What I have in common with Amber Heard

Elena Zanfei
Apr 24
3 min read

And why that’s not the end of the story.

If you followed the highly publicized legal battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard back in 2023, you probably heard a lot about two mental health conditions that Ms. Heard was diagnosed with: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Histrionic Personality Disorder.

While the media had its own spin, I want to share something more personal.

Because truth be told, those are two diagnoses I was once given too. Not in a courtroom, but in a quiet therapy office, in the middle of the chaos in my late 20s and early 30s.

While it may be one of the only things I have in common with Ms. Heard… I believe the stigma, confusion, and even shame tied to these labels are something many people silently carry. So, let’s talk about it.

When You’re Hurting, a Label Can Feel Like Relief

Sometimes, hearing a diagnosis can bring a strange sense of comfort.

Someone finally sees you. A name is given to the chaos, and suddenly, you have something to hold onto.

That was true for me.

It gave me hope at first — like maybe, just maybe, this pain had a path forward.

But over time, that label began to feel more like a box—something I was supposed to fit into rather than grow out of.

What PTSD Looked Like for Me

PTSD showed up as a deep, relentless fear that ruled my everyday life.

It wasn’t just nerves. It was a constant, paralyzing alertness to danger — real or imagined.

I couldn’t relax in crowds. I startled easily at loud sounds. I’d visualize myself dying in horrific ways. I feared abandonment. I feared being lied to.

And I was always, always preparing for the worst.

These weren’t just emotional responses. They were wired into me.

It was like trauma had hijacked my nervous system and set it on high alert 24/7. And at the time, I didn’t know how to turn it off.

But I Am Not My Diagnosis — And Neither Are You

Here’s what I want you to know if you’ve been given a mental health label:

It does not define you. It does not dictate your future.

And it certainly does not determine what kind of life you get to live.

Over-identifying with a diagnosis can become its own form of imprisonment.

It convinces you to shrink into a role instead of rise into your healing.

But healing is possible, even after years of pain, panic, or disconnection.

When we understand how these patterns were formed, we can begin to unwire them.

We can break the loop. We can reclaim our peace, our power, and our presence.

Healing Is a Journey Back to the Soul

I’m not here to give you a list of clinical steps.

I’m here to tell you, from lived experience, that transformation is possible.

Our trauma may leave scars, but it doesn’t take away our soul.

We find strength that transcends pain with intention, guidance, and a deep connection to something greater than ourselves—God, Source, Spirit, the Universe.

You are not broken.

You are becoming.

And your diagnosis is not a death sentence.

It’s just a chapter, not the whole book.

If You’re in the Thick of It Right Now...

Please hear me when I say: You don’t have to stay stuck. You are not your diagnosis. You are not your fear.

You are a soul in healing, and that healing is real. I’m living proof of it.

But let me also be clear —I’m not a therapist, and this is not clinical treatment. If you’re navigating active PTSD symptoms or in deep crisis, please seek the support of a licensed mental health professional. You deserve expert, compassionate care.

What I offer is empowerment, encouragement, and soul-level tools for women who have already done the deep trauma work but still feel stuck, lost, or discouraged from time to time.

I've got you if you're in that space — no longer in the storm, but still feeling the aftershocks.

Written by Elena Zanfei | Spiritual Mentor - Empowerment Coach