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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13560378" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="leah-messer" source="Orion">Leah Messer</keyword> is a mom to three girls, an author, and a star of "<keyword id="13560377" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="teen-mom-2" source="Orion">Teen Mom 2</keyword>."</li><li>She spoke with Insider about what <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> means to her family and why her daughters are in therapy.</li></ul>Seven years ago, my life changed when I decided to get treatment for <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-not-to-say-to-someone-with-a-drug-addiction">substance-use disorder</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-find-a-therapist">therapist</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-ptsd-can-affect-your-body-2020-6">trauma</a>. 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.<h2>Why my kids are in therapy</h2>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 <a href="https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/leah-messer-gives-ali-update-amid-muscular-dystrophy-struggles/">muscular dystrophy</a>. 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.<h2>Speaking out to break down the stigma</h2>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.<h2>Raising a healthy family</h2>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.

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

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Briana Dejesus, Cheyenne Floyd, and Leah Messer from "Teen Mom" discussed their journeys.</li><li>They agreed that they needed to be more accepting of themselves.</li></ul>"A roller coaster" is how Briana Dejesus, a star of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QUQuyOSZY0">Teen Mom: The Next Chapter</a>," described MTV's newest addition to the "Teen Mom" franchise.Cheyenne Floyd and Leah Messer agreed with Dejesus' perspective on the new series, which follows them and their castmates from "Teen Mom OG" and "Teen Mom 2."Dejesus, Floyd, and Messer sat down with Insider to talk about how they'd grown since the first season of their show and share their advice for navigating motherhood and co-parenting relationships.<h2>Embrace change as a sign of growth</h2>"There have been so many changes from becoming a mom at 17 to now being a mom at 30 to teenagers," Messer said.She said it had been rewarding to see her 12-year-old twins, <a href="https://www.insider.com/teen-mom-leah-messers-daughters-are-in-therapy-2022-4">Ali and Aleeah</a>, becoming young women and to have age-appropriate conversations with them about the pressures of being a teenager, including how to prevent teen pregnancy. Messer said she values open communication between parents and children and felt that this was missing when she was a teenager.Reflecting on her evolution on the show, Floyd said, "I look back at my first season, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/teen-mom-cheyenne-floyd-help-families-with-rare-condition-2022-1">Ryder was so little</a> — but then I look at myself and think, you were so little too." She said her biggest challenge right now is knowing where to draw the line between giving Ryder everything she wants and making sure she stays humble."I'm still changing and evolving," Floyd said. "It's a weird feeling, but it's great to see my growth and my daughter's growth."Dejesus' advice is to appreciate the time you have with your kids. "I'm just trying to soak up what I can and live in the moment," she said, "because time flies by, and the next thing you know the kids are out the door."<h2>Be yourself and have fun</h2>The women said that while it can feel strange having the cameras around, the kids are a good reminder not to take themselves too seriously.Messer said her 9-year-old daughter, Addie, enjoys filming. "She loves being funny and making everybody laugh," Messer said.Floyd said Ryder loves being on camera too and recently discovered that not everyone grows up with film crews in their homes. "Ryder tells everybody she's on TV when she walks in the classroom," Floyd said. "I feel like she would be in this world whether or not it was because of me."Dejesus said her 5-year-old daughter, Stella, is the same way, running over to the TV whenever she hears the promos for "Teen Mom." Meanwhile, Nova, Dejesus' 10-year-old daughter, "is like, I'm too bougie for this lifestyle," Dejesus said.<h2>Give yourself some slack</h2>The three moms reflected on the importance of being more accepting of themselves as they've gotten older.Messer described acceptance as "being patient with yourself, knowing that you're not perfect and probably will make mistakes as a mom."Dejesus said mistakes are part of learning. "You can push forward and realize that those mistakes also made you who you are today," she said.For Floyd, it's about trying to instill discipline in her kids while recognizing that she's human and doesn't always make the right choices."I feel like my patience has grown for sure, and Ryder's of the age where she's trying me, so we're battling right now," Floyd said. "The best advice I've gotten recently is to give myself grace as I'm learning, changing, and growing up."<h2>Let go of pride and communicate</h2>The moms are no strangers to learning how to co-parent with an ex. Floyd said co-parenting had felt like having a full-time job, while Dejesus described it as an ongoing struggle for her family."Co-parenting takes so much work," Floyd said. "But if you're patient, learn how to communicate, and put your pride to the side, then you can make it happen. Keep the kids first."Messer said her co-parenting relationship with her exes is "in such a great place today than it was eight years ago." She said that being willing to communicate and learn from each other and putting egos aside had allowed Messer and her kids' fathers to take a major step forward in their co-parenting relationships.<h2>Find people who support you</h2>From sharing the experience of being young moms to becoming part of the "Teen Mom" universe, the cast members' bond is undeniable. But the women said these relationships aren't always smooth sailing."Within any friendship there's conflict sometimes," Floyd said, "and it can be hard to navigate these dynamics."But they said conflict shouldn't deter someone from reaching out for support, adding that having people who uplift you and understand what you're going through can help you feel less isolated as a parent."I love the way we've all connected and continued to grow," Messer said, "and that's why I'm excited for this next chapter."

'Teen Mom' cast members share their best parenting and co-parenting advice — they say being a good communicator is key

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

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'Teen Mom' cast members share their best parenting and co-parenting advice — they say being a good communicator is key

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