Kate Beckinsale is speaking openly about how PTSD can affect people even when their struggles are not visible to others.
The actress shared a pair of Instagram videos on September 2 in which she discussed the toll trauma can take on sleep, daily life and relationships. Her comments came after she had also been reflecting publicly on grief following the death of her mother, Judy Loe.
Kate Beckinsale opens up about the hidden struggles of navigating PTSD
Beckinsale focused much of her message on people who continue working, caring for family and socializing while dealing with intense symptoms privately.
“They get up, they go to work, they look after their kids, they provide for their family, they have a laugh, they’re the fun person, but they don’t sleep for more than an hour because when they do, it’s full of nightmares,” she said.
Beckinsale said everyday triggers can suddenly overwhelm someone.
“Anything — smells, sounds, thoughts, feelings — can trigger them into a place that is actually like hell,” Beckinsale said.
The Kate Beckinsale PTSD discussion also highlighted how people can misread someone who appears functional.
“Maybe err on the side of being gentler with people, being kinder,” she said. “You have absolutely no idea what they might be carrying, masking, dealing with day and night.”
In a second video, Beckinsale questioned how people treat those who have spent years coping with grief or trauma. She said repeatedly calling someone strong can ignore their exhaustion.
“Maybe that person is just crushed under the weight of having been strong for years,” she explained.
Beckinsale also discussed caregivers who watch loved ones deteriorate while managing difficult responsibilities.
The actress previously spoke about her grief after Loe died in July 2025 following a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Beckinsale said her mother “died in my arms” and later described experiencing “shock and trauma.”
She also linked that grief to her appetite and said she struggled to eat.
Through her latest Kate Beckinsale mental health message, she urged followers to treat people dealing with private trauma more gently.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
