Oprah Winfrey bared all in a recent conversation with the co-writer of her newest book, What Happened To You?, Dr. Bruce Perry.
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During the conversation, the pair preached the importance of understanding the impact of traumatic events in life and the mental health challenges they can cause. The topic is one they both feel passionate about and take a deeper look at in the new book, available now.
“Many times in your life, when you get set off by something, or somebody upsets you or you’re having some type of behavioral dysfunction, it’s not because of what is happening in front of you, it’s because of what had happened to you years ago and that thing in front of you is triggering those feelings from the past,” Oprah explained.
During their virtual discussion, Winfrey opened up about her own triggers caused by childhood trauma including molestation and domestic violence.
"I started thinking about what happened to me in my life to make me who I am," she said. "Why do I have the fears [and] the apprehensions that I carried for a long time? That question is invaluable for anybody who is interested in self-evolvement [and] self-awareness."
She continues, “In my case, why [do] you have this disease to please?Why [do] you have a problem in confrontation? Or why [are you] so confrontational?"
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Oprah hopes by sharing her story, she will inspire other struggling individuals to seek help and normalize discussions surrounding mental health.
“No matter what, know this,” she said. “No Matter what has happened to you, what has happened to you can become your superpower.”
Audacy’s I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
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