Michelle Obama Opens Up About ‘Low-Grade Depression’ Due To Trump Administration & Quarantine

by Hannah MallardAugust 7, 2020, 2:07 pmDaily Digest, News, News Feed >

Michelle Obama opened up about her mental health during the latest episode of her podcast, The Michelle Obama Podcast, which was released on Wednesday.

During the episode, the former first lady told Washington Post columnist, Michele Norris, that she has been struggling with her mental health over the past few months.

“There have been periods throughout this quarantine where I just have felt too low,” she said and noted that she hasn’t been sleeping well. “You know, I’ve gone through those emotional highs and lows that I think everybody feels, where you just don’t feel yourself.”

She continued saying, “I know that I am dealing with some form of low-grade depression. Not just because of the quarantine, but because of the racial strife, and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting.”

“I have to say, that waking up to the news, waking up to how this administration has or has not responded, waking up to yet another story of a black man or a black person somehow being dehumanized or hurt or killed, or falsely accused of something, it is exhausting,” the former first lady said. “It has led to a weight that I haven’t felt in my life – in, in a while.”

On Thursday, the former first lady shared an Instagram post assuring her followers and fans that she is doing fine. She wrote, “I just wanted to check in with you all because a lot of you have been checking in on me after hearing this week’s podcast. First things first—I’m doing just fine. There’s no reason to worry about me. Like I said in that conversation with @Michele__Norris, I’m thinking about the folks out there risking themselves for the rest of us—the doctors and nurses and essential workers of all kinds. I’m thinking about the teachers and students and parents who are just trying to figure out school for the fall. I’m thinking about the people out there protesting and organizing for a little more justice in our country.”