As expected, last night’s Teen Mom OG reunion show was loaded with drama, much of it having to do with ongoing questions about Ryan Edwards’ sobriety.
But while Ryan’s situation may have dominated the tabloid headlines in recent weeks, he’s certainly not the only member of the TMOG cast to grapple with personal demons this season.
Catelyn Lowell checked into rehab three times over the course of the past year.
Unlike Ryan, however, her primary battle was not with substances but with mental illness.
Lowell opened up about experiencing suicidal thoughts prior to seeking treatment in November, and during her interview with Dr. Drew that aired last night, she revealed that her situation has improved dramatically in recent months.
“If I don’t go somewhere else today, I’m going to off myself and life would be 10 times better,” Catelynn said, recalling her lowest point.
“I could picture myself driving into an electrical pole off the road, praying it would kill me. But I wouldn’t do it because I had my kid in the backseat.”
These days, Catelynn says, her life is not without its struggles, but changes in her diagnosis (Lowell suffers from PTSD) and her medications have left her feeling that she’s equipped to handle the ups and downs.
Lowell also says she’s quit pot for good after being advised that the use of recreational drugs might have exacerbated her condition in the past.
For his part, Tyler said he still smokes occasionally but was quick to add that he never gets high in his wife’s presence.
“I don’t smoke around her,” Tyler told Dr. Drew.
Lowell stated in several recent interviews that Tyler has been endlessly supportive throughout her recent struggles.
The segment ended with more good news for the Baltierra clan, as Tyler’s troubled father, Butch Baltierra, joined the proceedings via Skype and informed the audience that he’s been sober ever since completing rehab back in November.
It was a bittersweet interview, with Lowell addressing the subject of her miscarriage and fighting tears while discussing the “emotional year” that threatened to tear her family apart.
But Catelynn and Tyler survived, in part thanks to their love for one another.
Yes, Ryan’s recent bad behavior may make for more scandalous television, but thankfully TMOG viewers seem more interested in celebrating the casts’ successes than in gawking at their misfortunes.
Watch Teen Mom OG online for more on Catelynn’s courageous struggle.
