Yahoo News Michelle Obama has 'low-grade depression' after lockdown
Michelle Obama has spoken out about the toll the last few months have taken on her mental health, saying she is suffering from "low-grade depression".
Speaking to journalist Michele Norris for her new eponymous Spotify podcast, the former First Lady admitted she has been feeling "out of body, out of mind" and that her sleep is "off".
"I'm waking up in the middle of the night because I'm worrying about something or there's a heaviness," she said, explaining that the pandemic, and resulting lockdown, is not the only reason her mental health has spiralled.
"These are not, they are not fulfilling times, spiritually...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," Michelle said.
The former lawyer, author and mum-of-two went on to talk about the "exhausting" toll racial injustice is taking on her personally and the Black community, especially "waking up to yet another story of a Black man or a Black person somehow being dehumanised, or hurt, or killed, or falsely accused of something."
"It has led to a weight that I haven't felt in my life, in a while," she said.
A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Aug 5, 2020 at 5:58am PDT
Michelle says she is taking steps to address how she's feeling, such as maintaining a daily routine and exercising.
Doctors say it's very common for people with depression to experience fatigue, along with difficulty sleeping. Poor concentration, comfort eating and a churning stomach can also be symptoms of depression. Find out more about signs of depression here.
If you are suffering from any of the problems above, make an appointment to see your GP.
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