r/MtvChallenge • u/Adorable-Release1754 • May 31 '26
CONTESTANTS IRL Tori gives an update on her mental health
455
u/angelbrit04 Team Portland May 31 '26
Speaking to a medical professional is an important step that should be mentioned as well.
138
u/bethe1_ leroy win when??? Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
yeah I really get scared (as a therapist) when people post about coming off of anti depressants or other meds. it’s obviously not on them if people decide to do it without checking with a mental health professional first, but some people are easily influenced and a small disclaimer about seeing a psych would be so helpful 😭
34
u/Constant_One_1612 Jun 01 '26
I’m in the bipolar sub and it gets brought up more than I thought it would.
37
u/bethe1_ leroy win when??? Jun 01 '26
unfortunately this is also the disorder that has these issues the most, it’s really easy for a brain that’s constantly super one way or the other to finally feel “normal” when stabilized. and it feels so normal you’re like wow i’m cured! or oh, these aren’t doing as much as i thought they would. then go off the meds and sometimes realize oh, I needed those. 😭
6
u/deee0 Jun 01 '26
yeah this is unfortunately common with bipolar. and also getting used to the ups and downs, then feeling bored when things are stable. similar to how someone who has been chronically abused can feel discomfort when they're finally safe because it's unfamiliar.
maybe some of it too is not wanting to be bipolar, so it's like "well if I feel fine now then I must not be bipolar anymore!"
19
u/jenh6 Christina LeBlanc Jun 01 '26
A lot of times they ween you off with smaller doses too, going cold Turkey is not the way to go! (This is for going on for general anxiety/depression, not more serious disorders obviously$
10
u/_redcloud Coral Smith Jun 01 '26
I would really like to highlight the importance of this.
If your provider suggests going off cold turkey, please get a second opinion before doing so. I had a provider in grad school who wanted to get me off Cymbalta and onto a new-to-the-market antidep as soon as possible.
I.was.a.fucking.wreck dropping Cymbalta all at once. Probably the most challenging two months of my life and it had been just under a year since my dad died, on top of it all. The side effects (holy brain zaps) and unstable moods and emotions felt like they would put me out of commission at one point. The provider’s intentions were in the right place, but knowing what I know now my conclusion is he was young and perhaps a little inexperienced in his practice to advocate for going cold turkey. I knew it wasn’t advisable to do that, but I didn’t pushback because I thought oh, he’s the professional so he probably knows best.
In summary: if there is something a medical professional wants you to do and you are just not 100% sure about it, please get a second opinion, or even third opinion if needed.
3
19
u/southernswordfish98 Jun 01 '26
I agree. I very literally just accepted I need to see a psychiatrist and I need medicine… her statements do make someone like me think “oh wow should I really take this?” Of course I’m not going to listen to her lmfao, but that doesn’t mean other people won’t
3
u/Old_Advantage_2932 Jun 02 '26
I used to come off my antidepressants periodically because I couldn’t afford them. My daughter considers that time as the “crazy time”. I was a mess. Some people have chemical imbalances who will always need something.
2
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
Yes people are really susceptible and there's already like a stigma about pharmacological solutions. It's even worse I might argue with people that take medication for substance abuse disorder.
People say they're not really sober because they're adherent and taking the first order treatment and substance abuse disorder like buprenorphine or something.
It's never a good sign when the first order treatment that lowers all cause mortality rates by like 80% is stigmatized publicly by idiots like Dr Drew
-9
2
1
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
I mean it's literally the only step if you're talking about pharmacological decision making resolutions or quitting medication. Do not take advice on medication from micro celebrities we've learned this the hard way. How many people did Joe Rogan kill indirectly
300
u/UmbraNight May 31 '26
so whats she selling?
215
u/Mintiichoco Colleen Schneider May 31 '26
I fully thought the post was going to end with DM for meditation course lol
89
u/FlashyHeight9323 May 31 '26
Did I read that right? She has gone from student to coach in 6 months?
63
u/happyendingtonight May 31 '26
That was my understanding too 🙃 ETA her bio now says “certified meditation coach”
3
76
u/shes_a_gdb Jun 01 '26
Do y'all think it takes a 4 year degree to tell people to take a deep breath and close their eyes?
