Whatever Doesn't Kill Me... | Eddie Gavagan | TEDxEast

A harrowing personal tale about the aftermath of a violent attack and the ensuing PTSD.
In his day job, Ed Gavagan is the owner of PraxisNYC, a design/build firm practicing across a broad spectrum. Ed creates homes and furniture for fancy people and humble folk the world over.
In 2009, Ed began telling stories with The Moth at a StorySLAM in Manhattan. Since then, he has won a Moth GrandSLAM and contributed to The Moth Mainstage events. He was featured numerous times on The Moth iTunes podcast, the Peabody-award-winning Moth Radio Hour on public radio, and one of his stories was included in the NY Times best-selling Moth Story Book.
Ed gave a talk at TEDMed2012 and was on the stage/production design team for TEDMed 2013 and 2014. He is represented by William Morris Endeavor as a writer and a speaker.
Ed lives in Manhattan with his wife and daughter.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@ianacranewing6586]

Thank you so much Eddie for sharing what is so very painful and tender. I have stories of trauma that I would like to share but I can’t get through the tears to do so and seeing how you are able to work though it even as tears rose up, helps me to have more courage to speak my own truths. 🙏🏼

[@victoriap1561]

This man has had such a difficult life

[@4thamendment237]

I had a similar thing happen to me and I struggle with it every day. This is how it is. I don't know his pain, but I know THAT pain. You can listen to this man tell his story and might try to imagine what it's like, but you will never really understand what it is like unless -- and truly God forbid -- it happens to you. I had one stretch of about 4 months where every single night I would have one, two, or three dreams and every single one was a terrifying nightmare. Every single one. A few days, OK. But day after day, week after week, and month after month without exception changes you in ways, well...

[@olusesanekisola1758]

Wow! What a great guy! The genuine article. How easy it is to mouth slogans until you have to live it!