'Teen Mom 2' star Leah Messer: I'm determined to break the cycle of trauma, so my girls are in therapy

• Leah Messer is a mom to three girls, an author, and a star of "Teen Mom 2."
• She spoke with Insider about what health means to her family and why her daughters are in therapy.

Seven years ago, my life changed when I decided to get treatment for substance-use disorder. I had become addicted to prescription pills — but even when that was impacting my life and my custody of my daughters I didn't realize how unwell I was.

Then I started working one-on-one with a therapist, and the sessions opened my eyes.

In that room I saw that pain from my childhood was weighing on me. I would laugh, but it was only to cover deeply rooted pain and trauma. That realization was life-altering.

I don't blame my mom or my dad — they have their own stories to tell, which are probably painful too. But every single day I think about breaking the cycle of trauma and doing better for my kids.

Why my kids are in therapy

My twins, Ali and Aleeah, 12, have been in therapy for the past four years or so. It was important to me that they know that it's OK not to be OK.

Like all kids, they have a lot on their plate. They're also dealing with added challenges like life in the public eye and navigating Ali's muscular dystrophy. For Aleeah, it was hard to understand why her sister was a bit different.

Therapy gives them an outlet. It reminds them that none of us are perfect, and they don't have to be either. And I've seen how it's brought the girls closer together.

Throughout the years I've been completely open and honest with my daughters, in an age-appropriate way. I wanted them to know that they can talk to me about anything.

Now that we're coming up on the teen years, we have a beautiful, trusting relationship. They can confide in me, and I can help them work through things. As a mom, it's so rewarding to see everything I put in blossoming just the way I hoped it would.

Speaking out to break down the stigma

When I released my memoir in 2020, I covered some pretty gritty topics. I opened up about my abortion and substance-use disorder.

When I got treatment back in 2014, there was so much stigma around substance-use disorder. In the seven years that have passed, it's become so much more acceptable to talk about getting help.

I'm eager to see the difference that another seven years will make. I'm hopeful that by speaking out I can encourage more people to get the help they need. I didn't get help until it was almost too late; my hope is that anyone else struggling has treatment as soon as they need it.

Raising a healthy family

I teach my daughters that your health is your wealth. Between Ali's muscular dystrophy and my substance-use disorder, we've had our health challenges. That's why we prioritize our physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

I absolutely love getting out for a hike with the girls and our dog. When we get home I quiet my mind with reading or a well-deserved massage.

Being on TV can be challenging, but it's given me an opportunity for self-growth. Not everyone gets to see their most vulnerable moments played back at them. I use that footage to question myself, understand why I reacted a certain way, and push myself to grow.

Some things in my life haven't panned out the way I would have planned. Despite that, my kids and I are thriving. That's something to be grateful for.