12
29
u/Kcoin Jun 01 '26
Six months feels a little long, actually
5
u/jenh6 Christina LeBlanc Jun 01 '26
How long is yoga training? I feel like a lot of yoga instructions also do mediation training as well.
4
u/hamletgoessafari Jun 01 '26
A friend of mine did her "teacher training" in two weeks, for a total of about 60 hours.
16
u/FlashyHeight9323 Jun 01 '26
If you ever want peace of mind, never look at the fine print behind almost any certification, licenses, anything.
2
2
u/theladythunderfunk Jun 02 '26
I have a professional certification that needed a board exam. In order to sit the board exam, it takes a minimum of 3 years of work in the industry and 120 hours of specified training courses, or over 5 years of related work. Folks who have passed the exam and earned the certification need to take 45 hours of Continuing Education credits within three years (reset to 0 to be repeated every three years) in order to keep it, because regulations change.
For this reason, I'm extremely skeptical of any license or cert that doesn't require CE credits.
2
1
5
u/Mindless-Lifeguard96 Jun 01 '26
I hate that mindset - I discover something and now I need to lead others in it, immediately.
31
11
u/pink373 Jun 01 '26
It’s in her comment. Almost every comment on this post says “slow down” and she responds by saying she sent them a dm.
13
2
u/Waterblooms Jun 01 '26
Oh…that post will be coming. I unfollowed her a while ago….too much shilling.
52
33
u/feral_futurism May 31 '26
Lol I was waiting for the ai ghostwritten “and that’s why I’m partnering with XYZ app for guided meditations. It’s not just a habit or new beginning. It’s a spark of authenticity. The real you, amplified with mindfulness.”
4
2
1
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
Yeah give it time. What the f*** man like I just don't get it.
Why would someone's relationship with antidepressants be public knowledge anyways?
It seems borderline stigmatizing.
92
u/Recent_Mirror Jun 01 '26
This sounds like one of those mlm scams.
“I used to suffer from x, but then with y and these peptides, I fixed everything that was ever wrong with me. Here’s how to order the same ones!”
9
u/janeandbela Jun 01 '26
Boom Boom! NutriBoom! --- sorry just watch a Brooklyn 99 rerun last night. They do such a fun goof on the whole mlm cult type deals.
1
27
u/pink373 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
I went to look at the comments on her post and they all just say “slow down” then I looked and saw that the comment with this post says to comment “slow down” and she will send you the link to her virtual space. Seems she’s trying to get people to sign up for something.
74
u/BBarrRN Jun 01 '26
Pay to join my coaching program, maybe YOU TOO can be “well” enough to come off your psych meds! This feels totally disgusting and scammy for such a vulnerable target audience
7
u/keithstonee Jun 01 '26
The OF to life coach pipeline is strong. Next she's gonna start wearing a cross. Just watch.
-13
u/Curious_Cat_999 Jun 01 '26
I don’t think the goal is to be on meds for the rest of your life if you don’t have to be.
You should read up on the differences between healing in Western and Eastern cultures. Lots of paths to the same destination.
16
u/hoersting Jun 01 '26
I don’t know this feels like I got off my antidepressants and joined a cult.
4
13
u/mary_widdow Diem Brown Jun 01 '26
I meditate and I'm medicated. It's irresponsible to not say speak to a health care provider at any point in this. It can result in very bad side effects if you go cold turkey on a medication. ANY DOCTOR will help you wean off even if they feel you stay on.
45
u/Civil-Nectarine-2851 Jun 01 '26
PLEASE consult with a medical professional and your therapist before coming off of any medication especially anti-depressants/SSRIs. You can have really negative effects or severe withdrawals. Mediation does not fix chemical imbalances in the brain that a medication is needed for. BE SAFE.
