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Michelle Obama Opens up About Her ‘Low-Grade Depression’ on ‘The Michelle Obama Podcast’

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Former first lady, Michelle Obama, got candid on how she copes with “some form of low-grade depression.”

In a new episode of  The Michelle Obama Podcast, Michelle revealed her coping strategies in dealing with the world’s current climate. During the podcast, Michelle sat down with journalist, Michele Norris, and expressed what has attributed to her mental health.

 

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We’ve all been dealing with a lot of change in our lives and our communities. We’ve experienced the shock—and the aftershocks—of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. And all this is happening amid this life-altering pandemic, which has upended so much of life as we’ve always understood it. All this change can feel pretty heavy—and we’re often left to deal with it at a moment when we’re forced to spend more time alone—more time in our own heads—than we’re used to. I couldn’t think of anyone better to talk about all of this with than my friend and confidante, @michele__norris. In the next episode of The #MichelleObamaPodcast, we’re talking about life during this strange and exhausting time. You can listen to our conversation now on @Spotify—link in my bio.

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When opening up about her depression, Michelle described that the changes in both our lives and communities have deeply affected her mental state.  “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,” said Michelle.

“I don’t think I’m unusual in that. But I’d be remiss to say that part of this depression is also a result of what we’re seeing in terms of the protests, the continued racial unrest, that has plagued this country since its birth. 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. And it has led to a weight that I haven’t felt in my life, in a while,” she added.

Michelle later mentioned her recent struggle in maintaining a healthy routine.  However, she exclaimed that social media detoxes are necessary, as well as surrounding herself with loved ones who have aided her through this uneasy time. She noted that she established these coping mechanisms during her time in the White House.

Check out the full second episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast,  here.