Jennifer Aniston's Boyfriend Jim Curtis Reveals How He Overcame Shame Over His Health Diagnosis

For years, Jim Curtis told people he'd been in a motorcycle accident because the truth felt too shameful to admit. Now he's sharing how he overcame that shame, a journey 25 years in the making.

Jennifer Aniston's boyfriend is opening up about a health diagnosis he kept for years out of shame. Jim Curtis, a hypnotist and life coach, shared his story during a conversation with Aniston at the 92nd Street Y in New York City on September 2, celebrating the release of his new book, "The Book of Possibility."

Jim Curtis and Jennifer Aniston during Elle's 2025 Women in Hollywood Celebration on November 17, 2025 in Los Angeles | Source: Getty Images

The 50-year-old hypnotist was in his 20s when doctors discovered lesions on his spinal cord that caused chronic nerve damage and partial paralysis, a diagnosis he described as "an ultimate low." He recalled the moment in the emergency room when a nurse first confirmed something was wrong, calling it "a really scary diagnosis."

For a long time afterward, Curtis kept his diagnosis to himself, admitting he felt "so shameful" and broken. So instead of telling people about his medical condition, he told them he had been in a motorcycle accident, something that sounded "more macho," he said.

Jim Curtis is seen on August 6, 2025 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

It took Curtis around 25 years to fully accept his condition through self-acceptance and self-love, acknowledging he could have gotten there sooner. His message now centers on refusing to be defined by suffering. "You don't have to live as the victim," he said. "You don't have to live in your suffering."

Aniston and Curtis have been dating for a year and a half, as stated by Curtis during an appearance on "The Jamie Kern Lima Show" on August 31. He also said things were "going really well," adding, “I feel blessed to be in a relationship with someone that is so open-hearted and kind and loving.”