety. To do this, Dr. Strongin suggests checking in with oneself everyday to see where the anxiety is manifesting and what questions are causing the anxiety. From there, it’s important to answer those questions and reassure oneself with positivity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Scott Irwin, a psychiatrist and director of supportive care services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “Talk therapy really is the way to deal with these emotions.”
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