If You Have Instagram, You Have to Read This Message From Olivia Culpo
“I was depressed, drinking way too much … and pretending everything was great”
MALIBU, CA – DECEMBER 09: Olivia Culpo attends Cult Gaia’s First-Ever Runway Presentation In Los Angeles on December 9, 2018 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Cult Gaia)
Olivia Culpo has opened up about a recent difficult period for her physical and mental health, and she’s done it the Beyonce way. That is, turning lemons into lemonade.
In a vulnerable Instagram post shared on Thursday, the Sports Illustrated model told fans she’d been struggling with depression. Culpo said she wanted to speak out to acknowledge what a ‘highlight reel’ of life Instagram is, only showing the good bits.
Sharing two photos of herself, one from a few months, one taken this week, she said in the caption:
“Second photo, a few months ago: I was depressed,” Culpo said.
“I had no appetite, was drinking way too much, smoking, couldn’t sleep, and couldn’t eat. But I was still taking photos on social media and pretending everything was great. I was going through a difficult situation that left me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually bankrupt and it had taken its toll physically.”
“I feel a responsibility to anyone else going through something difficult to say that it’s okay to not be okay,” she explained.
“We’re all too familiar with the ‘highlight REEL’ of Instagram so I wanted to get REAL and tell you it’s not always as amazing as it seems… Instagram is everyone’s best version of themselves and their lives. It can trick us into thinking everything is perfect in other’s worlds. Which is NOT true. We are all more alike than we think, navigating life with similar ups and downs; good times and bad. We never really know what someone is going through, so it’s unfair to judge/compare.”
“I hope this helps others who might be going through a hard time and feeling like they need to ‘have it all together,’” she said.
“Hard times happen and the most important part is putting one foot in front of the other, knowing the moment will pass, and being patient with yourself.”
