AnnaLynne McCord Gets Candid About Her Mental Health Diagnosis
While Annalynne McCord is best-known for her roles on 90210 (the CW's reboot of Beverly Hills 90210) and Nip/Tuck, she is also an advocate for victims of human-trafficking and sexualized violence. In addition, she has spoken candidly about her own traumas, including being raped at 18. Now McCord has revealed that she's been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
The Mayo Clinic defines DID as "mental disorders that involve experiencing a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity." During a discussion with Dr. Daniel Amen, the actress explained that she has experienced memory gaps, and that being raped led to memories of childhood sexual abuse (via E! News). The star notes that acting on the 2012 horror film Excision also helped lead to her diagnosis.
"All of my roles were splits, but I didn't even realize I was doing it at all until I did a project," she told Dr. Amen, adding that on the independent film she "played a very cerebral, disturbed, strange little girl that was very close to who I feel I am on the inside."
"It was very exposing, very confronting, probably a bit retraumatizing without realizing it," McCord explained. "The crazy thing about it was that I wrapped that film at 2 AM on a Tuesday and had to be happy, crazy Beverly Hills blonde bombshell on Wednesday at noon. I couldn't find her, she was not accessible. I was dark, I was very deep into this character Pauline and I couldn't get [out]."
If you, or anyone you know, have been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Annalynne wants to boost awareness for this disorder
Annalynne McCord has used her notoriety to give back to several charities. According to her official website, she is the president of Together1Heart, which "empowers women and children victimized by human-trafficking and sexualized violence." In 2009, the actress was awarded a U.S. Congressional Honor for her anti-trafficking work. One of the main reasons she has come forward with her diagnosis is to boost awareness about DID and childhood sexual trauma, as well as show people that they don't have to suffer in silence.
"I am absolutely uninterested in shame," she said, according to People. "There is nothing about my journey that I invite shame into anymore. And that's how we get to the point where we can articulate the nature of these pervasive traumas and stuff, as horrible as they are."
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.