After his Oscar “slap” debacle, Will Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was overcome with shame and regret.
I didn’t chalk it up to a PR move. I am sure he was miserable.
I am so certain, because I’ve been there, too.
In neuro-psych speak: Smith, in his formal resignation to the Academy, is trying to pull himself out of the hypo-arousal state.
He wants to enter a “regulated” state, where his frontal cortex is running the show— instead of his hyper-aroused amygdala, which ran him aground on Oscar Night.
I’ve been there. I’ve slapped someone. I‘ve been in a reckless rage. I’ve been so mad I didn’t care if the whole world saw me go wild.
And the come-down is BAD.
Another thing I have in common with Will Smith, if his old memoir is correct: I got “slapped” — and much worse— as a child. All the time. I have complex PTSD, a high “ACE’s” score, and so does Will Smith.
So do a lot of people.
Here’s something I have in common with Chris Rock, if his memoir …