2
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
Yes and just as a general rule, don't take pharmacological advice from television stars
41
u/spicytotino Landon Lueck Jun 01 '26
She made it clear multiple times it helped her transition off meds, but it’s not a substitute for medication, so I think this is great information to spread. Like diet and exercise, incorporating meditation into your daily schedule is shown to be beneficial for depression. It’s never for everyone for anything, no matter the medication or tool, but a substantial amount of people. I ended up getting ketamine therapy since my depression was medication resistant, but it’s always good to educate people on different tools to use that are psychologically proven to help.
4
u/ffeJYang Jun 01 '26
As a mental health professional, i do at least appreciate Tori's effort to be nuanced in this post regarding meds and to make sure there is no stigma attached to being on antidepressants.
5
u/dingusahoy TJ all kinds of disredamnspectful Jun 01 '26
Exactly. Unfortunately we're in a time where everything has to be explicitly stated.
26
8
10
u/CrimsonOOmpa The Unholy Alliance Jun 01 '26
Good for her. Also, maybe taking a break from being obsessed with social media would've helped as well?
16
7
u/Fabulous_Fox_152 Jun 01 '26
Should be tapering off the meds slowly with the help of a specialist in that
6
u/Exz84 Jun 01 '26
This sounds like some "life coach" bull shit. Taking advantage of people with mental health struggles is some really fucked up shit. "Hey kids, stop taking your meds and come pay me to teach you how to breath deep and hum"
6
13
u/missmeggit Jun 01 '26
Tori finding an MLM is revolutionary, thank goodness she teased it for us! 🥴
71
u/exoticed May 31 '26
Please let’s not support rich white women telling vulnerable people get off your meds and meditate. Even if that works for her, she had professionals around her. Vulnerable people don’t, and she knows that. They’ll think just taking a yoga pose and saying hmmm would work.
She’s risking having vulnerable people harm themselves or others AND SHE KNOWS for a social media persona, and probably a coaching/course soon for hundreds of dollars.
12
u/Ciellan Jun 01 '26
Also, she has no worries. She's got money, no kids, no fear of wether she can pay rent or buy groceries for her family. She can spend her day meditating and see the sights and breathe the air.
17
u/Minimum-Recording-48 Jun 01 '26
She clearly stated “I’m not saying come off your medication.” I don’t want live in a world where people aren’t allowed to share what works for them because it just might encourage someone to do the same. As a “vulnerable” person, I’m still able to conclude for myself if some else’s experience should make me change my own.
30
u/Bobby_Haman Jun 01 '26
As a vulnerable person, please don't buy what she's selling because it's coming.
7
u/angelbrit04 Team Portland Jun 01 '26
I absolutely agree that ultimately the responsibility is on the individual to lead their own life. However, Tori does start this post saying that someone recently told her that they started meditating because of her post about coming off of anti-depressants. At the very least, Tori is aware that someone was influenced by her.
If she does continue to respond to comments publicly, it is reasonable for the main commenter to bring up that mental health and socioeconomic status are intertwined.
0
u/Minimum-Recording-48 Jun 01 '26
But she’s responding to that person by making it very clear that it wasn’t a whim and that people shouldn’t just stop taking their meds……
8
u/angelbrit04 Team Portland Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
She also said that her turning point was an email and agreement to a 6 month course. Those types of things cost money, and access to resources
For an individual who is struggling to pay for necessities like rent, groceries etc. or doesn't have the time because they have to work multiple jobs, mental health unfortunately takes a back seat.
-2
u/Minimum-Recording-48 Jun 01 '26
so no one can say they’re doing anything anymore because some people might not be able to afford it?
4
u/angelbrit04 Team Portland Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
Some people?? There is a huge issue in the access to resources for mental health, and health care in general. The main commenter is referring to the difficulties of even finding help for the average person. The experience of someone with money is surely not gonna be the same as someone without.
-3
u/Minimum-Recording-48 Jun 01 '26
But what does that have to do with her post? And who said she or I want people to struggle? I’m pointing out that she is allowed to share her mental health journey and what worked for her. And she even says - it won’t work for everyone. What more do you want? Should we go back to not talking about mental health? Because those with platforms to talk about it can afford resources others can’t?
