WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Kristen Bell's Mental Health Challenge Is The Ultimate Anxiety Detox

Kristen Bell's Mental Health Challenge Is The Ultimate Anxiety Detox

Ruby Rose Just Shared A Graphic Video Of Her Emergency Neck Surgery

Ruby Rose Just Shared A Graphic Video Of Her Emergency Neck Surgery

‘Game Of Thrones’ Star Sophie Turner Opens Up About Being Pressured To Lose Weight

‘Game Of Thrones’ Star Sophie Turner Opens Up About Being Pressured To Lose Weight

Ariana Grande Shares 'Terrifying’ Images That Show How PTSD Has Affected Her Brain

Ariana Grande Shares 'Terrifying’ Images That Show How PTSD Has Affected Her Brain

{headline}

{headline}

Turns Out You Don’t Become A Legitimate Adult Until You’re In Your 30s

Turns Out You Don’t Become A Legitimate Adult Until You’re In Your 30s

The Daily Activity That’s More Effective At Beating Depression Than Exercise

The Daily Activity That’s More Effective At Beating Depression Than Exercise

4 Mental Illnesses That Are More Common In Women

4 Mental Illnesses That Are More Common In Women

{headline}

{headline}

This Mum's Viral Post Perfectly Sums Up What It's Like To Be A Parent With Depression

This Mum's Viral Post Perfectly Sums Up What It's Like To Be A Parent With Depression

People With Mental Illness Are Sharing The Things You Should Never Say About Their Condition

People With Mental Illness Are Sharing The Things You Should Never Say About Their Condition

The Surprising Health Benefit That Comes With Anxiety

The Surprising Health Benefit That Comes With Anxiety

Study Finds Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Has Long-Term Psychological Effects

Study Finds Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Has Long-Term Psychological Effects

Research Shows Suffering A Miscarriage May Trigger Long-Term PTSD

Research Shows Suffering A Miscarriage May Trigger Long-Term PTSD

Edwina Bartholomew On The Emotional Challenges Of Life With A Baby

Edwina Bartholomew On The Emotional Challenges Of Life With A Baby

World-First Research Finds Chronic Pain Physically Changes Your Brain

World-First Research Finds Chronic Pain Physically Changes Your Brain

  1. Home
  2. News

Ruby Rose Shares A Hospital Selfie And Opens Up About Suffering From Dissociative Amnesia

"I had a few years entirely erased from my memory." - by Lucy Bode
  • 15 Oct 2019

If Ruby Rose’s life-long struggles with mental illness have taught her anything, it’s that you should never judge a book by its cover.

Recently, via Instagram, the Batwoman actress shared an old selfie of herself in a hospital bed and opened up about her diagnosis with major depressive disorder. Her intention? To shift the stigma surrounding the disease and share her story in the hope it helps others.

“I was first diagnosed with depression at 13, then major depressive disorder at 16. When I was 18 I found out I had dissociative amnesia,” she began.

“I had a few years entirely erased from my memory and a chance run-in with my best friend from primary school was the first I learned about it. She remembered me but I didn’t recognise her at all.”

RELATED: Ruby Rose Details Health Battle On Social Media

rubyrose View Profile
883.5k likes - View Post on Instagram
Today is world mental health day. This photo is from right before I started OITNB. I've struggled with mental health my entire life. I was first diagnosed with depression at 13, then major depressive disorder at 16. When I was 18 I found out I had Dissociative amnesia . I had a few years entirely erased from my memory and a chance run in with my best friend from primary school was the first I learned about it. She remembered me but I didn't recognize her at all. She remembered our teachers, things we did and my monkey backpack.. things I didn't remember even when she said them with such innocent conviction. I went home and asked my mum "Did i have a monkey backpack at school?" That is when it all started to unravel and my life changed...I started asking questions. I found out I went from a smiling laughing child to a quiet mute who sat alone and stared off to the distance during recess after one of many traumatic events that I didn't remember. One that my mum had to tell me about but hadn't for so many years because the doctors at the time said I was too young to process what had happened and that it was for the best. I was also diagnosed with Bipolar for a long time until it turned out I just had depression.. the pure sad depression without the fun and not so fun parts of mania, it was an overactive thyroid that created that misdiagnosis. Cut to many dark times. On medication, off medication, on and off and on and off per each wrong diagnoses. There were hospitalizations, suicide attempts as young as 12. Cut to therapy and meditation, cut to seeing me at ever self-help section of every bookstore. Cut to a brain scan which showed I had severe PTSD... cut to more therapy and tests that led me to my final diagnosis... C-PTSD. Complex PTSD. What I have learned from the struggles of mental health is just how strong I am. It's how amazing people are because they love me and support me and yet you can't judge those who don't understand and don't know how to do that either. It's that you cannot judge people at all because you can never know what they have been through. It's that self love and self care is more important than anything else.

