The Trauma Slap - And The Trigger You Never Saw Coming

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 …