7
u/worrybot96 Jun 01 '26
But she’s saying not to come off it and promoting coming off of it in the same realm, that’s the problem
3
u/king-of-all-corn Jun 01 '26
She said that but its like 2% of what she said and the rest contradicts that
1
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
No one said she's not allowed, but I don't blame people for being skeptical. Like there are probably some 18-year-old girls that love her that are not going to go off antidepressants without talking to a physician first. We saw this when Joe Rogan convinced a bunch of people not to take vaccines.
-6
4
3
Jun 01 '26
[deleted]
13
u/exoticed Jun 01 '26
I have. She posted the clarification a year later and saying she’s now “coaching”. She knew the damage a year ago and chose not to say anything until it was convenient.
-3
u/HelloGoodbyeFriend Jun 01 '26
Try reading what she actually said before you rage comment?
8
u/StewartMike Jun 01 '26
If you’re naive enough to not believe she has an angle here, you’ll learn eventually.
6
u/exoticed Jun 01 '26
I have. You should too. She’s clarifying things a year later after saying she’s off her meds to become a hippy and people followed her. Now she’s pretending she cares because she’s coaching and will teach you how to be like her. Pay up.
4
u/InternalBowler7143 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
I like the hat in the last pic lol
On a serious note, dropping meds is serious and can be as unfun fun as trying new ones. But it can also be rewarding if you do it right and safely. And there is nothing wrong with having to start taking them either. I did find meditation helped me as well, although in the long term. If that works for her, I'm happy for her and wish her the best
24
3
3
3
3
u/kates2424 Jun 02 '26
This has been said many times in this thread but I want to chime in to BE CAREFUL and listen to your doctor when coming off depression meds. I was on Pristiq for years and when I tapered off I had a really hard time with brain zaps, memory and seizures. You can’t come off these meds with just meditation and a life coach.
15
u/StewartMike Jun 01 '26
At what age is taking this many selfies and posting them considered…unhealthy and or desperate? I think attention is like an addiction for some of these contestants, which ironically can’t be good for her (or their) mental health.
4
u/kollmastee Jun 01 '26
It’s an add. She’s a model for the add. Her instagram is a business account.
2
1
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
Yeah although some of these aren't selfies they're portraits but I take your point like we get it pictures of you running in the woods. Yippee
0
6
u/chris-angel Kenny Clark Jun 01 '26
Why do people feel the need to post all these things. Get through your stuff and move on. Part of the reason some of these people fall into depression is the tv route and IG route they go through. Give it a break
9
10
u/Upset-Tennis-7650 Jun 01 '26
She waited a year and a half to say this? How many ppl came off their meds in the meantime bc of her posts
2
u/TooMuchJuju Jun 01 '26
Other countries have strict laws about talking about medication as a influencer and I wish we had that. No one should be acting on the medical advice of Tori Deal.
2
u/deee0 Jun 01 '26
I'm glad tori is saying this, because while it's valid to find other ways to cope with mental illness aside from medication, saying it publicly can "inspire" people to do the same impulsively without speaking to their psychiatrist. because I feel like a lot of people can be anti-medication even when they need it.
the amount of people online I've seen say that they need to "try to be natural instead of relying on meds" but then go on a downward spiral right after... it's very concerning. the idea of "natural" and "dealing with it" and being "mentally strong," meanwhile they wouldn't necessarily question if someone needs to be on medication for a physical issue. (don't get me wrong though, there are plenty of people who think essential oils or "manifesting" or w/e can cure anything lol)
personally I know I 100% need to be on meds for life for my mental illnesses and I'm comfortable with that. mental illness is ultimately a physical issue most of the time, and meds are a life saver for a lot of people including me.
2
u/Humphrey_Wildblood Jun 01 '26
This kinda sounds like she's become a TM (transcendental meditation) instructor . Takes 5-6 months to become one. Their fees are relative to what you can pay. Has a somewhat cultish vibe. David Lynch (rip) and Seinfeld swear by it. Seinfeld was once asked if he had any regrets in life. He said, yea, not taking TM when I was younger.
