Natalia Grace Listens to Taylor Swift to Cope with Past Trauma: ‘It Helps Me with My Nerves’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ukrainian-born American Natalia Grace, who was born with a rare form of dwarfism, has endured a lifetime of harrowing trauma. From an early age, she claims she was subjected to both physical and emotional abuse while living with in an orphanage and with an adoptive family.

More recently, people close to Natalia allege in the final season ofThe Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter— airing on ID and streaming on Max Jan. 6 and 7 — that she faced similar mistreatment at the hands of another pair of adoptive parents into adulthood.

These devastating experiences, 21-year-old Natalia says, have left her grappling withcomplex anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Yet, through it all, she has found solace in a surprising place—the music ofTaylor Swift.

Natalia Grace PEOPLE Cover Story.Allison Michael Orenstein

Allison Michael Orenstein

In thelatest issue of PEOPLE, now on newsstands, Natalia opens up about her struggles with mental health and how she’s overcoming those challenges through therapy and medication.

“I have anxiety all the way to the roof,” says Natalia, who suffers fromsituational and generalized anxiety, ADHD and PTSDand takes prescribed medication. “It’s definitely hard to deal with. I’m the type of person that hides it until I get too overwhelmed, and it explodes.”

But as aTaylor Swiftfan, Natalia says she also uses music as a tool to get through sometimes debilitating stress. Swift’s tunes calm her and the superstar’s lyrics remind her that she’s never alone in her pain.

Natalia Grace, left; Taylor Swift, right.Allison Michael Orenstein; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Allison Michael Orenstein; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Baio’s lyrics “We knew too much, too young, we were just kids, losing our innocence,” resonate with her because it’s what she went though as a child, says Natalia.

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“I had to grow up so fast. I learned things that I should have been learning at an older age, not so early in life,” she adds. “But then Baio sings: ‘We only saw hearts breakin,’ nothin' like movie scenes, but you’re always showin' me.'““It reminds me that life is not a movie, but there is people that can show you that love isn’t always pain.”

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapterpremieres January 6 and January 7 on Investigation Discovery and streams on Max.

source: people.com