On Monday, June 27, 2022, Ashlee Malleo updated her Instagram fans on her mental health journey in a lengthy yet personal post. The Real Housewives of New Jersey alumna Jacqueline Laurita’s kid revealed her medical diagnosis. She also said that she intends to provide more information on living with Bipolar II in the future.
The 31-year-old social media celebrity admitted to being in denial about her diagnosis at first, but she also maintained that she wasn’t fully aware of her illness. Ashely also said that she took a much-needed social media break and sought treatment to deal with her illness.
She stated in an Instagram post:
“You may not believe I’ve had many problems in my life, but I have. These past two years have been very trying for me. I experienced a psychotic break about a month ago. I found myself in a situation in which I was terrified of myself and my own ideas. And I ultimately decided to seek professional assistance.”
Ashlee Malleo posts about her bipolar disorder on social media
Ashlee Malleo disclosed on Instagram that she was diagnosed with Bipolar II. She quickly began seeking therapy in the form of medicine, believing she had exhausted all options for dealing with it on her own. However, the diagnosis first scared her because of the stigma linked to it.
“I was so accustomed to seeing bipolar used as a derogatory term to characterize someone. I always assumed it had something to do with mood swings. It is SO MUCH MORE, and many things in my life began to make sense. It was good to finally have an answer for some things.”
Ashlee said that the diagnosis empowered her to reclaim control of her life. She went on to say that she has learned not to be embarrassed by her disability and not to allow others to make her feel ashamed of it. She said that she would not let anybody exploit her diagnosis as a “scapegoat” to drag her down.
The celebrity described Bipolar disease as “the gift of great emotions,” saying:
“It has given me a degree of toughness that I so needed as I grew up. It has prepared me to face any challenges the Universe may throw at me. I am powerful. It has contributed to my ability to be innovative, empathic, and adaptable — and it has also contributed to my amazing sense of humor.”
By the conclusion of her essay, Ashlee admitted that she is “optimistic” about her future and where she will be a year from now. She saw life as a “journey full of ebbs and flows,” and she encouraged her followers to “keep going and be proud.” The celebrity concluded the message by encouraging others to be honest about their experiences with mental disorders in order to help break down stigmas around the condition.
Ashlee discusses her divorce with Pete Malleo
Ashlee announced her divorce from Pete Malleo, with whom she has a 5-year-old son Cameron Hendrix Malleo, in September 2021. In an Instagram post in November, the actress disclosed the state of her relationship with her ex-husband amid the “emotional rollercoaster” of her divorce.
She stated:
“Pete and I will ALWAYS be life partners. We have a beautiful boy together. Pete will always have my support and encouragement. His achievement is the success of our kids. We are and will always be a family. We will ALWAYS support one another. That could never be broken by anything or anybody. Period.”
On December 1, 2021, the star celebrated her 31st birthday and pondered on all that had transpired, including her divorce. She went to Instagram to reminisce on a year filled with ups and downs, writing:
“There were many highlights, but altogether, it was a really difficult year for me. Having said that, I wouldn’t alter anything. This previous year taught me a lot about myself. There were many significant lessons learned. I’ve never felt more confident in who I am and what I want in any aspect of my life.”
However, in a subtle nod to the divorce, Ashlee expressed her excitement for the future. Ashlee predicted that her future will be “filled with challenges, development, enjoyment, and opportunity, just the way she loves it.” Last year, RHONJ star and doting mother Jacqueline Laurita recognized her daughter’s difficulties. As an homage, she shared a photo and spoke at length about how Ashlee’s narrative and journey were guiding her to where she needed to be at the moment. The reality star also discussed her daughter’s upcoming new adventures and expressed her whole support.