Michelle Obama Reveals Therapy Sessions to Cope with Empty Nest Syndrome
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken candidly about her struggles with "empty nest syndrome" now that her daughters have left home. In a recent interview on Jay Shetty’s podcast On Purpose, Obama revealed that she is receiving therapy to help her navigate this new phase of her life.
According to The Times, Obama, 61, disclosed that she is transitioning to a new stage of her life, having completed a "really hard thing" with her family intact. Her daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23, have left home and graduated from university, leaving Obama to focus on her own personal growth. As The Times reports, Obama stated: "I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning… I’ve finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact, I’m an empty nester, my girls … they’ve been launched."
As reported by The Times, Obama’s therapy sessions include learning to make decisions for herself again after spending close to a decade in public service as the wife of President Obama. She expressed excitement about having the freedom to make choices without considering her family’s needs. "For the first time, every choice that I’m making is completely mine," she told Shetty. "I now don’t have the excuse of, ‘My kids need this, my husband needs that, or the country needs that.’ So how do I think about this next phase? Let me get some help, let me unwind some old habits, let me sort through some old guilt."
The Times also reported that Obama has repeatedly dismissed calls to run for president, citing the toll her husband’s two terms in office had on her family. Instead, she is focusing on navigating life outside of public service and unwinding "some old habits." As quoted in The Times, Obama said: "I believe this is a whole other phase in life for me."
In addition to her personal struggles, Obama also expressed her concerns about President Trump’s immigration policies, which she believes are driven by prejudice. As reported by The Times, Trump has ended birthright citizenship and deported tens of thousands of migrants. Obama stated: "My fears are for what I know is happening out there in the streets… And now we have leadership that is indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesn’t, and we know those decisions aren’t being made with courts and due process."
Obama’s interview with Shetty covered a range of topics, from her childhood in Chicago to the demands of parenthood. However, she did not address unconfirmed rumours of marital strife reported earlier this year. In a podcast released last week, she told British entrepreneur Steven Bartlett: "If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it. I would be problem-solving in public, like, ‘Let me tell you what he did.’"
As The Times notes, Obama has steered clear of appearing in public with President Trump, including declining to attend Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January. Her concerns about Trump’s policies and their impact on people of colour are clear, and she believes that these issues should be a concern for everyone. As reported by The Times, Obama said: "Knowing that there’s so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kinds of choices, I worry for people of colour all over this country … that frightens me, it keeps me up at night."
The former First Lady’s commitment to therapy and self-reflection serves as a testament to her dedication to personal growth and well-being. As The Times reports, Obama is looking forward to this new chapter in her life, one that is focused on her own needs and desires. With her characteristic candour and vulnerability, Obama continues to inspire and motivate others to prioritise their own mental health and well-being.
Source: The Times
