Kelsea Ballerini Sparks Conversation with Candid Antidepressant Disclosure
In her recent personal update, Kelsea Ballerini openly acknowledged her antidepressant medication.
The 32-year-old artist, known for “Cowboys Cry Too,” posted a collection of images on Instagram this past Tuesday, October 28. The carousel featured a picture of her dog, Dibs, scenes of pumpkins being decorated on a porch, and a photo of Ballerini embracing Kenny Chesney during a live performance.
She captioned the post, saying it was “brought to you by hot dogs, porch painting, bed by 9pm, friendship, parks, Kenny Chesney and lexapro.”
Lexapro is a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), administered for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
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In the comments section, followers commended Ballerini for her candidness.
One user commented, “Love the shout-out to mental health care!! So great to see someone say it without the stigma,” while numerous others humorously quipped, “Live, laugh, lexapro.”
Another admirer remarked, “Proud of you for taking care of YOU & dibby at the same time,” acknowledging Dibs’ continuing struggle with cancer. “That’s two things that need a lot of love right now. Lexapro is for the anxiety pros. Love you!!”
Though Ballerini has not explicitly confirmed a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, she has shared her experience with years of therapy to navigate various mental health challenges, such as an eating disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from a school shooting during her teenage years that resulted in a classmate's death.
“It has fundamentally transformed things for me,” she stated to People in April regarding therapy. “A social stigma persists around discussing particular topics, and the method to eliminate that stigma is to initiate dialogue.”
During an October 2024 discussion with Women’s Health, Ballerini disclosed that her initial experience with therapy was court-ordered when she was a preteen, amidst her parents’ divorce.
She elaborated, “I was youthful, and I felt sorrowful and disoriented, and I had no desire to speak with a stranger whom I was being compelled to speak with.” She continued, “As a Virgo, possessing a very resolute will, particularly concerning sensitive matters like mental health, I require the feeling that the choice is my own.”
At the age of 24, Ballerini resolved to actively manage her mental well-being.
She recalled, “I had been touring for four years and felt utterly drained. I was married [to ex-husband Morgan Evans] and observed my friends who held conventional 9-to-5 jobs and remained in my hometown, which made me perceive a significant detachment and difference in my own life.” She added, “I began posing questions to myself such as, ‘What motivates me? Is sacrificing my mother’s birthday justifiable? Am I alright? And am I content?’ I found myself unable to answer these basic inquiries that I should have readily known, so I opted to re-engage with therapy, by my own volition, and it became something I deeply valued.”
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Ballerini’s public mention of Lexapro follows her separation from Chase Stokes by one month; they had started their relationship in 2023. A representative for the country artist confirmed the breakup to Us Weekly on September 14, merely two days after Stokes, 33, had celebrated Ballerini’s birthday with an Instagram post.
At that time, he had written, “Even though you continuously state you’re not enthusiastic about turning 32, I would personally say I am anticipating more moments like these.” He concluded, “Happy birthday, my love.”
An exclusive source later informed Us that Ballerini had “instigated” the separation following a period where the couple had “been disagreeing frequently.”
“Their dialogue had been suboptimal over the past month. Both were undertaking extensive travel and endeavoring to manage multiple commitments, leading to an accumulation of disagreements,” the insider revealed, further mentioning that Ballerini and Stokes behaved as “mature individuals and shared a mutual realization that they required personal distance.”
“A considerable amount of affection continues to exist between them,” the source further stated.