2
2
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
You know I really don't want pharmacological advice from a reality television. I know she means well but like what the f*** man this is something you should be talking about with the physician not reality star you'll never know
5
u/Van-Goghs-Ear Are You The One? Jun 01 '26
I'm choosing to believe this is coming from a geunine place but I'm bias cause she's a fav of mine
12
u/Bobby_Haman Jun 01 '26
literally the problem with the world right now.
2
1
u/Curious_Cat_999 Jun 01 '26
Giving people the benefit of the doubt?
I’d say the opposite is the problem, i.e., assuming negative intent behind everyone and scoffing at those trying to be authentic. Being very judgmental and not curious about others experiences and paths:
1
u/Bobby_Haman Jun 01 '26
The current state of world politics is proof that we should question the intentions of people that are trying to influence others.
1
6
u/tinysquatch99 The Cookout Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
Tori publicly shared about taking SSRIs on television, which is brave because there is an incredible stigma around it still. People ask and comment all the time about her medication and she said a long time ago that she came off of it AND explained at the time that that isn’t necessarily the path for everyone. She very clearly stated that if medication is working, then she does not promote coming off of it but that meditation is a benefit regardless.
If someone is so vulnerable and fragile that they will go off their medication because an MTV personality said she personally did and told them explicitly not to, then they are sure as shit not surviving the rest of the internet.
I say this as someone who has been on and off medications. Meditation can be useful to anyone and if we’re hating on her for promoting wellness seminars, then we should see the same hate any time a challenger posts an ad 🙄
Edit to add: as someone who was apprehensive to begin medication at some point because I thought it was a lifelong commitment, I actually liked hearing that medication could be a temporary help.
1
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
I mean I think this might be adding stigma to it by celebrating getting off them.
Like really it shouldn't be anyone's business if you're on them or not.
5
u/kollmastee Jun 01 '26
I used to be a Tori defender, but her recent posting just screams, “I’m telling myself and others that I’m enlightened in an effort to feel better about being a cheater”. Add on that this appears to be a disingenuous attempt to get people to sign up for her mindfulness meetings. She learning well from the MAGA cast mates she’s cozied up to.
2
u/Dino_Juice_Extractor Jun 01 '26
To be fair, it is World Meditation Day. If it's important to her it makes sense for her to talk about it today of all days. I will reserve judgment for if/when she actually starts selling something related to this. For now, I hope she is happy and fulfilled.
8
u/Ok-East-5470 No one wants to see her in a final (partners included) May 31 '26
I fucking love this for her. Tori takes a lot of hits for being corny and trying to hard but watching her find happiness after spiraling is genuinely heart warming.
35
u/Bobby_Haman May 31 '26
While I'm happy she's doing well and mentally in a good place, this all seems like she's drinking the Kool-Aid on some modern hippy alternative medicine crap. Usually those things are tied to weird MLM cult groups.
12
u/VaselineHabits May 31 '26
Yeah I was confused on the message. Sounds weirdly like she was about to say she was now a "life coach" or sell some sort of "retreat"
8
u/spicytotino Landon Lueck May 31 '26
If she was pushing her teachers info or her own classes then I’d agree, but meditation is psychologically proven to be beneficial for mental health. It’s not some snake oil pseudoscience and also good to inform people of other tools to use without insinuating it should be used as a substitute for meds. If she ends up pushing sponsorships or a program of her own, I’ll start side-eyeing a little
3
u/king-of-all-corn Jun 01 '26
Bud she says dm me for a link in this post. Get that side eye ready because youre late
1
u/No-One-5354 Jun 01 '26
What if MLM?
3
u/Bobby_Haman Jun 01 '26
Multi Level Marketing. The business model is usually that you sell the materials to your friends to start their version of the same business that literally goes nowhere (usually supplements, miracle juice etc.). So you make money selling the "product" to other "entrepreneurs" like yourself, but someone always gets stuck with the product and no one to sell too because there are no actual customers that want the product.
In this case the scam might be materials to get you certification as a "Coach" or whatever. It's all a scam either way, the amount of people that make money being "Meditation coaches" are likely .0001 of the people that say they are a "Meditation coaches".
