Jacqueline Laurita’s daughter Ashlee Holmes made the brave decision to share her Bipolar II diagnosis to the world by sharing a vulnerable Instagram post on Monday.
Upon sharing the news with her more than 269,000 followers, the makeup artist, 31, best known for her cameos on her mom’s series Real Housewives of New Jersey, was candid about her mental health struggles and seeking professional health.
‘You may not think that I have had many difficulties in my life —but I have. These last two years have been especially difficult for me,’ she captioned a car selfie. ‘About almost a month ago, I had a psychotic break.’
Speaking up: Jacqueline Laurita’s daughter Ashlee Holmes made the brave decision to share her Bipolar II diagnosis to the world by sharing a vulnerable Instagram post on Monday
She continued: ‘I found myself in a position where I was afraid of myself and my own thoughts. And I chose to finally seek proper help. I took a short break from social media as well.’
‘During this process of seeking help, I was diagnosed with bipolar II,’ she noted. ‘I made the personal choice to begin medication right away, as I truly feel that I had tried everything else up to that point. I think I have been in denial for a very long time about this diagnosis.’
The Your Mom Friends podcast host explained that she was ‘never properly educated about all of the other aspects of having bipolar.’
Upon sharing the news with her more than 269,000 followers, the makeup artist, 31, best known for her cameos on her mom’s series Real Housewives of New Jersey, was candid about her mental health struggles and seeking professional health; seen (L) with her mom in 2010
‘You may not think that I have had many difficulties in my life —but I have. These last two years have been especially difficult for me,’ she captioned a car selfie. ‘About almost a month ago, I had a psychotic break’
After a lifetime of only hearing ‘negative’ adjectives describing someone with the mental health condition that involves periods of depression and periods of elevated mood, called hypomania, she was surprised to find out it is ‘is SO much more’ than just mood swings.
‘It was actually a relief to finally have an explanation for certain things. It has been empowering for me to learn more about it, and take back control. I am not ashamed of my diagnosis. And I will not allow anyone to try to make me feel ashamed of it,’ Holmes added.
She also made it clear she will ‘not allow anyone to use’ her ‘diagnosis as a scapegoat to treat’ her ‘poorly.’
Looking on the bright side: The mother-of-one described ‘bipolar disorder as the gift of extraordinary emotions’ that gave her ‘a level of resiliency that’ she ‘very much needed growing up’
The mother-of-one described ‘bipolar disorder as the gift of extraordinary emotions’ that gave her ‘a level of resiliency that’ she ‘very much needed growing up.’
‘It has given me a level of resiliency that I very much needed growing up. It has made me capable of withstanding whatever obstacles the Universe throws at me,’ she continued.
Holmes also called herself ‘strong, imaginative, empathetic, adaptive’ and mused that her bipolar disorder also contributed to her ‘great sense of humor.’
The way they were: In 2020, she and her ex-husband Pete Malleo announced their separation, just two years after welcoming their son Cameron in August 2016
‘This is just yet another chapter of my life. I’m curious and hopeful to see where I’ll be a year from now. Life is a journey full of ebbs and flows. Keep going. Be proud of yourself,’ she urged of others.
The beauty concluded her statement by saying she believes it is important for people to speak about their ‘individual experiences living with bipolar (and other mental illnesses)’ to break negative stigmas surrounding mental health conditions.
In 2020, she and her ex-husband Pete Malleo announced their separation, just two years after welcoming their son Cameron in August 2016.
Struggling: In May, she reflected about her first Mother’s Day as a single mom after her divorce was finalized earlier this year
In May, she reflected about her first Mother’s Day as a single mom after her divorce was finalized earlier this year.
At the time, she wrote on Instagram that she ‘wholeheartedly tried everything’ to make her marriage work.
‘I don’t necessarily believe that everything happens for a reason, but I believe that everything that happens to us gives us the chance to become a stronger [and] better version of ourselves if we let life guide us that way,’ she stated.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