According to Psychology Today, dissociative amnesia is a condition in which the sufferer separates from some aspect of their self, often following trauma or severe stress. Symptoms include abnormal memory loss in ways that significantly disrupt their lives, including their recollection of specific times, people and events. It’s estimated that 1.8 per cent of adults will experience dissociative amnesia in any given year.

“She remembered our teachers, things we did and my monkey backpack,” Ruby continued in the caption. “Things I didn’t remember even when she said them with such innocent conviction. I went home and asked my mum “Did I have a monkey backpack at school?” That is when it all started to unravel, and my life changed...I started asking questions.”

Ruby shared how she evolved from a smiling, laughing regular child to a “quiet mute who sat alone and stared off to the distance during recess after one of many traumatic events.” At the time, her mum refrained from telling her how the trauma had come about, as Ruby’s doctors said she was “was too young to process what had happened and that it was for the best.”

rubyrose View Profile
577k likes - View Post on Instagram
TCAs baby!!! 🦇🦇🦇

“Cut to many dark times. On medication, off medication, on and off and on and off,” she continued. “There were hospitalisations, suicide attempts as young as 12. Cut to therapy and meditation cut to seeing me at every self-help section of every book store.”

Ruby’s doctors were initially perplexed as to how to help her, which resulted in a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder. It wasn’t until a brain scan (and more tests and therapy) later that she finally found out she was dealing with Complex PTSD – a condition that occurs after chronic trauma that repeats for months or years.

While Ruby didn’t expand on what – or who - had led her down such a dark path, she did say she’d come out of it all feeling stronger than ever.

“What I have learned from the struggles of mental health is just how strong I am. It’s that you cannot judge people at all because you can never know what they have been through. It’s that self-love and self-care is more important than anything else.”

RELATED: Ruby Rose Just Shared A Graphic Video Of Her Emergency Neck Surgery

  • News
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • Celebrities
Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Kristen Bell's Mental Health Challenge Is The Ultimate Anxiety Detox

Kristen Bell's Mental Health Challenge Is The Ultimate Anxiety Detox

Ruby Rose Just Shared A Graphic Video Of Her Emergency Neck Surgery

Ruby Rose Just Shared A Graphic Video Of Her Emergency Neck Surgery

‘Game Of Thrones’ Star Sophie Turner Opens Up About Being Pressured To Lose Weight

‘Game Of Thrones’ Star Sophie Turner Opens Up About Being Pressured To Lose Weight

Ariana Grande Shares 'Terrifying’ Images That Show How PTSD Has Affected Her Brain

Ariana Grande Shares 'Terrifying’ Images That Show How PTSD Has Affected Her Brain

{headline}

{headline}

Turns Out You Don’t Become A Legitimate Adult Until You’re In Your 30s

Turns Out You Don’t Become A Legitimate Adult Until You’re In Your 30s

The Daily Activity That’s More Effective At Beating Depression Than Exercise

The Daily Activity That’s More Effective At Beating Depression Than Exercise

4 Mental Illnesses That Are More Common In Women

4 Mental Illnesses That Are More Common In Women

{headline}

{headline}

This Mum's Viral Post Perfectly Sums Up What It's Like To Be A Parent With Depression

This Mum's Viral Post Perfectly Sums Up What It's Like To Be A Parent With Depression

People With Mental Illness Are Sharing The Things You Should Never Say About Their Condition

People With Mental Illness Are Sharing The Things You Should Never Say About Their Condition

The Surprising Health Benefit That Comes With Anxiety

The Surprising Health Benefit That Comes With Anxiety

Study Finds Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Has Long-Term Psychological Effects

Study Finds Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Has Long-Term Psychological Effects

Research Shows Suffering A Miscarriage May Trigger Long-Term PTSD

Research Shows Suffering A Miscarriage May Trigger Long-Term PTSD

Edwina Bartholomew On The Emotional Challenges Of Life With A Baby

Edwina Bartholomew On The Emotional Challenges Of Life With A Baby

World-First Research Finds Chronic Pain Physically Changes Your Brain

World-First Research Finds Chronic Pain Physically Changes Your Brain

WomensHealth
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now