Is having four kids simply too much for one woman’s mental health? Well, buckle up because Jen Affleck from TLC’s hit reality show Secret Lives of Mormon Wives just dropped some seriously candid confessions about her mental health struggle, and honey, we are LIVING for the vulnerability.
The 27-year-old reality TV darling took to Instagram this week to spill the beans about experiencing prenatal depression while expecting baby number four with her hubby Zac. And let me tell you, the second time around is hitting different—and NOT in a good way. “Prenatal depression came back this pregnancy. Only this time, it came back even heavier,” Jen wrote, and we could practically feel the exhaustion through the screen. Girl, we felt that in our SOULS.
According to Jen’s brutally honest post, her first trimester was basically a nightmare wrapped in morning sickness and existential dread. The reality star didn’t sugarcoat it one bit, describing those early months as absolutely “impossible.” Not “challenging,” not “difficult”—IMPOSSIBLE. That’s the kind of raw honesty that makes us absolutely obsessed with her realness.
What’s particularly interesting here is that Jen clearly knows the difference between her first pregnancy and this one. This time around, the prenatal depression showed up like an unwanted houseguest with even MORE baggage. We’re talking heavier, darker, and more overwhelming than before. For someone in the public eye managing a growing family AND a reality TV career, that’s basically a perfect storm of pressure.
The fact that she’s opening up about this is absolutely chef’s kiss because mental health during pregnancy is still such a taboo topic in conservative communities. And let’s be real—the Mormon lifestyle doesn’t exactly encourage women to air out their dirty laundry about depression and anxiety. But Jen said “not today, Satan” and decided to share her story anyway. RESPECT.
Fans have been flooding her comments with support, sharing their own prenatal depression stories and praising her courage. But naturally, some keyboard warriors are questioning why she’s having a fourth child if she’s struggling this much. (Eyes roll so hard they get stuck.) Nobody asked for your judgment, Karen.
This is clearly a woman who’s juggling motherhood, marriage, reality TV stardom, and severe mental health challenges—basically living the most complicated version of the Mormon wives lifestyle possible.
What do you think? A) Jen should take a break from reality TV to focus on her mental health B) She’s inspiring others by being honest about her struggles