Michelle Obama is one of the most recognizable names of the decade. As the powerful wife of former U.S. President Barack Obama, Michelle has owned countless programs while serving as the First Lady. Throughout the years, she hasn’t shied away from speaking on tough subjects such as mental health. Let’s take a closer look at Michelle Obama’s mental health comments throughout the years.

Michelle Obama: An Overview of Her Career

Michelle Obama may be defined in many ways by her time as the First Lady, but she’s accomplished many things independently of her husband.

Neither of Michelle’s parents graduated from college, but she was determined to achieve this goal. She attended one of the country’s top schools, Princeton, for her sociology and African-American studies undergrad degree, graduating cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in 1985.

Michelle continued her education, earning her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1988. She’s one of three First Ladies with a postgraduate degree (the others are Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush).

Michelle practiced as an attorney for many years. As her husband’s political career took off, she switched priorities to supporting him. Along with being a First Lady, she became a successful author and wrote many books.

In 2021, Michelle announced she was “moving towards retirement.”

Michelle Obama’s Mental Health Struggles

In 2020, Michelle opened up to news outlets about her struggles with her mental health. She was quoted as saying she was struggling with depression that to her had a clear root cause. She said, “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.” She noted that feelings of depression are normal during challenging times and that “spiritually, these are not fulfilling times.”

Michelle wasn’t the only one who felt the weight of the world on her shoulders during these times. Researchers from Boston College found that anxiety rates increased by 50% and depression rates by 44% by November 2020, which was six times higher than in 2019.

The former First Lady also described how her depression was impacting her sleep. “I’m waking up in the middle of the night ’cause I’m worrying about something or there’s a heaviness.” Sleep issues are a common symptom of depression and can further cause mental health decline.

Later, in 2023, Michelle shared that her grandmother also struggled with depression, although no one diagnosed it at the time. Sadly, her grandmother didn’t get the support or help she needed. Instead, she was accused of being snobby and tired. Michelle shared, “Now, looking back and knowing my grandmother … my grandmother was depressed.”

Michelle Obama’s Approach to Recovery

Michelle’s solution to her depression has been multifaceted. First, she says she isn’t hard on herself when feeling low. “I’ve gone through those emotional highs and lows that I think everybody feels, where you just don’t feel yourself. And sometimes … there’s been a week or so where I had to surrender to that and not be so hard on myself. And say, you know what, you’re just not feeling that treadmill right now.”

She believes low-grade depression, also called dysthymia, happens to most people because life comes with highs and lows, “Nobody [always] rides life on a high,” she notes.

Additionally, she credits being physically active, spending time outdoors and creating a routine as incredibly beneficial for improving her overall mental health. “Over the course of your adulthood, you develop your own tools. And for me, it’s turning off the noise that is upsetting. [Instead] I surround myself with things that make me feel good: family, friends, walks [and] exercise.”

As Michelle believes periods of low times happen for everyone, raising mental health awareness is important to her. The former First Lady said, “This is one of the reasons why we need to talk more about mental health, because everybody deals with trauma, anxiety and difficulties in different ways.”

She suggests people turn to community and support systems as a way to cope with feelings of anxiety or low-grade depression. “Tapping into something larger than yourself — volunteering at the homeless shelter, making some phone calls for a political candidate, going to the church picnic, even picking up trash on the sidewalk — those things can be so good to get us out of our own heads.”

And Michelle Obama’s therapy experience is one she’s willing to discuss publicly. After their daughters were born, the Obamas went through a challenging period in their marriage. To help them survive this tough time, they sought out marriage counseling. She said, “Sometimes you need an objective person to just hear you out.”

The Value of Therapy

If the First Lady of the United States gets depressed sometimes, rest assured you’re not alone in your feelings.

Depression can look different for everyone. You may not always recognize when you’re going through a depressive state, or you might not be able to identify just how severe your depression is. Don’t dismiss your feelings as unimportant or assume they’ll automatically pass soon.

Talking to someone about how you feel can be the biggest help of all. If you suspect you’re suffering from depression, therapy can:

• Get you a diagnosis that can bring understanding to your feelings and symptoms
• Identify whether you need prescription medication for your symptoms
• Help you learn new skills to cope with your depression
• Help you gain an understanding of the condition
• Teach you how to identify your triggers and what healthy responses look like

Michelle was brave to come forward and speak on her mental health struggles throughout the years. It’s not easy for a public figure to admit their faults. But she shares her story because she wants to remind everyone that anyone can experience mental health problems.

The key is how you respond to those problems. It’s essential to lean on your support system and get help when needed. Seeking professional mental health treatment is the bravest thing you can do for yourself.

Mental Health Support at Sunlight Recovery

Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, you don’t have to live with depression. This condition is highly treatable when you take the proper steps.

Sunlight Recovery’s experienced and licensed medical professionals are skilled in all behavioral and mental health areas. Contact us today to get help for your depression, and start feeling like your old self again.