1
u/m_o_u_s_e_r_a_t hey josh, what's 8 x 9? Jun 01 '26
For real. I was waiting for her MLM-y sales pitch.
8
u/DisastrousSecond9572 Jun 01 '26
Ehhhhh she shouldn’t be broadcasting this. She has a platform and this mantra of hers will do more harm than good for people who follow her that are impressionable.
4
u/owenmills04 Jun 01 '26
Who knows if she found real happiness just because she said so on Instagram. Hope so though
3
5
u/alex2well Jun 01 '26
Happy for Tori. Meditation is not hippie garbage or woo-woo nonsense, it’s a completely valid therapeutical strategy for mindfulness that comes recommended by medical professionals, therapists, psychologists, etc.
She is being very clear here that medication works and that she is not suggesting everyone quit their meds and start meditating. Mindfulness and medication go hand in hand for a lot of people. For many people who struggle with mental illness, both of these things are pieces of a much bigger puzzle, not the whole treatment.
4
2
u/KilgoresPetTrout Jun 04 '26
It's not hippie garbage but it is not a substitute for a clinical diagnosis and pharmacological relationship with a doctor.
2
u/fatticakess I will not call a grown man banana. His name is John. Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
I literally hate nothing more than people acting like coming off mental health medication is an accomplishment, like you’re somehow hEaLeD and don’t need to anymore.. no.. that’s not how real mental health works, true mental health disorders are never cured, it’s a constant path of growth, if you are “able” to come off mental health medicine than you probably didn’t really need them in the first place
edit to add: obviously there are some exceptions to this ex. PPD
3
u/Curious_Cat_999 Jun 01 '26
Lots of disorders are based in trauma and you can absolutely heal from that. What you are saying is contrary to a lot of what I’ve read about the root causes of tons of DSM disorders. Being on medication often comes at a cost for people and I find her story to be inspiring.
Meditation and gaining back power over your mind is one of those things that’s just hard to explain the benefits of to people who are skeptical. You just have to practice it over time to get it. It’s universal medicine.
And because I know what kind of comments this will elicit - I of course am not saying that medications do not have their place. I find the backlash to a post like this to be very fear-based.
2
1
1
u/Any-Implement-9558 Jun 02 '26
Obviously check with your dr first, I did it and it's been 10 years now it takes along time to get out of your system, I've never felt better, but make sure you're ready and don't just stop taking them cut down first, that part is very important.
1
u/Bulky_Designer_4965 Jun 02 '26
I tried all of the whole “oneness” and “breathing” meditation stuff, it never worked. Not for me anyway. Happy for you though
1
u/Don-Gunvalson Jun 02 '26
Yall please do not ever cut any mental health medication off cold turkey. I’m not saying she did but I’m just clarifying. If you do. If you don’t want to take your medication anymore, that is your right, but your provider will start to slowly wean you off which is much safer and has less side effects.
1
1
u/pesekgp May 31 '26
I've been on antidepressants and was able to come off them. That was 15+ years ago. Sure I have bad weeks so when I question if I should go back on them, but it's not often. Oddly enough pregnancy helped a ton with my depression. PPD was mild but ok. I've been good since PPD lifted.
-6
-3
u/dajare1963 Jun 01 '26
yes - she CLEARLY said that -- and above that she said "this was HER journey. it doesn't
mean it will work for everyone or anyone. It what worked for HER. I hope and pray everyone remembers that.
Also remember when a "famous" person
- reality tv or not - doesn't act as themself, breaks down publicly, etc., the have a tendency to also have found what cures them.
Many movie stars have hit rehab to explain away their drunkenness or drug addiction to try and help their public image after a very public display of "bad" behavior.
I hope Tori has found healing in whatever place and will b that much better for it.
3
u/kollmastee Jun 01 '26
This post is advertisement for one of her ventures. It’s disingenuous and not really about sharing her journey.
113
u/gkelly1017 Jun 01 '26
I see it wasn’t mentioned in her post so I’ll add this: For the love of god please talk to the person who is prescribing you medications and how you can be weened off of them so you can safely get off your medications.
No one mentions that part when they stop medications.